See The Western Zhou Dynasty Bronze Retainer

The Western Zhou Dynasty is the era when aristocratic families, which is led by the Zhou royal family ruled the country, a large number of political and economic activities were carried out at the royal and noble families.To the retainers of the Western Zhou, is of importance to understand the political economy formof noble families in the Western Zhou.The preambleofthis article firstly reviews theresearchstatus ofretainers in theWestern Zhou DynastyandtheSpring and Autumn Period,explain that the main material of the study is Western Zhou bronze inscriptions, and defines "retainer" which will be discussed in this article.The first chapter discusses the two main official Post of the Western Zhou Dynasty royal administrative system—"Zai" and "Shan Fu", and mainly to explain their official affairs and their position in the dynasty. Zai became active in the mid-Western Zhou and was mainly responsible for the management of Royal Affairs, including running Royal property and servants. The rise of Zai’s status tells that a relatively independent royal administrative system is gradually taking shape."Shan Fu" appeared in the mid-Western Zhou. Its own was responsible for the diet affairs of the Royal. Some Shan Fu’s status is high, and may even as a ruling party minister. In Late Western Zhou Dynasty, kings of the West Zhou and the aristocracy’s contradictions become very intense, royal officials more involved in the government processing may be associated with it. Because You Zhe and officials which were ordered by the kings is a superior-subordinate relationship, the officials whose You Zhe is Zai could be classified in royal administrative system. Some other officials could also be regarded as royal officials since their responsibilities. Nei Shi of historiographers also belong to the royal administrative system. Zuo Ce was similar with Nei Shi. The formation of Nei Shi system is a result of the royal administrative system becoming independent and active.The second chapter discusses the noble families’retainers outside the royal ones. Patriarchal retainers are regarded as leaders of separated clans according to main clans. The basis that they generate is the patriarchal system. Leaders of separated clans work withordinary retainers to deal with Lord’s affairs. Some retainers can command the noble family’s private army. The role of noble families’ hostess in the economic affairs of their family is important. She has the power of the dominant of clan property, so retainers’ function is to manage held manorsunder the leadership of noble families’ hostess.