Difference between revisions of "Xia dynasty"

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}}The '''Xia dynasty''' is an era of Chinese history that preceded the [[Shang dynasty]]. The first in the traditional sequence of Chinese dynasties, and it is dated as c. 2070 BC – c. 1600 BC. 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> 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>
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}}The '''Xia dynasty''' is an era of Chinese history that began in 2070 BC and continued until 1600 BC. It was followed by the [[Shang dynasty]]. Many of the stories concerning this dynasty are distorted by the agendas of later rulers, and the traditional list of rulers is almost certainly mythical. However, a site at Erlitou in Henan Province is identified with the Xia capital of Zhenxun. The Chinese press describes the Xia as historical, although some Western scholars remain skeptical.<ref>Chen Ning, "[http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/topic/31689-the-controversy-of-the-xia-shang-zhou-chronology-p/ The Controversy of the Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project]" (2009).</ref>
  
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The Chinese press describes the Xia as historical, although Western scholars generally classify it as legendary.<ref>Chen Ning, "[http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/topic/31689-the-controversy-of-the-xia-shang-zhou-chronology-p/ The Controversy of the Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project]" (2009). For China to have 5,000 years of history, the Xia must be treated as historical. The 5,000-year claim is one the Chinese government is much attached to.</ref> The last Xia ruler was said to be an immoral tyrant, much like the last Shang ruler. In 1920s, Gu Jiegang and other scholars of the Doubting Antiquity School pointed out that the two stories are suspiciously similar.<ref>Lee, Yun Kuen, "[http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10125/17161 Building the Chronology of Early Chinese History]", University of Hawai'i Press (Honolulu) 2002.</ref>
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Archaeological sites from the Xia period show mixed copper and stone use, a transition between the earlier neolithic culture and the bronze age culture. China entered the Bronze Age around 1700 BC, toward the end of the dynasty. Erlitou in northern Henan Province is a very large site for the period and can be thought of as a major city.<ref>"[http://www.china.org.cn/english/2003/Nov/79635.htm./ Stunning Capital of Xia Dynasty Unearthed]", ''China Daily'', Nov. 11, 2003.</ref>
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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, according to legend.
 
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{{Template:History of China}}
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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.
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Jie was the last Xia ruler. He 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> In 1920s, Gu Jiegang and other scholars of the Doubting Antiquity School pointed out that this story is suspiciously similar to a story concerning the last Shang ruler, who is also said to have been an immoral tyrant.<ref>Lee, Yun Kuen, "[http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10125/17161 Building the Chronology of Early Chinese History]", University of Hawai'i Press (Honolulu) 2002.</ref> 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>
  
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In Shang mythology, the Xia are described as dark and watery. They are associated with the time of the flood. After the waters receded, the Xia grew weak. They were then vanquished by the Shang sun-kings and eventually departed. There is no issue of dynastic handover in this version of the myth. The Shang rulers must have already viewed themselves as sovereign when the two peoples were living side by side. 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>
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Oracle bones found at Anyang allow modern scholars to piece together Shang mythology concerning the Xia. The Shang described the Xia as dark and watery. They associated the Xia with the time of the flood. After the waters receded, the Xia grew weak. They were vanquished by the Shang sun-kings and eventually departed. There is no issue of dynastic handover in this version of the myth. The Shang rulers must have already viewed themselves as sovereign when the two peoples were living side by side. 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 reworked during the Zhou dynasty. The Zhou version of the myth emphasizes the shift of the "mandate of heaven" from the Xia to the Shang. This introduces a doctrine that legitimizes the overthrow of a dynasty. Zhou religion, including this myth, is the basis of Chinese Native Religion.
 
The Xia myth was reworked during the Zhou dynasty. The Zhou version of the myth emphasizes the shift of the "mandate of heaven" from the Xia to the Shang. This introduces a doctrine that legitimizes the overthrow of a dynasty. Zhou religion, including this myth, is the basis of Chinese Native Religion.
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Revision as of 12:53, May 27, 2014

Xia dynasty
Chinese 夏朝

The Xia dynasty is an era of Chinese history that began in 2070 BC and continued until 1600 BC. It was followed by the Shang dynasty. Many of the stories concerning this dynasty are distorted by the agendas of later rulers, and the traditional list of rulers is almost certainly mythical. However, a site at Erlitou in Henan Province is identified with the Xia capital of Zhenxun. The Chinese press describes the Xia as historical, although some Western scholars remain skeptical.[1]

Archaeological sites from the Xia period show mixed copper and stone use, a transition between the earlier neolithic culture and the bronze age culture. China entered the Bronze Age around 1700 BC, toward the end of the dynasty. Erlitou in northern Henan Province is a very large site for the period and can be thought of as a major city.[2]

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, according to legend.

History of China
Xia c. 2070–c. 1600 BC
Shang c. 1600 – 1046 BC
Zhou 1045–256 BC
Qin 221–206 BC
Han 206 BC – 220 AD
Three Kingdoms 220–280
Jin 265–420
Northern and Southern
Dynasties 420–589
Sui 581–618
Tang 618–907
Five Dynasties and
Ten Kingdoms 907–960
Song 960–1279
Yuan 1271–1368
Ming 1368–1644
Qing 1644–1911
Republic 1912–1949
People's Republic 1949–present

Jie was the last Xia ruler. He 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.[3] In 1920s, Gu Jiegang and other scholars of the Doubting Antiquity School pointed out that this story is suspiciously similar to a story concerning the last Shang ruler, who is also said to have been an immoral tyrant.[4] 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.[5]

Oracle bones found at Anyang allow modern scholars to piece together Shang mythology concerning the Xia. The Shang described the Xia as dark and watery. They associated the Xia with the time of the flood. After the waters receded, the Xia grew weak. They were vanquished by the Shang sun-kings and eventually departed. There is no issue of dynastic handover in this version of the myth. The Shang rulers must have already viewed themselves as sovereign when the two peoples were living side by side. Shang records suggest that the Xia had a complex system of laws, as well as an unusual religion.[6]

The Xia myth was reworked during the Zhou dynasty. The Zhou version of the myth emphasizes the shift of the "mandate of heaven" from the Xia to the Shang. This introduces a doctrine that legitimizes the overthrow of a dynasty. 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.

Table of Rulers
Order Reign (years) Chinese Pinyin
01 45 禹 Yu (the Great)
02 10 啟 Qi
03 29 太康 Tai Kang
04 13 仲康 Zhong Kang
05 28 相 Xiang
06 21 少康 Shao Kang
07 17 杼 Zhu
08 26 槐 Huai
09 18 芒 Mang
10 16 泄 Xie
11 59 不降 Bu Jiang
12 21 扃 Jiong
13 21 廑 Jin
14 31 孔甲 Kong Jia
15 11 皋 Gao
16 11 發 Fa
17 52 桀 Jie


Reference

  1. ↑ Chen Ning, "The Controversy of the Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project" (2009).
  2. ↑ "Stunning Capital of Xia Dynasty Unearthed", China Daily, Nov. 11, 2003.
  3. ↑ "Xia dynasty," Britannica
  4. ↑ Lee, Yun Kuen, "Building the Chronology of Early Chinese History", University of Hawai'i Press (Honolulu) 2002.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ Allan, Sarah, "The myth of the Xia dynasty," The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, No. 2, 1984.
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