Changes

Chinese writing first appeared in this period. These were pictographs on bones, shells, and later in bronze. The Shang was the first dynasty to use chariots. Over 500 sites have been classified as culturally Shang, although not necessarily politically. These sites are located, not only in Shang heartland in the central portion of the Yellow River, but all across northern and eastern China.<ref name="McCurleyShang" />

Chinese writing first appeared in this period. These were pictographs on bones, shells, and later in bronze. The Shang was the first dynasty to use chariots. Over 500 sites have been classified as culturally Shang, although not necessarily politically. These sites are located, not only in Shang heartland in the central portion of the Yellow River, but all across northern and eastern China.<ref name="McCurleyShang" />

{{History of China}}

{{History of China}}

In the Early Shang, the capital was initially located at Bo. Bo is identified with a walled city in Yanshi in northern Henan Province that was unearthed in 1983. Erlitou, the Xia capital, is also in Yanshi, which suggests that there was at one time a relationship between the two states. Bo was radiocarbon dated to 1600 BC, and this dated is considered to be the founding of the Shang dynasty.<ref>If the traditional date of 1766 BC is accepted, that would imply that the upper layer of Erlitou is a Shang site.</ref> In the Middle Shang, the capital was moved several times.

==Early Shang==

The capital was initially located at Bo. Bo is identified with a walled city in Yanshi in northern Henan Province that was unearthed in 1983. Erlitou, the Xia capital, is also in Yanshi, which suggests that there was at one time a relationship between the two states. Bo was radiocarbon dated to 1600 BC. This date is considered to be the founding of the Shang dynasty.<ref>If the traditional date of 1766 BC is accepted as the actual year the dynasty was founded, that would imply that the upper layer of Erlitou is a Shang site.</ref> In the Middle Shang, the capital was moved several times. In this period, the king may be viewed as a wandering shaman, moving from one city to another in response to arcane oracles.

The king functioned as chief shaman of the state. A proposed divination would be written on a bone. The bones was then heated until stress caused it to crack. The cracks were interpreted by the king as either confirming or denying the divination. Ritual required the king to travel extensively, notably to the four sacred mountains. The many movements of the capital are presumably linked to court ritual and geomancy.<ref name="McCurleyShang" />

After a permanent capital was established at Anyang in 1300 BC, the king began to function more as a ruler and head of an established government. But he continued to tend to divination personally. A proposed divination would be written on a bone. The bones was then heated until stress caused it to crack. The cracks were interpreted by the king as either confirming or denying the divination. Ritual required the king to travel extensively, notably to the four sacred mountains.<ref name="McCurleyShang" />

Around 1300 BC, the capital was moved again to Anyang, also in northern Henan. This event marks the beginning of the Late Shang. As writing developed around 1200 BC, only the late Shang can be considered fully historical.<ref>The XSZ Project gives exact years for various events beginning in 1300 BC, with the earlier period described only in general terms. For comparison, note that the standard chronology for Egypt begins with the Third Dynasty in 2750 BC.</ref> Contemporary oracle bone inscriptions establish the sequence of rulers from this point on, so this can be considered the beginning of China's recorded history. The chariot was also introduced at around this time. Like the Xia, the Shang was once thought to be legendary. The excavation of Anyang, begun in 1928, demonstrated that the dynasty is historical. Anyang does not have a wall, which suggests the kings were confident that they could fend off invaders without one.<ref name="McCurleyShang" /> The royal tombs that have been unearthed suggest that human sacrifice was practiced.<ref>"[http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/episodes/treasure-tomb-of-the-warrior-queen/ Treasure Tomb of the Warrior Queen]", ''National Geographic'', 2010.</ref>  

As writing developed around 1200 BC, only the late Shang can be considered fully historical.<ref>The XSZ Project gives exact years for various events beginning in 1300 BC, with the earlier period described only in general terms. For comparison, note that the standard chronology for Egypt begins with the Third Dynasty in 2750 BC.</ref> Contemporary oracle bone inscriptions establish the sequence of rulers from this point on, so this can be considered the beginning of China's recorded history. The chariot was also introduced at around this time. Like the Xia, the Shang was once thought to be legendary. The excavation of Anyang, begun in 1928, demonstrated that the dynasty is historical. Anyang does not have a wall, which suggests the kings were confident that they could fend off invaders without one.<ref name="McCurleyShang" /> The royal tombs that have been unearthed suggest that human sacrifice was practiced.<ref>"[http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/episodes/treasure-tomb-of-the-warrior-queen/ Treasure Tomb of the Warrior Queen]", ''National Geographic'', 2010.</ref>  

No Shang literature survives, but about 200,000 oracle bone inscriptions have found. The earliest date from about 1200 BC.<ref name="McCurleyShang" />

No Shang literature survives, but about 200,000 oracle bone inscriptions have found. The earliest date from about 1200 BC.<ref name="McCurleyShang" />