Western Zhou - (c. 1050 - 771 B.C.)

The early stages of the Zhou dynasty, or Western Zhou, saw the rise of the Zhou court which became the focus of an elaborate state ritual supported by music, art, poetry and pageantry all under the direction of the master of ceremonies (binxiang). The king held audiences at dusk and dawn where orders for the day were read and executed by court officials. This custom continued until 1912 at the end of the Qing dynasty.

With the death of You Wang in 771 B.C. the capital of the Zhou dynasty was moved east to Louyang in Henan province. The first emperor, Ping Wang, was helped to power by the leaders of two of the most powerful feudal states - Jin and Zheng. The empire was already declining and was kept alive by the surrounding powerful states.

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