The Western Zhou Dynasty established its capital in the Xi’an area approximately from 1046 BC to 771 BC, lasting around 275 years.

In the long river of Chinese civilization, Xi ‘an in the Zhou Dynasty, like a bright pearl, exudes a unique and charming light. At that time, Xi ‘an, as the core region of the Zhou Dynasty, carried the important mission of politics, economy, culture and many other aspects, and had a profound impact on the development of Chinese history.

First, geographical location and historical evolution

Xi ‘an is located in the middle of Guanzhong Plain, bordering Weihe River to the north and Qinling Mountain to the south, surrounded by eight rivers, fertile land and unique natural conditions. As early as the Neolithic Age, there were human reproduction here, Banpo site is a strong proof. In the Zhou Dynasty, Xi ‘an ushered in an important opportunity for its development.
The Zhou people originated in the west of Guanzhong, and after a long period of development and migration, they gradually became strong. During the reign of King Wen of Zhou, the capital was moved to Fengjing (west of Feng River in Chang ‘an District, Xi ‘an), which opened the history of Xi ‘an as the capital. After King Wu of Zhou ascended the throne, Haojing was built east of Feng River, and Fenghao and two Jing were facing each other across the river, which together constituted the political center of the Zhou dynasty and was called “Zong Zhou” in history.

Second, political centrality

During the Zhou Dynasty, Xi ‘an, as the capital of the Zhou Dynasty, was the political center of the country. Here the king of Zhou gave orders and controlled the situation in the world. The Zhou Dynasty implemented a system of enfeoffment, which divided land and people among vassals, who in turn owed tribute and military duties to the Zhou king. Fenghao Erjing, as the residence of the king of Zhou, was the place where the enfeoffment ceremony was held, and it was also the core place for dealing with state affairs and making decisions about the priorities of the military.
The Zhou King maintained his ruling order through a series of political institutions and etiquette norms. For example, the Zhou rites were an important part of the political culture of the Zhou Dynasty, which covered all aspects of politics, economy, culture and social life, and had strict regulations on people’s behavior and moral norms. In Fenghao Second Capital, held a variety of grand sacrifices, court meetings and other activities, these activities are not only to respect the ancestors and worship the gods, but also to strengthen the authority of the king of Zhou, maintain the social order of an important means.

Third, economic development

During the Zhou Dynasty, the economy of Xi ‘an area achieved remarkable development. In agriculture, Zhou people attached great importance to agricultural production and carried out a series of policies conducive to agricultural development. They improved agricultural production tools, such as the use of bronze farming tools, which increased production efficiency. At the same time, it also pays attention to the construction of water conservancy facilities, excavating ditches and irrigating farmland, which makes the crop output greatly increased. The main crops are millet, millet, rice, wheat, etc. These food crops not only meet the needs of people’s lives, but also provide the basis for national reserves and trade.
Handicrafts are also well developed. Bronze casting is the representative of handicraft industry of Zhou Dynasty. A large number of exquisite bronze wares have been unearthed in Fenghao area. These bronze wares have various shapes and exquisite craftsmanship, which are not only of practical value, but also art treasures. The types of bronze vessels include ding, Guigui, Zun, jue, etc. Most of them were used for sacrificial and ceremonial activities, reflecting the hierarchy and cultural connotation of the Zhou Dynasty. In addition, the Zhou Dynasty’s pottery industry, textile industry, jade making and other handicrafts also made some achievements.
Commercial trade is also on the rise. With the development of agriculture and handicrafts, surplus products have increased, and the demand for Commodity Exchange has become increasingly strong. In Fengho Erkyong, a special market appeared where people traded goods. The Zhou Dynasty also formulated a series of commercial policies to regulate the market order and promote the prosperity of commerce. At that time, the trade scope not only covered the various vassal states of the Zhou Dynasty, but also had economic contacts with some surrounding minority areas.

4th Cultural prosperity

Xi ‘an in the Zhou Dynasty was one of the important cradles of Chinese culture, which showed a prosperous scene.
In terms of writing, oracle bone script was the main writing in the Shang Dynasty, and by the Zhou Dynasty, Jin script was widely used. Gold inscriptions are characters carved on bronze vessels, which are more standardized and mature than oracle bone inscriptions. The content of Jin Wen is rich and varied, including the records of sacrifice, war, reward, contract, etc., which provides precious materials for future generations to study the history of Zhou Dynasty.
Literature and art have also made great achievements. The Book of Songs is the first collection of poems in China, many of which were written in the Zhou Dynasty, reflecting the social life, customs, love and marriage at that time. Most of these poems were collected from folk, and after finishing and processing, they became classics. In addition, the music and dance of the Zhou Dynasty were also very developed, and they were indispensable components in sacrificial activities and rituals. There were many kinds of Musical Instruments in the Zhou Dynasty, such as chime bells, chime chime, qin, seer, etc., which made beautiful music.
The education system also took shape. The Zhou Dynasty established Guoxue and Xiangxue. Guoxue was a school for the children of aristocrats. It taught six arts, namely rites, music, archery, imperial art, calligraphy and numeracy. Township schools were established for the children of ordinary people, mainly teaching some basic cultural knowledge and moral norms. Through education, a large number of talented people with culture and morality were cultivated, which provided talents support for the development and prosperity of the Zhou Dynasty.

5th Influence on later generations

The development of Xi ‘an during the Zhou Dynasty had a profound influence on the later generations. In terms of political system, although there were some problems in the later period, the system of enfeoffment laid the foundation of the ancient Chinese political system, and many later dynasties used the idea of enfeoffment for reference to a certain extent. Zhou ritual has become an important part of Chinese traditional culture, and has had a profound impact on the etiquette norms and moral concepts of ancient Chinese society, which has continued to this day.
In the aspect of culture, as a classic of Chinese literature, the Book of Songs has exerted a great influence on the development of later literature. Later generations of poetry, prose and other literary forms can draw nourishment from the Book of Songs. The appearance of Jin Wen not only promoted the development and evolution of characters, but also provided an important model for the later calligraphy art.
In terms of urban construction, the planning and layout of Fenghao Second Capital provided an important reference for the construction of later capital cities. The division of functional areas such as palaces, temples, and markets, as well as the construction of urban roads, drainage and other infrastructure, all reflect the superb level of urban planning at that time.
In a word, Xi ‘an during the Zhou Dynasty, as the core area of the Zhou Dynasty, made brilliant achievements in politics, economy and culture. It was not only the political, economic and cultural center of China at that time, but also one of the important birthplaces of Chinese civilization. It has a profound and lasting influence on the later generations, and has made indelible contributions to the development of Chinese history and the inheritance of culture. Today, looking back on the history of Xi ‘an during the Zhou Dynasty, we can still feel its unique charm and profound heritage, which encourages us to continue to explore and inherit the excellent traditions of Chinese civilization, and strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.