The Research On The Awarding System Of Xi Zhou Dynasty

During the Xi Zhou Dynasty of Chinese History, Awarding was very prevailing in national politics, it was formed into a complete system, and became an important culture phenomenon in politics of that time. The thesis is to dissertate the particular contents, features of awarding activities, and their influences on the politics as well as society of the Zhou Dynasty.The first chapter mainly deduces the sketch of the awarding activities previous to the Western Zhou Dynasty. The awarding in Zhou Dynasty was attached to a special cultural phenomenon, which happened because of the practical social causes and some historical roots. The chapter mainly probes the outline of the awarding activities in the putative times, the Xia Dynasty and the Yin Dynasty, which are the cultural origin to make research on the development of the awarding activities in the Zhou DynastyThe second chapter stresses on the sketch of the feudal awarding activities in the beginning time of the Zhou Dynasty. The initial feudal awarding is the prelude of the awarding activity in the Zhou Dynasty, which also sets an example for other awarding activities at that time. The initial awarding in the Zhou Dynasty experiences three climaxes, many noblemen and ministers with outstanding service are awarded. This thesis makes major researches on the feudal awarding activities with awarding land, granting slaves and dividing properties as its core for the several political states in the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty, and analyzes the main causes and contents. By means of analyzing the feudal awarding activities in several political states particularly, this thesis further dissertates the political features and deep influences in that time of the feudal activity of the Zhou Dynasty.The third chapter mainly dissertates the outline of nobility-conferring and appointment of the xi Zhou Dynasty. The activity of nobility-conferring and appointment is a more influential one among all kinds of awarding activities. The thesis firstly analyzes the inscriptions on bronze-the evidence and reason for the activity of nobility-conferring and appointment in the Zhou Dynasty. Furthermore, major things mentioned in the inscriptions on bronze of the activity of nobility-conferring and appointment are classified and verified textually, and the social meaning of all kinds of things, the objects of the awarding activity are analyzed. Finally, the thesis, as a whole, analyzes the political features of the awarding activity in the Zhou Dynasty and its influences on society.The fourth chapter mainly dissertates the sketch of the sacrifice awarding activity in the xi Zhou Dynasty. Awarding sacrifice meat to noblemen at all levels is the main content in the sacrifice ceremony. Therefore, this chapter dissertates the main contents and its social meaning of awarding sacrifice meat during the kings' sacrifice at the national temple and the seigneurs' sacrifice at their family temples. Tasting sacrifice and steaming sacrifice are two more influencing sacrifice activities. This chapter dissertates the main situations in course of tasting and steaming sacrifice, and further dissertates uncertainty on tasting and steaming sacrifice recorded in jing Chinese Characters and the existing literature so that a general idea on these two kinds of sacrifice is given in this paper. At last, the thesis offers some helpful exploration towards some other ceremonies and the awarding in it, and provides some points on the general characteristics and its social meaning of the awarding sacrifice activities in the Zhou Dynasty.The fifth chapter mainly dissertates the sketch of the awarding activity for military service. Firstly, thesis combines the existing literature with the inscriptions each other; secondly, in a macro-skeptical way, the author probes the reasons and the total property of all kinds of awarding activities for military service. In addition, by means of treating the awarding activity toward "shi" officer in the middle and late Zhou Dynasty as the research object, the author dissertates the awarding activity for military service towards officers and its social meaning, which will further understanding on the specific awarding activity for military service. In the end, this chapter states the sketch of victory sacrifice awarding activities in the Zhou Dynasty, on the basis of it, some textual research on the main contents, characteristics and its history is made in the thesis.The sixth chapter mainly dissertates the sketch of the awarding activity in course of meeting kings and engagement. Meeting kings and engagement are two kinds of political activities, meeting kings and engagement for inquiry are the main contents in the national political and diplomatic activities, the main means of communication between kings and seigneurs as well as seigneurs and seigneurs. To some degree, meeting kings and engagement for inquiry reflects the mains contents of the diplomatic activity in the Zhou Dynasty. Firstly, this chapter dissertates the contents, features and social meaning of all kinds of the awarding activity from the king to the seigneurs in course of meeting kings. Secondly, this chapter dissertates the contents, features and meaning of all sorts of the mutual engagement from the host to the guest. In order to understand the essence and meaning of the awarding activity in course of the mutual engagement, the chapter compares the gifts of the Zhou Dynasty to the ones of other nations, and gives some objective comments and judge on the social meaning of the awarding activity in course of mutual engagement in the Zhou Dynasty.The seventh chapter mainly dissertates the sketch of the awarding activity in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Firstly, this chapter dissertates the social and political changes in the Spring and Autumn Period, their great impacts on the traditional awarding activities and its whole changing state. In this thesis, emphasis is put on the several awarding activities in the beginning of the Spring and Autumn Period by the Zhou Dynasty, and the land awarding activities at home by the Jin State, which causes great deep influences on the social and political setup. Additionally, thesis further dissertates the violent change of society and politics in the Warring States Period in China, the essential variance of the traditional awarding activities in the Zhou Dynasty and its emerging new characteristics. The awarding activities for military service in the Warring States Period are the main contents of the awarding activities in the Warring States Period, it is also the major problem to be discussed in the thesis.