Early Period of the Western Zhou Dynasty

King Wu of Zhou: Ji Fa, reigned from 1046 BC to 1043 BC for three years. The second son of King Wen of Zhou, he inherited his father’s will, overthrew the Shang Dynasty and established the Western Zhou Dynasty.

King Cheng of Zhou: Ji Song, reigned from 1042 BC to 1021 BC for 22 years. During the first seven years of his reign, the Duke of Zhou served as regent. After King Cheng took personal control of the government, he enfeoffed many nobles and ordered the Duke of Shao to build the city of Luo. He also ordered the Duke of Zhou to formulate rites and music, thus laying the foundation for the Western Zhou Dynasty.

King Kang of Zhou: Ji Zhao, reigned from 1020 BC to 996 BC for 25 years. The son of King Cheng, after ascending the throne, he continuously launched military campaigns against the Gui Fang and various regions in the southeast. During his reign, the state was powerful, the whole country was unified, the economy and culture flourished, and the society was stable. The reigns of King Cheng and King Kang together are known as the “Reign of Cheng and Kang”.

King Zhao of Zhou: Ji Xia, reigned from 995 BC to 977 BC for 19 years. The son of King Kang, he intended to continue expanding the territory of the Zhou Dynasty as his predecessors King Cheng and King Kang had done. He launched several southern expeditions against the state of Chu. In the 19th year of his reign, when he attacked Chu in the south, his entire army was wiped out and he died on the banks of the Han River. From then on, the Zhou Dynasty began to decline.

Middle Period of the Western Zhou Dynasty

King Mu of Zhou: Ji Man, reigned from 976 BC to 922 BC for 55 years. The son of King Zhao, he is one of the most legendary emperors in ancient Chinese history, known as “Emperor Mu of Zhou”. He launched military campaigns in the east and west to expand the territory. However, due to years of continuous expeditions, the court affairs became slack and the Zhou Dynasty began to decline.

King Gong of Zhou: Ji Yihu, reigned from 922 BC to 900 BC for 23 years. The son of King Mu, when he ascended the throne, the state treasury was empty. In order to show clear rewards and punishments, he gradually enfeoffed the land near the capital to nobles and officials. As a result, the area directly under his control became smaller and smaller, and the Zhou Dynasty continued to decline.

King Yi of Zhou: Ji Jian, reigned from 899 BC to 892 BC for 8 years. The son of King Gong, he was weak in character. The politics became increasingly corrupt and the national strength declined further. Due to repeated attacks by the Western Rong tribes, he was forced to move the capital to Huaili. King Xiao of Zhou: Ji Pifang, reigned from 891 BC to 886 BC for 6 years. The uncle of King Yi of Zhou, as the crown prince was young after King Yi’s death, he took the opportunity to seize the throne. During his reign, he ordered the Marquis of Shen to attack the Western Rong tribes in an attempt to revive the Zhou Dynasty. King Yi of Zhou: Ji Xie, reigned from 885 BC to 878 BC for 8 years. The son of King Yi, he regained the throne after King Xiao’s death. He once had the Marquis of Qi (Qi Ai Gong) boiled alive, which intensified the contradictions between the Zhou court and the vassal states.

Later Period of the Western Zhou Dynasty

King Li of Zhou: Ji Hu, reigned from 877 BC to 841 BC for 37 years. The son of King Yi, during his reign, he implemented the policy of monopolizing certain resources by the state, taking the mountains, forests, rivers and marshes under state ownership and prohibiting the common people from making a living by relying on these natural resources. This triggered the “Rebellion of the Common People”, and he was driven out of the capital. Then the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao jointly administered the state affairs, which was known as the “Gonghe Administration” in history.

King Xuan of Zhou: Ji Jing, reigned from 827 BC to 782 BC for 46 years. The son of King Li, after ascending the throne, he rectified the court affairs, which led to a short period of revival for the Zhou Dynasty, known as the “Revival of King Xuan” in history. However, in his later years, he suffered repeated defeats in foreign wars, and the national strength declined again.

King You of Zhou: Ji Gongshēng, reigned from 781 BC to 771 BC for 11 years. The son of King Xuan, he was licentious and immoral, doting on Baosi. In order to make Baosi smile, he played tricks on the vassal states by lighting the beacon fires for no real reason. He also deposed the legitimate heir and established an illegitimate one as the crown prince, which led to an attack by the Marquis of Shen in alliance with the state of Zeng and the Quanrong tribes. Eventually, the Western Zhou Dynasty perished.

After the Perishing of the Western Zhou Dynasty

King Ping of Zhou: Ji Yijiu, reigned from 770 BC to 720 BC for 51 years. The crown prince of King You, after the Western Zhou Dynasty perished, he was escorted by the vassal states to move eastward to Luoyi and established the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.