Final answer:
The Zhou dynasty held onto Shang customs and traditions to legitimize their rule and appeal to the existing nobility, while also integrating these elements into a political strategy that solidified their power and fostered a shared cultural identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Zhou dynasty retained customs and traditions of the Shang dynasty for several reasons. Firstly, maintaining Shang cultural elements helped legitimize the Zhou rule by creating continuity between the two dynasties, which eased the transition of power. The Zhou were vassals of the Shang before the overthrow, which made it natural for them to inherit traditions like bronze-making and divination. Secondly, the integration of the Shang's ritual practices and political structures allowed the Zhou to appeal to the existing nobility, who were accustomed to Shang ways of governance and ceremonial norms. Moreover, they adopted and adapted various elements as a political strategy to enhance their prestige and consolidate power among their subjects and neighboring groups.
By selectively retaining and altering Shang traditions, such as reducing human sacrifices and introducing a new concept of a higher power above the Shang deity Di, the Zhou were able to promote a sense of shared cultural identity. This strategy was a crucial aspect of their political ideology that ultimately formed the foundation of East Asian civilization.