Zhou dynasty
![](/Images/godic/202501/04/Zhou_dynasty_1000_BC5611.png")
![States of the Western Zhou dynasty](/Images/godic/202501/04/EN-WesternZhouStates5611.jpg")
![A Western Zhou bronze gui vessel, c. 1000 BC](/Images/godic/202501/04/Western_Zhou_Gui_Vessel5611.jpg")
![A Western Zhou ceremonial bronze of cooking-vessel form inscribed to record that the King of Zhou gave a fiefdom to Shi You, ordering that he inherit the title as well as the land and people living there](/Images/godic/202501/04/CMOC_Treasures_of_Ancient_China_exhibit_-_bronze_gui5611.jpg")
The Zhou dynasty (Chinese:周朝; pinyin:Zhōu cháo [tʂóʊ tʂʰɑ̌ʊ]) was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang dynasty and preceded the Qin dynasty. Although the Zhou dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the dynasty, surnamed Ji (Chinese:姬), lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as the Western Zhou.