How did natural resources affect the achievements of the Shang Dynasty?
How do innovations and technologies influence society?
Mineral resources, jade, bronze, silk worms, social class, hierarchy, peasant, noble,
oracle bones
The Xia Dynasty was finally ended, when its last emperor Jie was forced to stoop down
by his own people because of his tyrannical way of leading, and with the help of Tang he
was successfully overthrown and that was the marked end of the reign of the Xia Dynasty
and the precedence of the Shang Dynasty.
Rise of the Shang Dynasty
Most of the descendants of the Shang Dynasty inhabited the lower end of the Yellow
River during the time of the Xia Dynasty. Its capital was known as Yin that is presently
known as the Xiaotun Village, in Anyang City of Henan Province – that is why the
dynasty is also addressed as Yin Shang because of its capital city. But King Tang decided
to change the capital city in to Bo, which is presently located at the Shangqiu City on
Hennan Province. The Shang Dynasty, which was the second established dynasty in the
history of China led by King Tang lasted from 1600 B.C. up to 1046 B.C. Some research
sources propose that it lasted until 1050 B.C. but despite that the reign of this dynasty
lasted for 600 long years. Under Shang Dynasty the history of China as well as its culture
undergone massive changes and innovation after each generation of rulers – all in all it
was ruled by 30 different emperors through 17 generations.
The Last Shang Emperor and the Priest Class
The last emperor was known as King Zhou, who was known to be the worst king who
ruled in the history of China that caused his people to fight against him even his own
family did not agree with his way of leadership, he was later eventually defeated by the
tribe of Zhou. The Shang Dynasty was an aristocratic form of leadership ruled by a King
with the full control over the military nobleness of the country, under the reign of King
Tang who was the first king under the Shang Dynasty. During his era of leadership the
culture and history of China was gradually improved and enhanced leading to the rise,
wealth and growth of the country’s economy and culture. Under his aristocratic
leadership is the priest class who was very much responsible for the records of the
government as well as the country’s religion.
Shang Religion
During that time the Chinese religion was mainly based on the ancestral worship, they
where worshipping different Gods and they greatly believed that the highest God was
Shang Ti or Shang Di which was the Lord on high for them since he was the God who
ruled over lesser Gods. They also gave much importance in worshipping the earth’s
composition, the sky, the land, the moon, the sun, the wind, the star, the land, the sea, the
river since they greatly believed that the blessing and prosperity that the country has
comes from above and beyond.
King Tang’s Rule
Based on the last leadership style of Jie during the Xia dynasty, King Tang learned from
Jie’s mistakes and improved the leadership approach as well as his relationship with the
country people whether commoner, official or others. King Tang treated his people with
great munificence, consideration, concern, kindness and compassion. King Tang’s
subjects adored him and appreciated his compassionate rule. King Tang’s technique of
leadership has became a great motivation for his people to impress him leading to various
great achievements, enhancements, innovations and discovery in different fields whether
in the culture, tradition, crafts, farming, economic style, carving, arts technology, fishing,
and others alike. The people under his leadership were inspired and very much motivated
by their king’s goodness and love for them that is why they all strive to return all of King
Tang’s efforts through their work.
Under the Shang Dynasty with King Tang’s leadership, the people of China lived happy
prosperous lives without the trace of Jie’s trail. Chinese culture became been greatly
known during this dynasty because of the massive improvement that they underwent.
Shang as China’s Bronze Age
Photo by: Wikipedia Creative Commons
The Shang Dynasty was considered as the mark of China’s Bronze Age since the
utilization of bronze compound was greatly practiced during this era plus improvements
on the bronze structures also took place at this point in time. During the Shang Dynasty,
the consumption of bronze represents wealth, strength, power and luxury since it was
used either to build weapons or as ceremonial vessels for food and for wine. The creation
of bronze wares was the signal of modernization in this period since people were able to
reach the highest quality and level of artistry and creativity. The most famous work and
one of the most expensive creations under the Shang Dynasty was the Simuwu
Quadripod, which approximately weighs 832.84 kg just about 1836 pounds to be precise.
