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{{short description|First dynasty in traditional Chinese history}} {{Short description|Traditional first dynasty in Chinese history}}
{{For |other dynasties with the same name|Xia (disambiguation)}} {{For|other dynasties with the same name|Xia (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Xi dynasty|Xin dynasty|Western Xia}}
{{Infobox country {{Infobox country
| native_name = {{big|{{nobold|{{lang|zh|夏}}}}}}<br>]
| conventional_long_name = Xia | conventional_long_name = Xia
| life_span = {{circa|2070|1600 BC}}
| common_name = Xia dynasty
| government_type = ] | government_type = ]
| year_start = {{circa}} 2070&nbsp;BC (according to ]) | year_start = {{circa|2070 BC|lk=no}}{{efn|name=XSZ|According to the ].}}
| year_end = {{circa}} 1600&nbsp;BC | year_end = {{circa|1600 BC|lk=no}}{{efn|name=XSZ}}
| p1 = Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | p1 = Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
| s1 = Shang dynasty | s1 = Shang dynasty
| image_map = Xia dynasty.svg
| event_start =
| image_map_caption = Proposed location of the Xia dynasty
| event_end =
| capital = {{plainlist|
| image_map = Xia dynasty.svg
* Anyi ({{langn|zh|安邑}}) (during Yu the Great's reign)
| image_map_caption = Proposed location of the Xia dynasty
* ]
| capital = {{plainlist|
*Anyi(安邑) (during Yu the Great's reign) * ] (from Tai Kang's reign)
* ] (from Xiang of Xia)}}
*]
| leader1 = ] (first)
*] (from Tai Kang's reign)
*] (from Xiang of Xia)}} | leader2 = ] (last)
| title_leader = ]
| leader1 = ] (''First and former'')
| leader2 = ] (''Last'')
| year_leader1 = ?
| year_leader2 = ?
| title_leader = ]
| today = ]
}} }}
{{Infobox Chinese {{Infobox Chinese |showflag=p
| title = Xia | title = Xia
| c = {{linktext|夏}} | c = {{linktext|夏}}
| p = Xià | p = Xià
| w = Hsia<sup>4</sup> | w = {{tonesup|Hsia4}}
| gr = Shiah
| tp = Sià | tp = Sià
| bpmf = ㄒㄧㄚˋ | bpmf = ㄒㄧㄚˋ
Line 37: Line 31:
| mps = Shià | mps = Shià
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|x|ya|4}} | mi = {{IPAc-cmn|x|ya|4}}
| showflag = p
| wuu = Gho | wuu = Gho
| y = Hah | y = Hah
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|h|aa|6}} | ci = {{IPAc-yue|h|aa|6}}
| j = Haa6 | j = Haa6
| tl = {{Zhwb|Hē|Hā}} | tl = {{zhwb|Hē|Hā}}
| mc = /ɦˠaX/ | mc = /ɦˠaX/
| oc-bs = *{{IPA|ˤraʔ}} | oc-bs = *{{IPA|ˤraʔ}}
Line 48: Line 41:
}} }}
{{History of China |BC=1}} {{History of China |BC=1}}
The '''Xia dynasty''' ({{zh|c={{linktext|夏朝}}|p=Xiàcháo|w=Hsia<sup>4</sup>-ch‘ao<sup>2</sup>}}) <!--Chinese already included in the infobox; see WP:MOS-ZH--> is the first dynasty in traditional ]. According to tradition, the Xia dynasty was established by the legendary ], after ], the last of the ], gave the throne to him.<ref>Mungello, David E. ''The Great Encounter of China and the West, 1500–1800'' Rowman & Littlefield; 3 ed (28 March 2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7425-5798-7}} p. 97.</ref> In traditional historiography, the Xia was later succeeded by the ]. The '''Xia dynasty''' ({{IPAc-en|ʃ|i|ɑː}}; {{zh|c=夏朝|p=Xià cháo}}) is the first dynasty in traditional ]. According to tradition, it was established by the legendary figure ], after ], the last of the ], gave the throne to him.{{sfnp|Mungello|2009|p={{page needed|date=March 2024}}}} In traditional historiography, the Xia was succeeded by the ].


