The movement of Zhou - Eastern Zhou Dynasty

The Zhou kings maintained control over the territory for more than two centuries. But with time passing by, the domination weakened. In 770 BC several powerful states allied with nomadic people rebelled and forced the Zhou moving from the capital near Xian to present day Luoyang, east of the previous capital. The new location of Zhou that prevented attacking from nomadic people marked the beginning of Eastern Zhou. Ever since then, the Eastern Zhou kings no longer exercised much political or military authority over those states. The political structure of Eastern Zhou is little more like federate; the Zhou kings remained as nominal overlords, other powerful states functioned independently in almost every aspect.

During the Eastern Zhou period, social and economic achievement were very notable. The implementation of iron-tipped, ox-drawn plows and improved irrigation techniques marked a great advance of the country. The steady social productivity supported a remarkable population increment. Other economic achievements included the circulation of coins for money and the growth of cities. Military technology also advanced. The Eastern Zhou developed the crossbow and adopted cavalry warfare from nomads.

During the Eastern Zhou period there were two major subdivisions; the Spring & Autumn; the Warring States. The end of the Zhou period is in 221 BC when the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty unified the land on a new imperial basis. During the 7th and 6th centuries BC, brief periods of stability were achieved through alliances among states, under the domination of the strongest member. Traditionally this period was regarded as the Spring & Autumn Period. The years from 475 to 221 BC was known as the Warring States Period because the wars were particularly frequent and deadly.

In order to maintain and increase power, state rulers sought the advice of teachers and strategists. This stimulated intellectual activity and debate, and intense reappraisal of traditions. Therefore, the period was well known as the phenomena of 'hundred schools of thoughts turned up'. There were thinkers fascinated by logical puzzles; utopians and hermits who argued for withdrawal from public life; agriculturists who argued that no one should eat who does not plough; military theorists who analyzed ways to deceive the enemy; and cosmologists who developed theories of the forces of nature, including the opposite and complementary forces of Yin and Yang. The three most influential schools of thought that evolved during this period were Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. Simply to say, the Eastern Zhou period is regarded as the molding period of Chinese culture.