The Quadripod was considered as the largest and heaviest among all the Chinese bronze
vessels that ever existed; this is just one of the work of art of the people during that era
which serves as evidence of their great artistry style. Porcelain wares are also invented
and discovered during that time as well as the practice of jade carvings that was greatly
improved during the later years of the period; the woven silk fabrics were at its highest
level of quality that has shown the great talent and skills of King Tang’s people.
Shang Dynasty Economy
As for the economical and agricultural root crops the land of China during King Tang’s
reign was very much prosperous with the wide spread production of their dominant crops
such as millet, wheat, rice, mulberry, hemp and barley, as well as the cultivation of
various animals such as dogs, silkworms, pigs, farm sheep’s and ox. The method of
fishing also arise during the Shang Dynasty as well as other type of commodity exchange
like trading crops for another, settling deals with people from different city exchanging
goods for another and so. In the field of culture and music, the creation of musical
instruments out of bronze products and casting was established during this era. The
technique of bronze casting has been delicately used in making different musical
instruments. The archeologists have discovered some of these instruments at the grounds
of China. The Xun, which is an instrument made out of baked clay, drums that are made
out of bronze and cymbals that are made from copper compound.
Shang Dynasty Technology and Achievements
Several Oracle script pieces where also depicted as a mode of communication, most are
found carved on different utensils, animal bones, tortoise shells and bronze vessels. The
Oracle scripts also contain some information on various solar and lunar eclipse, events,
starts, and other celestial moments that took place that clearly indicates the head start for
the Chinese astronomy. The calendar system was continued to be practiced and improved
during the Shang dynasty. Elementary counting was also started and the act of fortune
telling was already widely practiced and was very much popular for the people. But
despite of this improvement made under King Tang’s leadership, the Shang Dynasty still
fell when its last King known as Zhou took his term. Just like Jie, the last emperor of Xia
Dynasty, Zhou was very cruel, tyrannical and selfish that eventually lead to the rebellion
of the his people against him causing the Shang Dynasty to perish after 600 long years of
leadership.
Lai and Waka Takahashi Brown
November 2006
available in PDF format (180.7KB )
Excerpt from Chinese Dynasties Part One: The Shang Dynasty
Through the Tang Dynasty, 1600 BCE to 907 CE
The Shang Dynasty marked the middle of China’s Bronze Age and was
a dynasty that made great contributions to Chinese civilization.
Scholars do not fully agree on the dates and details of the earliest
Chinese dynasties, but most accept that the Shang Dynasty is the first
one to have left behind written records and solid archaeological
evidence of its existence. The Shang is the second dynasty of the
Three Dynasties Period. Legends speak of the earlier Xia dynasty, but
no written records from that time have been found to confirm this.
Even though texts written later than the Shang Dynasty mention the
Xia Dynasty, Western scholars argue that they are not enough to
prove it truly existed. Therefore, most Western scholars regard the
legendary Xia as an early civilization that existed between the
Neolithic and Shang cultures. But many Chinese scholars firmly
believe that the Xia did indeed exist even if written records have
never been found.
Because the Three Dynasties’ civilization occupied the Yellow River
valley, this geographic area is often called the birthplace or cradle of
Chinese civilization. While this is true in some regard, one must keep
in mind that the Shang was but one of several contemporary
civilizations in China.1 It may have been the only one with written
records, but that does not mean it was the only one in existence. More
recently discovered archaeological sites far away from the Yellow
River valley reveal distinctly different cultures from the Shang, and
scholars are now trying to determine how much these cultures
influenced each other.
Oracle Bones
Before the discovery of the Shang oracle bones and the interpretation
of their inscriptions and bronze inscriptions, scholars had no firm proof
that the Shang Dynasty existed. Up to that point, Shang history had
been based heavily on historical accounts written long after the Shang
period ended. Shang bronze inscriptions were usually very short. With
so little information, scholars questioned whether the dynasty even
existed. The information and details inscribed onto oracle bones
matched what was recorded in texts written centuries later, thereby
providing the evidence scholars needed. The oracle bone inscriptions
and the bronze inscriptions mark the beginning of written Chinese
history.
