The CHOU Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that ruled from 1046 BCE to 256 BCE. It was founded by King Wu of the Zhou family and was the longest-lasting dynasty of ancient China. The Dynasty of Confucius was a period of Chinese history during the CHOU Dynasty, when Confucius and his followers developed their philosophical teachings. This period is considered to be one of the most influential in Chinese history, as Confucianism became the basis for much of Chinese culture and society.