Xia dynasty

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History of China

This article is about the extremely ancient Chinese dynasty whose existence has yet to be thoroughly confirmed by archaeology. For the Sixteen Kingdoms Period state named Xia, see Xia (Sixteen Kingdoms).

Map of Xia Dynasty

The Xia Dynasty (Chinese: 夏朝; Pinyin: xià cháo; Wade-Giles: Hsia-ch'ao), ca. 2200 BC–1800 BC, is the first dynasty to be described in Chinese historical records, which record the names of seventeen kings over fourteen generations. The legendary Three August Ones and Five Emperors are said to have preceded this dynasty, which was 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. Since then, archaeologists have uncovered urban sites, bronze implements, and tombs that point to the possible existence of the Xia dynasty at 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 improvements in horse herding. Carriages were used in the Xia Dynasty.

The Xia Dynasty resumed the hereditary monarchy transmitted from the time of the legendary Yellow Emperor, and began a period of family or clan control of everything in the nation (家天下). It was also during this period that 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.

The Xia Dynasty is believed to have encompassed a territory extending east to Shandong and Hebei Provinces and west to Henan and Shanxi. From north to south it extended from Hubei in the south to Hebei in the north.

In 1959, a site located in the city of Yanshi was excavated containing large palaces and appears to be the likely location of the capital of the Xia Dynasty. Radiocarbon dating places the site at ca. 2100 to 1800 BC, providing physical evidence of the existence of the Xia Dynasty. Fairbank, John K. China: A New History. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1992, page 35.

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

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