The king or professional diviners hired by the king used oracle bones
to make predictions about the future or to answer questions such as,
“Will the king have a son?”, “Will it rain tomorrow?”, “If we send
3,000 men into battle, will we succeed?”, or even “Is the long drought
caused by ancestor X?”2 The scribe carved the question onto a bone
(most often the shoulder bones of water buffalo or other cattle) or a
tortoise plastron.3 On the other side of the bone or plastron he would
carve a number of small pits. He then inserted a hot metal rod into
these pits until the bone cracked; and the king or diviner interpreted
the cracks. Then, on the other side of the bone, the scribe carved the
answer and the eventual outcome.
By analyzing oracle bone inscriptions, other artifacts, and
archaeological sites such as tombs and ancient cities, scholars have
been able to piece together many details of Shang civilization. They
have confirmed the names of its kings, its style of government, its
military history, its religious beliefs and rituals, and its society.
The Kingdom
According to legend, the Shang Dynasty was founded sometime
around 1600 BCE by a virtuous man named Cheng Tang, who
overthrew the evil king of the legendary Xia. The Shang Dynasty was
a monarchy governed by a series of kings, 29 or 30 in total, over the
course of almost 600 years.4 The king was served by officials who held
specialized positions of authority and function; and the officials
belonged to a hereditary class of aristocrats, usually related to the
king himself.5
While the king lived in and ruled from a capital city, it wasn’t always
the same city. Although historical records mention many different
Shang capitals, only a few have actually been confirmed with
archaeological evidence. No one knows exactly why a king would
move the capital but some scholars think it had to do with internal
power struggles within the royal family.
Cheng Tang is said to have established the dynasty’s first capital at a
town called Shang (near modern-day Zhengzhou), but later kings
moved the capital many more times, the last being a place called Yin
(near modern-day Anyang). Archaeological evidence suggests that the
town of Shang was the ancestral capital of the dynasty that remained
in a fixed location throughout the dynasty. It was where the Shang
kings kept their most sacred ancestral temples, tablets, and regalia.
The political capital was where the kings lived and ruled from. While
the political capital moved many times during the dynasty, the
ancestral capital never moved.6
The core of the dynasty was located in the northern part of modernday Henan province, in a triangular area between the cities of Anyang,
Luoyang, and Zhengzhou, the latter two of which are on the Yellow
River. In addition to uncovering the remains of several Shang cities,
archaeologists have found huge tombs of many Shang kings and their
families. Even though the dynasty was centered in this area, its
culture reached places much farther away.
As the oracle bones and other artifacts and records revealed, the
Shang kings were constantly at war with outsiders near and far. Many
of the oracle bones bore questions related to battles, such as the
outcome of a future battle or how many men to send into battle. The
king sent out armies of as many as 13,000 men to fight battles on
behalf of the kingdom. Victorious armies brought back prisoners of
war—as many as 30,000 at a time—who either became laborers or
ritual sacrifices.7 The armies also helped gain new territories and bring
back precious resources for the kingdom.
Religion
The Shang worshipped the “Shang Di,” who was the supreme god that
ruled over the lesser gods of the sun, the moon, the wind, the rain,
and other natural forces and places.8 They also worship8ped their
ancestors because they believed that although their ancestors lived in
heaven after their death, they were still actively involved in the affairs
of family and descendants. The kings communicated with their
ancestors using oracle bones and made frequent sacrifices to them. As
in many other societies, they sacrificed animals to royal ancestors and
to various nature gods,9 using sacrifices to ask the ancestors or gods
for help and to feed the ancestors or gods to keep them strong.10
They believed that if they failed to properly worship their ancestors,
their family and the kingdom would experience many disasters.