There are no contemporaneous records of the Xia, who are not mentioned in the oldest Chinese texts, since the earliest ] inscriptions date from the late ] period (13th century BC). The earliest mentions occur in the oldest chapters of the '']'', which report speeches from the early ] period and are accepted by most scholars as dating from that time. The speeches justify the Zhou conquest of the Shang as the passing of the ] and liken it to the succession of the Xia by the Shang. That political philosophy was promoted by the ] school in the ] period. The succession of dynasties was incorporated into the '']'' and the '']'' and became the official position of ] and ideology. Some scholars consider the Xia dynasty legendary or at least unsubstantiated, but others identify it with the archaeological ]. There are no contemporaneous records of the Xia, and they are not mentioned in the oldest Chinese texts, the earliest ] inscriptions dating from the ] period (13th century&nbsp;BC). The earliest mentions occur in the oldest chapters of the '']'', which report speeches from the early ] period and are accepted by most scholars as dating from that time. The speeches justify the Zhou conquest of the Shang as the passing of the ] and liken it to the succession of the Xia by the Shang. That political philosophy was promoted by the ] school in the ] period. The succession of dynasties was incorporated into the '']'' and '']'' and became the official position of ] and ideology. Some scholars consider the Xia dynasty legendary or at least unsubstantiated, but others identify it with the archaeological ] ({{circa|1900–1700&nbsp;BC}}).


According to the traditional chronology, based upon calculations by ], the Xia ruled between 2205 and 1766 BC. According to the chronology based on the "current text" '']'', it ruled between 1989 and 1558 BC. Comparing the same text with dates of five-planet ]s, David Pankenier, supported by ], proposed dates of 1953 and 1555 BC.{{sfnp|Pankenier|1981–1982|p=23}}{{sfnp|Pankenier|1983–1985|p=180}}{{sfnp|Nivison|2018|p=165}} The ], commissioned by the Chinese government in 1996, concluded that the Xia existed between 2070 and 1600 BC. According to the traditional chronology, based upon calculations by ], the Xia ruled between 2205 and 1766&nbsp;BC. According to the chronology based on the "current text" ''Bamboo Annals'', it ruled between 1989 and 1558&nbsp;BC. Comparing the same text with dates of five-planet ]s, David Pankenier, supported by ], proposed dates of 1953 and 1555&nbsp;BC.{{sfnp|Pankenier|1981|p=23}}{{sfnp|Pankenier|1985|p=180}}{{sfnp|Nivison|2018|p=165}} The ], commissioned by the Chinese government in 1996, proposed that the Xia existed between 2070 and 1600&nbsp;BC.


==Traditional accounts== == Traditional historiography ==
The Xia dynasty was described in several ], including the '']'', the '']'', and ]'s '']''. These sources make clear that the Xia was considered a historical dynasty in the first millennium BCE. The ''Shiji'' and '']'' say that ], the founder of the Xia dynasty, was the grandson of ], who was the grandson of the ]. But there are also other records, like ]'s, that say Yu's father was a fifth generation descendant of Zhuanxu. Other sources such as '']'' mention Yu's father ] was the son of Luoming, who was the son of the ]. Sima Qian traced the origin of the dynasty to the name of a fief granted to Yu, who would use it as his own surname and his state's name.<ref name=":0">{{Citation |script-title=zh:史記 |via=] |url=https://ctext.org/shiji|last=Sima|first=Qian|trans-title=Records of the Grand Historian|language=lzh,en}}</ref>
]
The Xia dynasty was described in classic texts such as the '']'' (''Shujing''), the '']'', and the '']'' (''Shiji'') by ]. According to tradition, the resident '']'' were the ancestral people of the ].<ref>{{cite journal | last=Cioffi-Revilla | first=Claudio | year=1995 | title=War and Politics in Ancient China, 2700 BC to 722 BC | journal=The Journal of Conflict Resolution | volume=39 | issue=3 | pages=471–472 |author2=Lai, David | doi=10.1177/0022002795039003004| s2cid=156043981 }}</ref><ref>{{citation | last=Lung | first=Rachel | title=Interpreters in early imperial China | year=2011 | publisher=John Benjamins Publishing Company | location=Amsterdam | page=5 | isbn=978-90-272-2444-6}}</ref>


