Rule by Virtue
Virtue/Morality Holds
the Central place in Chinese culture
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Three Ancient Sage
Kings--Rule by
Virtue
Yao/Shun/Yu
What is the limit of
this model?
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How to pass the
throne to the next
generation?
Moral strengths vs.
blood line
Xia Shang Zhou Chronology Project
夏商周断代工程
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a multi-discipline project commissioned by the
People's Republic of China in 1996 to
determine with accuracy the location and time
frame of the Xia Dynasty, the Shang Dynasty
and the Zhou Dynasty. Some 200 experts took
part in the project. The project results were
released in November 2000. Claimed results
include:
All four phases of Erlitou culture were part of
the Xia Dynasty.
The Western Zhou period was precisely dated.
Methods Used
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The project correlated radiocarbon
dating, archaeological dating methods,
historical textual analysis, astronomy,
and used other interdisciplinary methods
to achieve more temporal and
geographic accuracy.
Ancient Worship: inclusive
Fengshan Sacrificial Ceremonies
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Heaven/Earth/Ancestors
Feng and shan sacrificial
ceremonies at Mt. Tai
Temple constructions
For cultural legetimation
祭祀【jìsì】 offer sacrifices to
gods or ancestors.
祭/吉【jí】 lucky; auspicious;
propitious.
This ritual holds the central status
in all rituals/rites
Animals used: Color has to be
pure, body has to be complete;
otherwise they are disqualified; go
plowing in the field or play other
functions;
色纯为“牺”，体全为“牲”
Biblical reference
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Legitimation is the act of
providing legitimacy.
Legitimation in the social
sciences refers to the process
whereby an act, process, or
ideology becomes legitimate by
its attachment to norms and
values within a given society. It
is the process of making
something acceptable and
normative to a group or
audience.
Legitimate power is the ability
to influence through authority,
the right by virtue of one's
organization position or status
to exercise control over persons
in subordinate position.
From the King James Bible (1611)
http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksea
rch=genesis&qs_version=NIV
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Le’viticus: the third book of the Bible, containing laws
relating to the priests and ‘Levites and to the forms of
Jewish ceremonial observance. Abbreviation: Lev.
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6: And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto
the LORD be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it
without blemish.
22: Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or
scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the
LORD,
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The Xia Dynasty
华夏【huáxià】 an ancient name for China
2070 to 1600 BCE, the First Dynasty
Yu the Great,;
“Tribute to Yu”
http://ctext.org/shangshu/xia-shu
九州【jiǔzhōu】 a
poetic name of China,
referring to the nine
prefectures or
provinces outlined by
Yu after taming the
flood;
16 rulers, ending with Jie.
Yu’s Birth
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Possibly Serving as
the First Case of
a Caesarean
section, or
nicknamed as the
“Emperor’s Cut”
Different versions
The Erlitou culture
二里头文化
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The Erlitou culture is a name given by
archaeologists to an Early Bronze Age urban
society that existed in China from 2000 BCE to
1500 BCE. The culture was named after the
site discovered at Erlitou (二里頭村) in Yanshi
偃师 , Henan Province. The culture was widely
spread throughout Henan and Shanxi Province,
and later appeared in Shaanxi and Hubei
Province. Most Chinese archaeologists identify
the Erlitou culture as the site of the Xia
Dynasty.
Erlitou Historical Site
Near city of Luoyang, Henan province
黄河流域【huánghé liúyù】 the Yellow River
Valley; river basin; drainage area.
Qi, the Founding Emperor of Xia
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According to the historian Sima
Qian, Yu did not want his son
to become king and intended to
give the throne to Boyi, the son
of Gao Yao. But due to Yu's
great influence, all the leaders
of the Xia state came to admire
Qi instead of Boyi, so Yu had
no choice but to pass the throne
to Qi. Qi then succeeded Yu.
According to the Bamboo
Annals, however, Boyi took the
throne and became the king of
China, but later Qi assassinated
him and abducted the throne.
Gao Yao 皋陶
c. 2100 BCE?
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Gao Yao 皋陶 was a political advisor of
the Yu the Great in China during the Xia
Dynasty. His son was Bo Yi (伯益).
He is cited admonishingly saying to his
king: "[The] Heaven can see and hear,
and does so through the eyes and ears
of the people; Heaven rewards the
virtuous and punishes the wicked, and
does it through the people.“
Legal Code of Xia
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五刑【wǔxíng】 the five chief forms
of punishment in ancient China
(tatooing the face, cutting off the
nose, cutting off the feet, castration
and decapitation).”
Palace Construction
in the Xia Dynasty
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Post-and-Beam
Structure was used
in Xia’s palace
construction, which
could reduce the
pressure and weight
on the wall and save
lots of timber.
Status of Jade in China
In Xia dynasty, jade was used
as ritual objects
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Jade craftworks were among
the most precious and luxurious
ones; people wear and
decorate rooms to indicate
loyalty, elegance, beauty, and
eternity. The most popular
patterns were: peach
(longevity/female fertility),
mandarin duck (love), deer
(high official ranks), bat
(blessing), fish (affluence),
double phoenixes (thriving),
bottle (safety), lotus (holiness),
bamboo (lofty conduct), and fan
(benevolence), etc.
http://www.history-ofchina.com/xia-dynasty/jade.htm
King Jie of Xia
The Last Ruler Who Ruined His Dynasty
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the 17th and last ruler of the Xia Dynasty of
China. He is traditionally regarded as a tyrant
and oppressor who brought about the
collapse of his dynasty.
《史记·律书》夸张地说他“手搏豺狼，足追四
马”。 Combat/catch a jackal/wolf emptyhanded; or fast-footed to race neck and neck
with four horses…
Record of the Grand Scribe/Historian by
Sima Qian, Father of the Chinese
history/histori’ography--Scholars discuss
historiography topically
Mo Xi as a gift to Jie
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Jie entertained envoys from vassals and neighbours.
In his sixth year, he received an envoy from the
Qizhong Barbarian (歧踵戎) people. In his 11th year,
he summoned all his vassals to his court. Youmin (有
缗氏) did not come, so he attacked and conquered
that kingdom.
According to her biography in the Lienü zhuan 烈女
传 (written c.18 BC by Liu Xiang, the Western Han
Dynasty), Jie was corrupted by his infatuation with
his concubine Mo Xi (妺喜; Mo Hsi), who was
beautiful, but completely lacking in virtue. Among
other things, she liked to drink, enjoyed music, and
also had a penchant for jugglers and sing-song girls.
Apparently, she had King Jie order a lake of wine
made. Once it was finished, she commanded 3000
men to drink the lake dry, only to laugh when they all
Jie of Xia riding on two women slaves
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King Jie with a halberd,
representing oppression,
and sitting on two ladies,
symbolising his abuse of
power. Rubbing of relief
from a Wu family shrine,
Jiaxiang, Shandong
Province, 150 CE.
Alice in Wonderland
(2010), the wicked queen
enjoys resting her feet on
the soft bosom of pigs.