Because the Shang believed in the afterlife and ancestor worship, they
thought very seriously about burial and what was to accompany the
deceased to his or her grave. The vast and elaborate tombs of the
Shang royal family are signs of their strong beliefs. Among the many
treasures buried in important people’s tombs were the remains of
many other people. Some were nameless individuals who had been
captured during battle and used as human sacrifices at burials. Others
were relatives or lower-ranking dependents of the deceased. This
practice of burying lower-ranking people reflected the Shang’s belief
that those related to a king or lord by blood or service in life were
expected to continue that relationship in death.11
Shang Contributions to Chinese Civilization
The Shang made many contributions to Chinese civilization, but four
in particular define the dynasty: the invention of writing; the
development of a stratified government; the advancement of bronze
technology; and the use of the chariot and bronze weapons in
warfare.
The Invention of Writing
The oracle bone inscriptions are the oldest known form of Chinese
writing. By comparing and equating the inscriptions to modern
Chinese characters, scholars have shown that the Shang had already
developed all the principles of the modern writing system used today.
In fact, Chinese writing has undergone relatively few changes since it
was first developed 3,500 years ago.
Since Shang documents were originally recorded on strips of bamboo
and silk that have long since decomposed, the oracle bones and
bronze inscriptions bear the only written history from the Shang era.
Since Shang bronze inscriptions were very short and did not say
much, most of what is known about the Shang Dynasty is from the
oracle bones. Toward the end of the Shang, writing was also inscribed
on bronze objects.
A Stratified Government and Society
The Shang political system was organized into a hierarchy, meaning
that it had many levels of rank and many specialized functions and
jobs, all passed down within a noble family. Shang society was also
hierarchical with many different levels of social rank.
The invention of writing had a profound effect on Shang government
and its ability to rule. It increased the government’s ability to organize
on a large scale, whether it be to oversee a hierarchical
administration; rule the state’s many territories; organize the mining
of large quantities of ore for bronzework; wage large military
campaigns; construct city walls and palaces; or build elaborate tombs
for themselves.
Bronze Technology
The Shang Dynasty existed during China’s bronze age. At that time,
bronze represented power, wealth, and luxury. By looking at the way
bronze was used by the Shang, it is clear that only those with any
degree of power in the kingdom had access to using bronze objects.
Shang bronzes fall into two categories: weapons or ceremonial vessels
for food and wine. By far, most of the pieces are ceremonial vessels
and speak of a society and culture that valued rituals, such as rituals
for burial, celebration, and worshipping gods and ancestors. Bronze
was not used for common tools, such as hammers or hoes.
Archaeologists have dug up thousands of Shang bronze pieces,
ranging from small objects to huge food and wine vessels weighing as
much as 2,000 pounds. The artistry and workmanship of the bronze
pieces reveal the Shang’s mastery of bronze technology. The Shang
perfected a technique known as piece-mold casting, a complicated
process that involved creating a mold out of clay; carving a design
into it; pouring molten bronze into the mold; cracking the mold away;
and adding handles as a final step. The actual shape, design, and
decoration of ritual vessels changed over time according to changing
importance of rituals and belief systems.
The Use of the Chariot and Bronze Weapons in Warfare
The advancement of bronze technology and the use of bronze
weapons gave the Shang military great advantage over their enemies
and completely changed the way they fought wars. They used newlydeveloped weapons like the bronze-tipped halberd and spear, the
compound bow; and most importantly, they used horse-drawn
chariots.
The chariot, which had most likely been introduced from western Asia,
completely changed the way battles were fought. Chariots allowed
commanders to supervise their troops efficiently and across great
distances. They also gave soldiers a significant edge over their
opponents by making them highly mobile and fast. Since war was
central to life during the Shang Dynasty, these developments in
weapons were very important in allowing the Shang to maintain its
military supremacy.
The End of the Shang
The Shang Dynasty ended in about 1050 BCE, when conquerors from
the state of Zhou invaded the capital and successfully toppled the
Shang Dynasty. The Zhou conquerors claimed to overthrow the Shang
Dynasty for moral reasons. They said that the Shang king was evil
and that heaven no longer wanted him to rule. They blamed the
Shang’s downfall on its king’s excessive drinking, indulgent lifestyle,
and immoral behavior. The downfall remained a cautionary tale to
kings and emperors for years to come.
Notes
1. Michael Loewe and Edward L. Shaughnessy, editors, The Cambridge History of Ancient
China: From the Origins of Civilization to 221 B.C. (Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1999), 14.
2. Charles O. Hucker, China’s Imperial Past: An Introduction to Chinese History and Culture
(Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1975), 29.
3. David N. Keightley, Sources of Shang History: The Oracle Bone Inscriptions of Bronze Age
China (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1978), 6.
4. Kwang-Chih Chang, Shang Civilization (New Haven CT: Yale University Press, 1980), 6;
David N. Keightley, “The Shang: China’s First Historical Dynasty,” in The Cambridge
History of Ancient China: From the Origins of Civilization to 221 B.C., edited by Michael
Loewe and Edward L. Shaugnessy, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999), 232.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Hucker, 30.
Chang, 212.
Chang, 194.
Richard Hooker, “Ancient China: The Shang” (1996), , 1.
Patricia Buckley Ebrey, Cambridge Illustrated History: China (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press, 1996), 25.
10. Ebrey, 25.
11. Keightley, “The Shang: China’s First Historical Dynasty,” 286
Shang Dynasty
Originally a tribe living in the
lower regions of the Yellow River
during the Xia Dynasty (21st 17th century BC), the Shang
Dynasty was established by King
Tang
in
1675
BC
after
overthrowing the tyrannical rule of
Jie, (the last emperor of the Xia
Dynasty). This dynasty lasted
over 600 years and was led by 30
different emperors. As the capital
of the Shang was always based in
Yin (the now Xiaotun Village, in
Anyang City of Henan Province), it
is also known as 'Yin Shang'.
Political
Sickle-shaped Weapon
History
Drawing from the 'lessons' of Jie, Tang implemented a series of innovative
measures with the help of his two ministers. He is best known for abolishing the
persecution and oppression of the people carried out by Jie, and for governing
his people with benevolence and compassion. During his reign, conflicts eased,
people lived happy lives, and the country prospered. In all areas, from economy
to culture, there were great achievements.
The dynasty flourished through the reign of the ninth emperor. During the rule of
the tenth emperor however, conditions began to deteriorate and there were
multiple attempts by the emperor's own family to overthrow him and take
command of the kingdom. Social problems began to emerge and the emperor's
power gradually declined.
During the final period of the dynasty, the
country was in turmoil and vassals from other
countries began to rebel. Despite the turmoil
and the impending uprising, Emperor Zhou (the
last emperor of Shang Dynasty) led a luxurious
life and tortured both his ministers and his
people. This intensified conflicts across the
kingdom and the Shang Dynasty was finally
overthrown by Wu (chief of Zhou tribe), ending
the long reign of the Shang Dynasty in Chinese
history.
Economy
Shang rulers attached great importance to
agriculture. Fishing began to grow as an
industry as the people fished in the fresh
waters.
In the handicraft industry, the work was subtly
allotted to many different workers and crafts
A Three-legged Wine
were made in large quantities and varieties,
Heating Vessel
showcasing the different techniques used
during this time. The bronze wares in particular reached a high level of artistry
that signified the Shang's advanced civilizationnasty. The most famous bronze
work from this time is the Simuwu Quadripod, weighing 832.84 kg (about 1836
pounds) it is the largest and heaviest Chinese bronze vessel. Porcelain wares
were also invented during this time, the jade carving techniques were of the
highest quality and the woven silk fabrics displayed the great skill and
capabilities of the artisans.
With the grown of the agriculture and handicraft industries, the commodity
exchange was promoted and the role of the commodity exchange dealer began
to appear in the late Shang.
Culture and Arts
In the field of music, there was also great progress. The improvements in the
bronze casting techniques allowed for delicate musical instruments to be made.
In Yin Xu (Yin Yuins) in Xiao Tun Village of Anyang City, archeologists discovered
musical instruments of the Shang Dynasty including: Xun (Ocarina made of
baked
clay),
drums,
and
copper
cymbals.
