Unit+II+Module+3+Chinese+Dynasties+Shang+and+Zhou

SHANG (1760 BCE-1050 BCE) AND ZHOU DYNASTY

//**The Shang Dynasty**// Dynasty is defined as a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group. the Shang dynasty was the first dynasty and marks a significant transition in Chinese history. Shang kings ruled a society more complex than the neolithic cultures that preceded it. This society was distinguished by metal-working, social divisions by class and profession, and a written language. Although they directly governed a limited area, Shang influence spread well beyond this region. Five centers of Shang civilization have been found in archaeological excavation, including Zhengzhou, and Anyang, the capital for roughly two centuries. Ritual sites formed the core of the centers, with evidence of different industries—such as metal-working and stone-carving—found at the periphery. At the ritual centers, the Shang kings worshipped a god they called "Di" and the legitimacy of their rule was based on the ability of the Shang ruling house to best communicate with this god. Both animals and humans were sacrificed to the god Di, and sacrifices were found in royal tombs as well, along with a wide variety of grave goods. On the oracle bones found at Shang sites, we find the earliest example of the written Chinese language. Many of these symbols are pictographs. Bronze-working was another important development under the Shang, and the size and number of bronze vessels found are evidence of both the material wealth and social organization of the Shang rule. For more on the Shang see Patricia Ebrey, //Cambridge Illustrated History of China,// pp. 22-30. -__//**Fu Hao**//__, one of the many wives of King [|Wu Ding] was shown to have led numerous military campaigns and was the most powerful military leader of her time, controlling up to 13,000 troops and important generals such as Zhi and Hou Gao. This highly unusual status is confirmed by the many weapons, including great battle-axes, unearthed from her tomb. Her tomb is referred to as the [|King Tut of china] -__//**Tang of Shang's**//__ (Zi Lu), reign was regarded as a good one by the Chinese. During his rule, he deducted taxes and drafted few soldiers. His influence spread to the Yellow River, and many natives, such as Di(氐) and Qiang(羌), in which later became vassal states. He also established Anyang as the new capital of China during the Shang Dynasty. -__**Oracle bone**__ script is known as 甲骨文 (jiăgŭwén) - literally "shell bone writing". They were used for divination, a process which involved heating them then inspecting the resulting cracks to determine to answers to one's questions. The bones were then inscribed with details of the questions and the answers. Most of the questions involved hunting, warfare, the weather and the selection of auspicious days for ceremonies.
 * Interesting facts and important people of the shang dynasty **

this is the evolution of chinese script since its creation by the shang dynasty. If you directly look at the Shang's writing and the standard writing, it appears as though the two are extremely different...look again through the whole evolution and you'll see that many aspects of the original script remain. **__Was the Shang dynasty truly the first?__** Before the Shang Dynasty, chinese tradition mentions a Hsia Dynasty, but for lack of evidence, the Hsia is still considered a legendary period. Until the late 1920s the Shang Dynasty too was thought to be legendary but discoveries made near the modern city of Anyang (the site of the Shang capital) in Henan Province proved that the dynasty existed. The discoveries that proved the existance of the Shang was none other than Oracle bones and bronze vessels. The last shang ruler was reportedly evil and tyrannical. he was overthrown by a revolt of the people, who were aided by the neighboring Zhou people. Wuwang, the leader of the Zhou, defeated the shang and founded the Zhou Dynasty



