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- of Heaven� from the Shang, who had lost their right to govern. While the Shang state had been relatively small and compact, the Zhou kingdom was much more extensive and was made up of a federation of states. As a result of these more elaborate political relationships, there was an increased complexity in their rituals and ceremonial paraphernalia. The Zhou dynasty is divided into two major pe�riods defined by the change of capital sites. The two epochs are known as the Western Zhou (eleventh century-770 B.C.) when the capital was located at Xian, and the Eastern Zhou (770-third century B.C.) when the capital was moved east�wards to Luoyang.
The Shang tradition of making imposing bronze sacrificial vessels and beautiful ceremonial jades continued into the early part of the Zhou period. The forms and styles of the Western Zhou jades essentially followed those of the Shang mode with little change other than an evolutionary tendency towards simplification. A decorative innovation of this time was the use of bevelled scrolls formed by an ob�liquely sloping band. The range of designs increased at the same time to include fantastic creatures depicted alone or intertwined with others, and were executed with extensive use of bevelled lines and gently curved or modelled surfaces.16 The excavation of Western Zhou tombs at Luoyang and Puducun near Xian17 since 1949, seem to substantiate both the continuation of Shang styles and the appear�ance of bevelled lines.
Axe
green jade, largely calcified Length 21.2 cm Shang-Western Zhou Type Unique Jade of the Ancient Chinese: The Dyer Ancestral Collection
The latter part of the Western Zhou period and the early part of the Eastern Zhou is often referred to as the ��Middle Zhou� period, which sees the growing power of certain states within the federation. The jade style of this period is marked by the diminishing use of bevelled lines and a reduction of the repertory to a few stereo�typed patterns. The surface decorations on the jades seem to be largely based on standardized bronze designs, especially the ubiquitous dragon motif. There is a technical decline during this period which is characterized by crudely executed jade products and carelessly drilled holes. This period is represented by dateable jade objects unearthed at Zhangjiapo, Xincun, Xinye, and Shangcunling.18
Although the late Zhou period was characterized by social and political up�heaval, it was nevertheless an age of dynamic growth and tremendous energy.
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