Great advancements can also be seen in the written characters of Shang
Dynasty which are considered the oldest Chinese written form for
communication. The characters were usually carved on tortoise shells, animal
bones, bronze wares or some other utensils. Many Oracle Script pieces that have
been found in the Yin Ruins offer us many important events happened during
that period.
Cooking Vessel
Mask with Man-face Motif
The sculpture produced during this time was also superb. Various kinds of
patterns were carved on bronze, jade, and pottery wares. On other goods, like
stones, animal bones, and horns, fine pictures can also be seen.
In terms of beliefs, Shang people believed that God dominates the world. They
also worshipped their ancestors, the sun, the moon, the river, and the earth and
sacrifice ceremonies were typically grand events. In addition, the art of fortune
telling was popular during this time.
Science
The Oracle Scripts contain records about solar and lunar eclipses, stars and other
celestial happenings. The records clearly demonstrate great advancements in
astronomy. During this time, the calendar system continued to advance and in
the area of math, people performed elementary accounting distinctions between
odd and even numbers appeared.
THE SHANG DYNASTY
There have been many ancient civilization and dynasties to develop over the past five
thousand years. One of the dynasties was the Shang dynasty. The Shang dynasty
developed in the Yellow River Valley from 1700 B.C. to 1100 B.C.
The Shang civilization was based on agriculture, hunting, and raising animals. They grew
wheat, barley, and millet. They also raised pigs, dogs, sheep, oxen, and silk worms. The
Shang people lived in tiny houses that were built partially underground. The ground
provided insulation for the houses. The people had to pay part of each harvest to the king.
They were sometimes drafted into the military or to build palaces. Nobles usually had
more than one wife, but the first wife was the most important. The common people,
however, had only one wife. Their wife would usually work beside the men in the field.
The Shang dynasty developed a system of writing consisting of over 3,000 symbols. This
writing system has remained in use for over 3,500 years. Each of these characters is made
of two parts. One part tells its meaning and the other tells its pronunciation. Scribes
usually wrote on bamboo strips that are very thin. For this reason, the characters are
written vertically rather than horizontally.
The Shang people practiced ancestor worship. They make sacrifices to their ancestors and
thought their ancestors would be go-betweens to the gods and bring them good fortune.
The priests would also try to predict the future by using oracle bones. They would write a
question in an oracle bone and then drill a hole in it. They then heated the bone until it
cracked. The priests then read the cracks to answer the question. From these bones, we
learn about their rulers, eclipses, and many other things about the ancient Chinese.
The Shang dynasty was headed by a king which ruled over his capital city and the
surrounding area. Because their kingdoms were so large, nobles ruled other parts of the
land. Nobles were usually the king's relatives. They were required to pay tribute or give
military service to the king. The priests kept records of the government and were also in
charge of religion. They worshipped their ancestors and also believed in many gods.
Shang Ti was the main god and ruled over heaven and the other gods. The Shang people
believed their gods were very powerful and could cause droughts, floods, and locust
plagues.
Shang people also had many technological advances. One of their special skills was
bronzemaking. Artists would make a model in clay and then make a mold of the model.
The bronze was poured into the mold. To get the bronze piece out, the mold had to be
broken. Because of this, the object could not be duplicated. They make bronze weapons,
daggers, spears, and armor. The Shang people also invented the yoke, harness, and
spoked wheel. These led to the two-horse war chariot. They made a forerunner of
porcelain by working with white clay. They also make ivory carvings, jade ornaments,
and silk textiles. This civilization also made many advancements in math and science.
They developed the decimal system and a 12 month calender with 365 and a quarter days.
The Shang dynasty began to decline after a few bad kings. Wu Wang, the future leader of
the Chou dynasty, believed that once a dynasty began ruling badly and not thinking of the
people, they lost the mandate of heaven. Wu Wang believed that after a dynasty had lost
the mandate of heaven, it was not a crime to overthrow that government. This is the
reason he gave for rebelling and taking over the Shang people.
The Shang dynasty left a lasting impact on the area surrounding the Yellow River valley.
Their achievements in bronze making, math, and science have affected the entire world.
Also, from their writing, we learn about the lives of people in one of the world's oldest
civilizations.