Predynastic Zhou
The Predynastic Zhou or Proto-Zhou (/dʒoʊ/; Chinese: 先周) refers to the state of Zhou that existed in the Guanzhong region of modern Shaanxi province during the Shang dynasty of ancient China, before its conquest of the Shang in 1046/1045 BC which led to the establishment of the Zhou dynasty. It was ruled by the Ji clan. According to histories, Predynastic Zhou rose as a western vassal of the Shang, acting as its ally until their influence surpassed that of the dynasty.
Predynastic Zhou 先周 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 1150 BC–1046 BC | |||||||
| Status | Autonomous state within Shang dynasty | ||||||
| Capital | Bin Zhouyuan | ||||||
| Common languages | Old Chinese | ||||||
| Religion | Chinese patriarchal religion, Mandate of Heaven | ||||||
| Government | Chiefdom | ||||||
| Leader | |||||||
• c. 1158 – 1126 BC | Gugong Danfu | ||||||
• c. 1126 – 1101 BC | Ji, Lord of Zhou | ||||||
• c. 1101 – 1050 BC | Ji Chang, Elder of Zhou | ||||||
• c. 1050 – 1046 BC | Ji Fa, Elder of Zhou | ||||||
| Historical era | Bronze Age | ||||||
• Capital moved to Zhouyuan | c. 1150 BC | ||||||
• Murder of Jili | 1101 BC | ||||||
| 1059 BC | |||||||
| 1046 BC | |||||||
• Established dynasty | 1046 BC | ||||||
| |||||||
| Today part of | China | ||||||
Records about Predynastic Zhou came from two sources. The Shang dynasty kept records about Zhou in oracle bones. The texts about Zhou inscribed by the Shang court are mainly those from the reign of Wu Ding and the last Shang monarchs. After the fall of Shang, the Ji clan established the Zhou dynasty and started their own narrative about previous generations. The Book of Documents and the Bamboo Annals are two major historical sources. Later, Sima Qian wrote about the country using the texts as reference.