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Line 3: − + − − Based on the Shang records, the Xia was founded by "people of the water" who lived in the [[Yellow River]] valley during a time of bad floods. The records described them as having fair skin, course hair and speaking an "unusual tongue." If they existed, they were probably not ethnic Chinese.+ + + − According to the Shang, after the flood waters receded (during the 18th or 19th century BC), the dynasty grew weak. Eventually, the people of the water departed.+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − Not much is known about the nature of the Xia dynasty. The Shang records suggest that the Xia had a complex system of laws that was unusual for the time, as well as an unusual religion.<ref>http://www.jstor.org/pss/25211710</ref>
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|p=Xià cháo
|p=Xià cháo
|w=Hsia<sup>4</sup> ch'ao<sup>2</sup>
|w=Hsia<sup>4</sup> ch'ao<sup>2</sup>
}}
}}The '''Xia dynasty''' is an era of Chinese history that preceded the [[Shang dynasty]]. The first of the traditional sequence of Chinese dynasties, and it is dated as c. 2070 BC – c. 1600 BC. The Chinese press describes the Xia as a historical, although Western scholars generally classify it as legendary. The rulers of the [[Zhou dynasty]] (c. 1046–256 BC) used the supposed Shang overthrow of the Xia to justify their own overthrow of the Shang.<ref name=Arthur>The legend of the the Xia can be compared to the legend of the King Arthur, which was created by Norman writers to justify the Norman Conquest.</ref>
The '''Xia dynasty''' is an era of Chinese history that preceded the [[Shang dynasty]]. It is dated as c. 2070 BC – c. 1600 BC. Although the actual dynasty is considered to be legendary, modern historians nonetheless use the term as a shorthand to the refer to archaeological sites dated to this period. These show a transition between the earlier neolithic culture and the bronze age culture of the Shang. Several sites have been labeled Xia.<ref>http://www.china.org.cn/english/2003/Nov/79635.htm</ref>
Shun, the last of the legendary three sovereigns, picked Yu the Great (c. 2200 - 2100 BC) as his successor. Yu was able to control a worldwide flood by building embankments. Yu's son succeeded him, making Yu the founder of a dynasty. There were sixteen Xia rulers. The last was Jie, who fell in love with a woman who was both beautiful and cruel. Outraged rebels led by Zi Lü overthrew the Xia and established the Shang dynasty.<ref>"[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/273749/Xia-dynasty Xia dynasty]," ''Britannica''</ref>
{{Template:History of China}}
Archaeological sites from the Xia period show mixed copper and stone use, a transition between the earlier neolithic culture and the bronze age culture of the Shang. The most notable of these sites is Erlitou in Henan Province.<ref>"[http://www.china.org.cn/english/2003/Nov/79635.htm./Stunning Capital of Xia Dynasty Unearthed]", ''China Daily'', Nov. 11, 2003.</ref> This site is very large for the period and can be thought of as a major city.
In Shang mythology, the Xia are described as dark and watery. They are associated with the time of the flood. After the flood waters receded, the Xia grew weak. They were vanquished by the Shang sun-kings and eventually departed. Shang records suggest that the Xia had a complex system of laws, as well as an unusual religion.<ref>Allan, Sarah, "[http://www.jstor.org/pss/25211710 The myth of the Xia dynasty]," ''The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society'', No. 2, 1984.</ref>
The Xia myth was later reworked by the Zhou dynasty. The Zhou version of the myth emphasizes the shift of the "mandate of heaven" from the Xia to the Shang. The last Xia ruler was said to be an immoral tyrant, much like the last Shang ruler. Zhou religion, including this myth, is the basis of Chinese Native Religion.
The following is the list of rulers of Xia dynasty as given by [[Sima Qian]].
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#efefef;" colspan="4" | Table of Rulers
|-
! Order
! Reign (years)
! [[Chinese language|Chinese]]
! [[Pinyin]]
|-
| 01
| 45
| 禹
| class = "lft" | Yu the Great
|-
| 02
| 10
| 啟
| class = "lft" | Qi
|-
| 03
| 29
| 太康
| class = "lft" | Tai Kang
|-
| 04
| 13
| 仲康
| class = "lft" | Zhong Kang
|-
| 05
| 28
| 相
| class = "lft" | Xiang
|-
| 06
| 21
| 少康
| class = "lft" | Shao Kang
|-
| 07
| 17
| 杼
| class = "lft" | Zhu
|-
| 08
| 26
| 槐
| class = "lft" | Huai
|-
| 09
| 18
| 芒
| class = "lft" | Mang
|-
| 10
| 16
| 泄
| class = "lft" | Xie
|-
| 11
| 59
| 不降
| class = "lft" | Bu Jiang
|-
| 12
| 21
| 扃
| class = "lft" | Jiong
|-
| 13
| 21
| 廑
| class = "lft" | Jin
|-
| 14
| 31
| 孔甲
| class = "lft" | Kong Jia
|-
| 15
| 11
| 皋
| class = "lft" | Gao
|-
| 16
| 11
| 發
| class = "lft" | Fa
|-
| 17
| 52
| 桀
| class = "lft" | Jie
|-
|}
==Reference==
==Reference==