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The '''Shang dynasty''' was a major ancient [[Chinese]] [[dynasty]] from about 1766 to 1122 BC.   

The '''Shang dynasty''' was a major ancient [[Chinese]] [[dynasty]] from about 1766 to 1122 BC; however, many modern sinologists believe that the Shang may not have been actually Han Chinese, and simply one of the many cultures present in China before the Zhou and the absorption of many traditions in Han society.  Similarly, the dates of the Shang dynasty are fairly arbitrary, as accurate historiography begins around the mid-9th century BC, and the records of the Shang - the oracle bones - are of imprecise dates.

The Shang dynasty built cities in northern China along the [[Yellow River]] and is sometimes called the Yellow River Civilization.  The Shang empire consisted of [[city-states]] which were often at war with one another, and the capital city shifted as power changed hands.

The Shang dynasty built cities in northern China along the [[Yellow River]] and is sometimes called the Yellow River Civilization.  The Shang empire consisted of [[city-states]] which were often at war with one another, and the capital city shifted as power changed hands.

The Shang dynasty had writing in the form of [[oracle bones]], questions and answers inscribed on a bone.  They used a pictographic form of writing from which modern Chinese writing is descended. In the later part of the dynasty, early printing presses were used more widely than oracle bones for record keeping, although oracle bones were still used for religious purposes.

The Shang dynasty had writing in the form of [[oracle bones]], questions and answers inscribed on a bone for the purposes of divination.  These have been translated to the extent that they can be, and provide quite vivid accounts of Shang life and culture, although they record mostly the upper echelons of society, and some scholars believe that only the positive results of the divinations were recorded or kept - some use the evidence of the birth of the daughter of Lady Hao as evidence against, as the inscription reads "...on day 51, she gave birth. It really was not good.  It was a girl" (having previously predicted that it would be a good birth - it would be "prolonged auspiciousness").  They used a pictographic form of writing from which modern Chinese writing is descended. In the later part of the dynasty, early printing presses were used more widely than oracle bones for record keeping, although oracle bones were still used for religious purposes.

The wheel was perfected by the Shang dynasty and used in chariots.

The wheel was perfected by the Shang dynasty and used in chariots, some of which have been discovered at Anyang, near the site of the largest Shang cultural centre.

The Shang dynasty ended in 1122 BC and was replaced by the [[Zhou dynasty]].

The Shang dynasty ended in 1122 BC and was replaced by the [[Zhou dynasty]], a dynasty of which scholars have much more accurate records, and which represents a flowering of Chinese culture and thought, even as the dynasty collapsed in the [[Spring and Autumn]] (春秋) and [[Warring States]] (战国） periods.

[[Category:Chinese History]]

[[Category:Chinese History]]

[[Category:China]]

[[Category:China]]

[[Category:Chinese dynasties]]

[[Category:Chinese dynasties]]