The Shang, rather than the Xia, is
considered by most to be the first true dynasty of China. Like the Xia, the
Shang were originally considered to be a myth. They were discovered because
Chinese phamacists were selling oracle bones the Shang had created; the
parmacists sold the bones as dragon bones. The bones were first noticed in 1899
and by the 1920's were traced to
Anyang, where the
last Shang capital was found and excavated. Excavations were halted in 1937,
when Japan attacked China. In the 1950's an earlier Shang capital was found
near present day Zhengzhou. Traditional Chinese history indicates that the
Shang Dynasty consisted of 30 kings and seven different, successive, capitals.
The Zhou, the dynasty that followed the Shang, are
responsible for the recordings of the kings and capitals of the Shang Dynasty.
The center of the Shang capitals had the ruler's palace.
Surrounding this were houses of artisans. These houses were rectangular, using
a post and beam construction and were built on stamped earth platforms.
Subterranean pithouses were located near the capital, which may have been used
for storage and service quarters. The Shang people had bronze weapons, bronze
fittings for chariots and harnesses, and bronze vessels connected with worship.
Everyday vessels were of earthenware, rather than bronze, because metals were
scarce in China. The earthenware of this time was almost porcelain, only
missing the glaze that would have made it porcelain. Despite being
agriculturalists, the Shang had rather primitive implements. They did not use
ploughs, favoring hoes instead, and most of the implements were made of wood
and stone. They grew grains such as millet and some wheat, which were harvested
with sickles. The Shang had a unique form of descent. Rather than passing from
father to son, the Shang form of descent passed from the eldest brother to the
youngest brother.
One of the most important technological developments of the Shang was the invention of writing. They are the first group of people from China of which written records are found. The most common place these writings are found is on oracle bones used for divination. The bones used for this purpose originally came from a number of animals, but were eventually done exclusively on turtle shells. A question was written on the bone, which was then fired and a T shaped crack was produced which was interpreted, and the interpretation was then written on the bone. After the predicted event occurred, the date of the occurrence was also written on the bone. Writing is also found on bronze and stone, but the majority of the records have decayed as they were recorded on bamboo strips. The Shang may also have written on silk.
The Shang worshipped the "Shang Ti." This god ruled as a supreme
god over lesser gods, the sun, the moon, the wind, the rain, and other natural
forces and places. Highly ritualized, ancestor worship became a part of the
Shang religion. Sacrifice to the gods and the ancestors was also a major part
of the Shang religion. When a king died, hundreds of slaves and prisoners were
often sacrificed and buried with him. People were also sacrificed in lower
numbers when important events, such as the founding of a palace or temple,
occurred.
The Shang king had considerable power over his subjects. Public works were built that required many people. The capital at Zhengzhou, for example, had a wall of stamped earth around it that was four miles long and up to 27 feet high in areas. Stamped earth walls were made by pounding thin layers of earth within a movable wooden frame. The earth then becomes as hard as cement.
Dynasties
of Ancient China
Images of bronze vessels courtesy of ART123.com