Official Recommendation Practice in West-Zhou Dynasty:From the texts of bronze inscriptions

The system of official recommendation dates back to the West-Zhou Period. The word wan-shi in the bronze scripture of Yu Yan during the reign of King Mu of Western Zhou,which means turning to serve others,stands generally for the case that one sends his subordinates to serve or work under those nobles who have higher social statuses. This is a way to harmonize their terms,and also to show his piousness and respects. The word wan-shi does not appear in the inscription of Chang Fu He during the same period,but what the latter describes has a similar content;that is,it does reflect the official recommendation practice. This is in fact the beginning of the system that then flourishes in the Spring-and-Autumn and the Warring States Period.