he Western Zhōu period (1046–771 BCE) is the first half of the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China.

It begins when King Wu of Zhou overthrows the Shang Dynasty at the Battle of Muye.

C.H.

Wang refers to the account of King Wu's victory over the Shang Dynasty in the Chinese Book of Songs as the "Weniad" (a name that parallels The Iliad), seeing it as part of a greater narrative discourse in China that extols the virtues of wén over more military interests.

The dynasty is successful for about seventy-five years and then slowly loses power.

The former Shang lands are divided into hereditary fiefs which become increasingly independent of the king.

In 771, barbarians drive the Zhou out of the Wèi River Valley; afterwards that real power is in the hands of the king's nominal vassals.