The Shang Dynasty
History
The Shang Dynasty was the first Chinese dynasty with written records. The Shang ruled from around 1600 BC to 1046 BC. Some historians consider the Shang to be the first Chinese Dynasty. Other historians consider it to be the second dynasty, coming after the legendary Xia Dynasty.
The Shang tribe grew into power around 1600 BC. Legend has it that the Shang were united under the leadership of Cheng Tang. Cheng Tang defeated the evil King Jie of the Xia to begin the Shang Dynasty. The Shang ruled an area around the Yellow River Valley for around 500 years. They had many rulers and capital cities during that time. The government became corrupt under the rule of King Di Xin. He was overthrown by Wu of Zhou and the Zhou Dynasty was founded
The Shang tribe grew into power around 1600 BC. Legend has it that the Shang were united under the leadership of Cheng Tang. Cheng Tang defeated the evil King Jie of the Xia to begin the Shang Dynasty. The Shang ruled an area around the Yellow River Valley for around 500 years. They had many rulers and capital cities during that time. The government became corrupt under the rule of King Di Xin. He was overthrown by Wu of Zhou and the Zhou Dynasty was founded
Oracle Bones
The Shang were polytheistic and believed in many different gods that represented the forces of nature. People in the Shang Dynasty sought out Chinese priests for advice about the future. The priests would write out questions that people gave them on the bones of cattle (called oracle bones). They would then heat the bones, causing them to crack. They would then analyze the oracle bones and based upon their findings, they would come up with an answer to the original question. These were bones that the Shang used to try and determine the future. Religious men would write a question on one side of the bone and then burn the bone until it cracked. They would then interpret the cracks for the answers and write the answers on the other side of the bone. Historians are able to decipher much of the history of the Shang through these questions and answers. Thousands of oracle bones have been found by archeologists.
Social Hierarchy
The 1st Shang rulers conquered several separate city-states in China and unified them under one ruler. The Shang Dynasty was centered around the Huang He River and its capital city was near what today is the Chinese city of Anyang. The Shang rulers created a simple govt system in which the king symbolically gave all of the land in China to his followers. In exchange, the followers pledged loyalty to the king, performed certain services for the dynasty, and paid taxes to the ruler. Chinese society in the Shang Dynasty was divided into three separate classes. The First Class was made up of the aristocracy, which included the king and his family, government officials, wealthy land owners called nobles, and great warriors in the military. The Second Class consisted of artisans (various types of artists) and merchants (businessmen). The Third class was made up of farmers, who worked for the nobles. They often lived in poverty and suffered greatly when the Huang He River flooded. For 1 month of each year, the farmers were forced to leave their farms to work on government projects such as the building of roads, palaces and irrigation canals. The Shang economy was based mainly on agriculture.
The Chinese in the Shang Dynasty had closely knit families, each of which was controlled by the father, who arranged his children’s marriages, education and even careers. Children were taught to respect and obey their parents and grandparents. The older a person became, the more honor he or she received. Even today, China continues to revere its elderly
The Chinese in the Shang Dynasty had closely knit families, each of which was controlled by the father, who arranged his children’s marriages, education and even careers. Children were taught to respect and obey their parents and grandparents. The older a person became, the more honor he or she received. Even today, China continues to revere its elderly
Advancements
During the Shang Dynasty, the Chinese learned to unwind silkworm cocoon fibers which they wove into silk cloth. To keep demand high, the Shang and the dynasties that followed kept the secret of making silk to themselves. During the Shang Dynasty, the Chinese developed their own written language that was written vertically. This form of writing is still used today. Chinese writing even became a form of art, which came to be known as calligraphy (art of fancy lettering). Calligraphy today is done in all languages but originated in China.
The Shang also developed bronze technology. They did not make normal tools out of bronze, but used bronze for religious items and weapons. Bronze weapons such as spears gave the Shang an advantage in war against their enemies. The Shang also used horse-drawn chariots in battle, giving them a further advantage.
Other Advancements
- developed a refined writing system that had over 2000 symbols
- made jewelry and decorations from jade
- invented the yoke, harness, and spoked wheel
- began to use horse-drawn chariots
- created a 12 month calendar with 365 and 1/4 days, based on the moon's cycles
- made bronze weapons
- made bronze armor
- made bronze tools
- made bronze ritual vessels with a high level of artistry and skill
- mass production of bronze items
- the first dynasty to unite a large part of China under one king
- developed the decimal system
- made fine woven silk
The Shang also developed bronze technology. They did not make normal tools out of bronze, but used bronze for religious items and weapons. Bronze weapons such as spears gave the Shang an advantage in war against their enemies. The Shang also used horse-drawn chariots in battle, giving them a further advantage.
Other Advancements
- developed a refined writing system that had over 2000 symbols
- made jewelry and decorations from jade
- invented the yoke, harness, and spoked wheel
- began to use horse-drawn chariots
- created a 12 month calendar with 365 and 1/4 days, based on the moon's cycles
- made bronze weapons
- made bronze armor
- made bronze tools
- made bronze ritual vessels with a high level of artistry and skill
- mass production of bronze items
- the first dynasty to unite a large part of China under one king
- developed the decimal system
- made fine woven silk
Fall of the Shang Dynasty
People in the Shang Dynasty believed that the Chinese gods gave the king the right to rule, a right known as the Mandate of Heaven. Anytime rebels overthrew a dynasty, the rebels would justify their actions by claiming that the dynasty had lost the Mandate of Heaven. The Shang Dynasty eventually collapsed in 1046 BC, when a rebellion led by a group called the Zhou succeeded in overthrowing the Shang.
Source: http://www.ducksters.com/history/china/shang_dynasty.php