Title: Zhou Dynasty Art: Characteristics, Types
Headings: Zhou Dynasty Art (1050-221 BCE)
History, Types and Characteristics

Zhou Dynasty Art (1050-221 BCE)
History, Types and Characteristics
Content: Zhou Dynasty Art (1050-221 BCE)
History, Types and Characteristics
Contents
• Introduction
• Zhou Bronzes
• Zhou Arts and Crafts
• Painting
• Lacquering
• Later Chinese Dynasties
Additional Resources
For earlier Chinese cultures, see: - Neolithic Art in China (c.7500-2000 BCE)
- Xia Dynasty Culture (c.2100-1600 BCE)
Note: For the effect of Zhou culture on Korea, see: Korean Art. For more about the historical context and background to Zhou Dynasty culture, see: Chinese Art Timeline (18,000 BCE - present). Introduction
An important contributor to Chinese art, the Shaanxi-based Zhou Dynasty coexisted with the previous Shang Dynasty for many years before achieving power for itself sometime in the 11th century BCE. Although the Zhou Dynasty endured for longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, its ruling Ji family only retained control until 771 BCE, a period known as the Xi (Western) Zhou. This was followed by the Dong (Eastern) Zhou (c.771–475 BCE), traditionally divided into the Spring and Autumn (Chunqiu) period (771–475), when the country fragmented into a number of small turbulent territories, and the Warring States (Zhanguo) period (475–221 bc) when these small territories merged into seven larger entities, which then contended with one another for domination. The initial Zhou capital was situated near Xian on the Wei River above its confluence with the Yellow River (Huang He), but a second capital was built at Luoyang in the east.