media type="youtube" key="G54TJoDvMQM" height="390" width="480" the Shang Dynasty was a long dynasty... this is how it all went down (emperor to emperor starting with Tang and ending with the beginning of the Zhou)
 * order || Emperor || facts || years in reign ||
 * 1 || Tang || Family name: Zi; Given name: Tang; He overthrew the tyrannical rule of Jie of the Xia Dynasty. The society was stable and the people lived happy lives during his reign. || 30 ||
 * 2 || Wai Bing || Son of Tang || 3 ||
 * 3 || Zhong Ren || Son of Tang and younger brother of Wai Bing || 4 ||
 * 4 || Tai Jia || grandson of Tang || 33 ||
 * 5 || Wo Ding || Son of Tai Jia || 29 ||
 * 6 || Tai Geng || Son of Tai Jia and the younger brother of Wo Ding || 25 ||
 * 7 || Xiao Jia || Son of Tai Geng || 36 ||
 * 8 || Yong Ji || Brother of Xiao Jia; The dynasty began to decline under his rule. || 12 ||
 * 9 || Tai Wu || Younger brother of Yong Ji || 75 ||
 * 10 || Zhong Ding || Son of Tai Wu || 11 ||
 * 11 || Wai Ren || Son of Tai Wu and younger brother of Zhong Ding || 15 ||
 * 12 || He Dan Jia || Son of Tai Wu and younger brother of Wai Ren || 9 ||
 * 13 || Zu Yi || Son of He Dan Jia; the Shang Dynasty came into prosperity again. || 19 ||
 * 14 || Zu Xin || Son of Zu Yi || 16 ||
 * 15 || Wo Jia || Son of Zu Yi and the younger brother of Zu Xin || 20 ||
 * 16 || Zu Ding || Son of zu Xin || 32 ||
 * 17 || Nan Geng || Son of Wo Jia || 29 ||
 * 18 || Yang Jia || Son of Zu Ding; the country was in decline during his reign. || 7 ||
 * 19 || Pan Geng || Son of Zu Ding and the younger brother of Yang Jia; He moved the capital to Yin, thus the dynasty is also called Yin Shang. The country was prosperous during his reign. || 28 ||
 * 20 || Xiao Xin || Son of Zu Ding and the younger brother of Pan Geng. The country declined again in his reign. || 21 ||
 * 21 || Xiao Yi || Son of Zu Ding and the younger brother of Xiao Xin || 21 ||
 * 22 || Wu Ding || The best emperor after Pan Geng. He enlarged the domain of the country through a war. Social productivity developed to a high level, including aspects of textile, medicine, and astronomy. There were great achievements during his reign. || 59 ||
 * 23 || Zu Geng || Son of Wu Ding || 7 ||
 * 24 || Zu Jia || Son of Wu Ding and younger brother of Zu Geng || 33 ||
 * 25 || Lin Xin || Son of Zu Jia || 6 ||
 * 26 || Geng Ding || Son of Zu Jia and younger brother of Lin Xin || 6 ||
 * 27 || Wu Yi || Son of Geng Ding || 4 ||
 * 28 || Tai Ding || Son of Wu Yi || 3 ||
 * 29 || Di Yi || Son of Tai Ding; the country was declined even worse. || 37 ||
 * 30 || Zhou || Family name: Zi; Given name: Xin; He acted atrociously toward his people and doted on his imperial concubine, Daji. He was finally defeated by the tribe of Zhou. || 33 ||

In the mid-11th century BCE, the Zhou conquered the Shang, claiming that the Shang ruling house had lost the Mandate of Heaven. The Zhou Dynasty adopted much of the political structure and religious worldview of the Shang, continuing to worship the ancestors of the King in hopes of their benevolent intervention. However, use of oracle bones declined, as did human sacrifice and the practice of following one's ruler in death. The earliest written texts date from this period. The first centuries of Zhou rule are known as the Western Zhou, because the capital was located near present-day Xi’an. Faced with the problem of ruling a large territory, the Zhou rulers granted land to nobles, most often royal relatives. These lords held hereditary positions and were expected to send military forces and tribute to the capital. This political arrangement carried with it the possibility that one or more regional lords would revolt, and in 771 BCE the Zhou king was killed by just such an alliance. The capital was then moved east to a site near present-day Luoyang, marking the beginning of the period of the Eastern Zhou (770 -256 BCE). The first part of this period is known as the “Spring and Autumn” period after a historical chronicle covering this time. The second half of the Eastern Zhou is also known as the Warring States period (403-221 BCE). By this time, the Zhou was one of a number of states, and held only limited power. The Warring States period is known for being a time of intense intellectual ferment; Mencius and Xunzi lived during this time, as did Mozi, and Legalist philosophy developed as an alternative to Confucian ideas of rulership. For more on the Zhou dynasty, see Patricia Ebrey, The Cambridge Illustrated History of China, pp. 30-60.

For more detailed chronologies, see Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture (Columbia, 2000).
 * SHANG dates ||  ||
 * 1760 BCE || Reign of Tang (Zi Lu), first Shang king, begins ||
 * 1700-1600 BCE || First bronze vessels, used in rituals ||
 * 1500 BCE || Evidence of silk-making and horse-drawn vehicles, large-scale production of bronze weapons and vessels ||
 * ca. 1400 BCE || Shang capital moved to Anyang ||
 * 1398 BC || Capital is moved from [|Zhengzhou] to [|Yinxu] under the rule of King [|Pan Geng] ||
 * 1380-1110 BCE || Oracle bones used for divination; earliest form of Chinese language, and also providing the first evidence for the Chinese calendar system ||
 * 1350 BCE || Shang capital moved to Yin, sparking the golden age of the dynasty ||
 * 1200 BC || Fu Hao is buried in her tomb at Yinxu ||
 * ca. 1200 BCE || War chariots used, along with bronze weapons ||
 * ca. 1050 BCE || End of Shang, beginning of Zhou ||
 * Zhou dates ||  ||
 * 771 BCE || Zhou capital moved east ||
 * 550-479 BCE || Life of Confucius ||
 * ca. 500 BCE || Iron begins to be used in China ||
 * 371-289 BCE || Life of Mencius ||
 * 369-286 BCE || Life of Zhuang Zi ||
 * 300-250 BCE || Present edition of Daodejing written by Lao Zi original may be much older ||
 * ca.298-238 BCE || Life of Xun Zi ||