Shang Dynasty | History for Year 6 PDF Download

Where was the Shang dynasty?

For 500 years, from 1600 to 1046 BC, the Shang dynasty governed a portion of China along the Yellow River. This region was home to fertile farmlands that were vital to the dynasty’s prosperity, supporting its agricultural success.

How did the Shang dynasty start?

• According to the legend in the Annals of the Yin, Jiandi, the second wife of Emperor Ku, miraculously gave birth to Xie after swallowing an egg dropped by a blackbird. Xie is considered the first ancestor of the Shang dynasty. 
• The legend states that Xie aided Yu the Great in controlling a great flood, earning him a territory called Shang as a reward. His descendants established the Shang dynasty. 
• The first king, Cheng Tang, founded the dynasty by defeating the Xia dynasty in the Battle of Mingtiao. The last Shang king, Di Xin, was defeated by Wu of Zhou in a significant battle.

How do we know about the Shang dynasty?

• The Shang dynasty is the earliest Chinese dynasty with archaeological evidence supporting its existence. 
• Excavations at its final capital, Yin (near present-day Anyang), have uncovered thousands of artefacts made of bronze, jade, stone, bone, and ceramic. 
• The earliest known Chinese writing, found on oracle bones at Yin, provides extensive insights into the life, politics, and religious practices of the Shang dynasty.

Explore artefacts from the Shang dynasty

One notable artefact is a bronze axe, originally fitted with a wooden handle, used by Shang warriors in combat. This axe is now housed in the British Museum in London.