Xia Dynasty
From Freepedia
The Xia Dynasty (Chinese: 夏朝; pinyin: xìa cháo; Wade-Giles: Hsia-ch'ao), ca. 2033 BC–1562 BC, is the first dynasty to be described in Chinese historical records, which record the names of seventeen kings over fourteen generations. The legends of The Three August Ones and the Five Emperors precede this dynasty, and it is followed by the Shang dynasty.
Until scientific excavations were made at early bronze-age sites at Erlitou in Henan Province, it was difficult to separate myth from reality in regard to the existence of the Xia Dynasty. But since then, archaeologists have uncovered urban sites, bronze implements, and tombs that point to the possible existence of the Xia dynasty at the same locations cited in ancient Chinese historical texts. Most Chinese archaeologists identify the Erlitou culture as the site of the Xia Dynasty, while most Western archaeologists remain unconvinced of the connection between the Erlitou culture and the Xia Dynasty. At a minimum, the Xia period marked an evolutionary stage between the late neolithic cultures and the typical Chinese urban civilization of the Shang dynasty. Agricultural technology improved drastically, with the invention of wine making and the improvement in horse herding. Carriages were also used in Xia Dynasty.
Xia Dynasty resumed hereditary monarchy from the legendary Yellow Emperor times, and began the period of a family or a clan controlling everything in the nation (家天下). It was also during this period that the Chinese civilization developed a ruling structure that employed both a benign civilian government (文治) and harsh punishment for legal transgressions (刑罰). From this the earliest forms of Chinese legal codes came into being.
Xia Dynasty is believed to encompass a territory east to Henan, Shandong and Hebei Provinces, west to Henan and Shanxi, south to Hubei and north to Hebei.
Jie, the last ruler, was said to be a corrupt king. He was overthrown by T'ang, the leader of Shang people from the east.
Sovereigns of the Xia dynasty
| Posthumous Names (Shi Hao 諡號)1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order | Reign2 | Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin | Notes |
| 01 | 45 | 禹 | Yǔ | also Yu the Great (大禹; dà yǔ) |
| 02 | 10 | 啟 | Qǐ | |
| 03 | 29 | 太康 | Tài Kāng | |
| 04 | 13 | 仲康 | Zhòng Kāng | |
| 05 | 28 | 相 | Xiāng | |
| 06 | 21 | 少康 | Shǎo Kāng | |
| 07 | 17 | 杼 | Zhù | |
| 08 | 26 | 槐 | Huái | |
| 09 | 18 | 芒 | Máng | |
| 10 | 16 | 泄 | Xiè | |
| 11 | 59 | 不降 | Bù Jiàng | |
| 12 | 21 | 扃 | Jiōng | |
| 13 | 21 | 廑 | Jǐn | Guoyu: jìn, putonghua: jǐn |
| 14 | 31 | 孔甲 | Kǒng Jiǎ | |
| 15 | 11 | 皋 | Gāo | |
| 16 | 11 | 發 | Fā | |
| 17 | 52 | 桀 | Jié | also Lu Gui (履癸 lǚ guǐ) |
| 1 The reign name is sometimes preceded by the name of the dynasty, Xia (夏), for example Xia Yu (夏禹). | ||||
| 2 Possible length of reign, in years. | ||||
See also
External links
- http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/chbro_bron.shtm The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology
