The Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC – 256 BC) was the third slave dynasty in Chinese history after the Shang Dynasty. The Zhou Dynasty passed down a total of 32 generations and 37 kings, enjoying a total of 790 years.
The Zhou Dynasty was divided into two periods: Western Zhou (1046-771 BC) and Eastern Zhou (770 BC-256 BC). The Zhou Dynasty was founded by Ji Fa, the King of Zhou Wu, with its capital at Hojing (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi). During the reign of King Cheng of Zhou, he built (or moved the capital or Xiang Mansion) into Zhou (present-day Luoyang, Henan), and held a series of activities to sacrifice and reward his courtiers. Later, King Mu of Zhou built the palace Nanzheng, and later King Yi of Zhou moved the capital to Inuqiu (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi). In 771 BC, Hojing fell and Western Zhou perished; In 770 BC (the first year of king Ping of Zhou), king Ping moved east and set the capital in Zhou (present-day Luoyang, Henan), and this period of the Zhou Dynasty was called Eastern Zhou. The history books also refer to the Western Zhou and The Eastern Zhou as the Two Zhous. Its Middle Eastern Zhou dynasty was divided into two periods: the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, with the "Three Branches divided into Jin" as the node. The self-identification and naming of the Chinese ethnic group began in the Spring and Autumn "Zhuxia". The name "Zhuxia" has western Zhou origins, the Zhou royal family tasted to call themselves "Xia", "Zhuxia" is the kingdom that shared the etiquette and honor of the Zhou Dynasty. For the first time in Chinese history, the concept of cross-clan ethnicity emerged.
Before the destruction of the Shang, the Zhou tribe was invaded by rong, Di and other tribes in the northwest region, and the leader of the Zhou tribe, Gu Gongfu, led the Zhou people to migrate to the plains under the Qishan Mountains to settle down. Living in the Wei River Valley, he was enthroned by the Shang Dynasty as Xibo (meaning the head of the western princes), and was one of the main Fang Uncles of the Shang Dynasty, with Ji as his surname and the Zhou people inheriting his surname", the Zhou Dynasty implemented a sub-feudal system (feudal state founding), and the Zhou King was the "co-lord of the world". The Zhou Dynasty inherited the Xia and Shang dynasties and was the peak dynasty of the ancient slave society.
