The Shang dynasty, or Yin dynasty, ruled the Yellow River valley during the 2nd millennium BC. Traditionally, it succeeded the Xia dynasty and was followed by the Western Zhou dynasty.
Ancient accounts
Ancient accounts of the Shang dynastic period provide a wealth of information about the culture of ancient China. The Shang were the first dynasty in Chinese history to create written records, which preserved many details of their daily lives. They developed science and technology, including bronze casting technology. They also made a number of advances in mathematics, astronomy, and writing, and their records are still available today.
The Shang dynasty was based in the North China Plain and extended northwestward through what is now Shandong and Hebei provinces. It had a number of capitals, and its kings settled at the city of Anyang in the 14th century bce. The kings had extensive control over agricultural territories and appointed local governors to maintain order. They also issued pronouncements about when to plant crops.
The Shang dynasty was very influential in China. It made many advances in bronze technology and civilization, and developed a stratified government system. In addition, they also developed chariots, bronze weapons, and the earliest form of Chinese writing. Throughout their time, many Chinese characters were created, including a calendar that took both the lunar and solar cycles into account.
While the Shang dynasty was not the first to develop religious practices, it did establish a link between kings and people. It also developed a system of ancestor worship, which was based on the belief that ancestors possessed the ability to confer good fortune. For example, during the Shang dynasty, the king would consult with his ancestors using “oracle bones.” These bones would answer questions about the weather and the outcome of battles. They would also consult with the ancestors to make important decisions, such as choosing an heir.
Religion
The Shang dynasty’s religion was based on the concept of ancestor worship. They believed that the happiness of their deceased ancestors determined the health and success of their crops. A happy ancestry meant a prosperous family, and an unhappy ancestor meant a disastrous family.
During the Shang dynasty, a social hierarchy was established, with various classes including farmers, military nobility, and priests. The social hierarchy was further reflected in burial customs. Elites were buried in elaborate pit tombs, usually adorned with various objects of wealth. At major rituals, hundreds of animals were sacrificed. The dead Shang elite would be buried in lavishly carved tombs, often with hundreds of animals and offerings.
The Shang dynasty believed in a supreme ancestor called Shangdi. The supreme ancestor was able to bring good fortune and disaster to the ruling dynasty, and may have manipulated natural powers. In addition, the Shang dynasty believed in the concept of ten suns.
The government of the Shang dynasty ruled by powerful people, including the king. The king was believed to control nature by commanding farmers to cultivate crops and produce surplus food. He also instructed soldiers to conquer nearby lands to spread the Shang empire. The Shang people worshiped the god Shang Di, referring to him as “yu yiren,” meaning “I, the one man.” In addition to idol worship, the Shang people worshipped the gods through sacrifices and rituals.
The Shang dynasty ruled over many ancient cities. The dynasty’s first ruler established a new capital in Shang, near modern-day Zhengzhou, Henan Province. The town had palaces and workshops, and may have served as a sacred capital.
Agriculture
The Shang dynasty was a dynasty of ancient China that ruled from 1122 B.C. Their land was centered around central Shensi in the west, southern Hopeh in the north and the Huai River in the south. They cultivated crops and raised livestock, and they also engaged in trade. While the Shang were said to have been a primitive society, oracle bone inscriptions have proved that they were highly advanced. As a result, the Shang people were able to build a vast empire through conquest and colonization.
Flood control
In ancient China, flood control was introduced by Yu the Great, a legendary king. He founded the Xia dynasty and was known for his moral uprightness. His actions earned him a place in the Chinese legend, “Great Yu Who Controlled the Waters.”
Floods had hindered Chinese economic and social development. Yu the Great’s father, Gun, tried to build a barrier to control the river. But the flood became even stronger and more uncontrollable. He was killed by Shun, the succeeding king.
During the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, floods plagued China. The Later Liang and Later Tang dynasties were among the kingdoms at the time. In 923 CE, a Later Liang general called Tuan Ning breached the Yellow River dikes, flooding one thousand square miles of land in the Liang Kingdom. However, Tuan Ning’s gambit failed to fend off the Tang armies and the Liang Kingdom fell to them.
Flood control during the Shang dynasty was achieved through a series of technological innovations. The first earthen dam was built in 591 BCE, and in the same year, the first dam was built that was more than 10 meters tall. The dynasty also used these dams to divert parts of the river for agricultural purposes.
The development of the Erlitou civilization was directly related to the control of flooding in the upper Yellow River reaches. The Shang people, who were skilled craftsmen, were able to use complex irrigation systems. They also cultivated wheat, barley, and millet. They also domesticated many animals.
Sacrifices to ancestors
Sacrifices to ancesters were common practices during the Shang dynasty, but they also existed before the Shang era. In a patriarchal society, loyalty and obedience are essential qualities. In ancient China, sacrifices were common for pacifying the Eastern Yi, the original inhabitants of the region. However, the practice may have originated much earlier, in the substrata of population.
The rituals of sacrifices were performed in a cyclical way, with three main cycles involving five rites. The rites lasted from several months to a full ritual year. In addition, they were accompanied by five elaborate periodic events.
Sacrifices to ancestral spirits were a major concern of the Shang royals. Most of their worship rituals involved animal sacrifices. The Shangs possessed an inventory of the sacrificial animals, which led researchers to believe there was a close connection between divination and animal images.
According to the Shang, these sacrifices were believed to confer good luck. They used oracle bones and consulted their ancestors to make major decisions. For example, they would consult with their ancestors in order to ensure their harvesting, hunting, and battle successes.
Sacrifices to ancestral spirits during the Shang dynasty were a common practice in China during this time. In fact, one of the Shang dynasty’s most famous leaders, Wu Ding, may have sacrificed as many as 15,000 humans, livestock, and dogs in order to enhance his own power and influence. Wu Ding was also believed to act as an intermediary between the living and dead.
Architecture
Excavations of ancient Chinese cities have revealed the architecture of the Shang Dynasty. This period of time was known for its wooden houses with thatch roofs and rectilinear designs, as well as rammed earth foundations. During this time, the construction forms included palaces, temples, mausoleums, and even cells.
There are also a number of artifacts that date from the Shang period, including bronze and ivory artifacts. Moreover, Shang art is well-known for its intricate burial sites. In 1976, an archaeology excavation in Yinxu revealed a royal tomb that contained more than 500 pieces of bronze weapons, 590 jade figures, ancient pottery vessels, and bone hairpins. Similarly, in 1986, a walled city in Sichuan province revealed 4,000 objects.
Chinese architecture was based on the idea of regularity. It was used to guide people where to go and what to do. Few traditional Chinese architects were known, which allowed the architecture to be assimilated into the features of a building from an early stage. Moreover, the architectural designs remained unchanged for centuries.
Besides architecture, Shang culture also developed a hierarchical social structure, with military nobility at the top and priests and farmers below them. Social stratification was also reflected in burial practices. Shang elites were buried in elaborate pit tombs, and they were often accompanied by various objects of wealth and luxury. The lesser classes, on the other hand, were buried in pits of varying sizes based on their status.