According to Sima Qian and other early texts, ], the father of Yu the Great, is the earliest recorded member of the Xia clan. He describes how when the ] flooded, many tribes united together to control and stop the flooding and Gun was appointed by Emperor ] to stop the flooding. He ordered the construction of large ]s to block the path of the water. The attempts of Gun to stop the flooding lasted for nine years, but ultimately failed because the floods strengthened. After nine years, Yao had already given his throne to ]. Shun ordered that Gun be imprisoned for life by at Yushan ({{zhi|c=羽山}}, 'Feather Mountain'), a mountain located between modern ] in Jiangsu, and ] in Shandong.<ref name=":0" /> {{See also|Great Flood (China)}}
===Origins and early development===
Traditional histories trace the development of the Xia to the mythical ]. According to ancient Chinese texts, before the Xia dynasty was established, battles were frequent between ]'s tribe and ]'s tribe. The '']'' and the '']'' say that ], the founder of the Xia dynasty, was the grandson of ], who was the grandson of the ]. But there are also other records, like ]'s, that say Yu's father is a fifth generation descendant of Zhuanxu. Other sources such as '']'' mention Yu's father ] was the son of Luoming, who was the son of ]. Sima Qian traced the origin of the dynastic Xia to the name of a fief granted to Yu, who would use it as his own surname and his state's name.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=史記 : 本紀 : 夏本紀 - 中國哲學書電子化計劃 |url=https://ctext.org/shiji/xia-ben-ji/zh |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=ctext.org |language=zh-TW}}</ref>


] stone relief rendering of Yu the Great]]
===Gun's attempt to stop the flood===
]
{{See also|Great Flood (China)}}
According to traditional accounts, Shun trusted Yu and appointed him to stop the flooding, which he did by organizing people from different tribes and ordered them to help him dig channels in all the major rivers and lead the water out to the sea. This was considered to have established the layout of the world's rivers. Legend says that in the 13 years it took him to successfully complete the work to stop the floods, he never went back to his home village to stop and rest, even though he passed by his house three times.<ref>{{Citation |last=Mark |first=Joshua J. |title=Ancient China |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/china/ |access-date=2017-10-15 |encyclopedia=]}}</ref>
], the father of ], is the earliest recorded member of the Xia clan. When the ] flooded, many tribes united together to control and stop the flooding. Gun was appointed by Emperor ] to stop the flooding. He ordered the construction of large blockades (]s) to block the path of the water. The attempts of Gun to stop the flooding lasted for nine years, but ultimately failed because the floods strengthened. After nine years, Yao had already given his throne to ]. Gun was ordered to be imprisoned for life by Shun at Yushan ({{CJKV|t=羽山|s=羽山|p=Yǔshān}}, ''Feather Mountain''), a mountain located between modern ] in ] and ] in ].<ref name=":0" />


===Yu the Great's attempt to stop the floods=== === Story of the Founding of the Xia dynasty ===
According to traditional texts, Yu's success in stopping the flooding increased agricultural production. The Xia tribe's power increased and Yu became the leader of the surrounding tribes. Soon afterwards ] sent Yu to lead an army to suppress the Sanmiao tribe, which continuously abused the border tribes. After defeating them, he exiled them south to the ] area. This victory strengthened the Xia tribe's power even more. As Shun aged, he thought of a successor and relinquished the throne to ], whom he deemed worthy. Yu's succession marks the start of the Xia dynasty. As Yu neared death he passed the throne to his son, ], instead of passing it to the most capable candidate, thus setting the precedent for dynastic rule or the Hereditary System. The Xia dynasty began a period of family or clan control.<ref>{{Britannica|273749|Xia dynasty}}</ref> It is believed that ] (modern ]) and ] (modern ])<ref>{{Citation |title=The Dating of the Wangchenggang Walled-site in Dengfeng County and Related Issues |url=http://www.kaogu.cn/uploads/soft/Chinese%20Archaeology/7/The%20Dating%20of%20the%20Wangchenggang%20Walled-site%20in%20Dengfeng%20County%20and%20Related%20Issues.pdf |access-date=13 January 2020 |publisher=Chinese Archaeology |language=en}}</ref> were two of the capitals of the dynasty.
]
] was highly trusted by Shun, so Shun appointed him to finish his father's work, which was to stop the flooding. Yu's method was different from his father's: he organized people from different tribes and ordered them to help him build canals in all the major rivers that were flooding and lead the water out to the sea. Yu was dedicated to his work. The populace praised his perseverance and were inspired, so much so that other tribes joined in the work. Legend says that in the 13 years it took him to successfully complete the work to stop the floods, he never went back to his home village to stop and rest, even though he passed by his house three times.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.worldhistory.org/china/|title=Ancient China|last=Mark|first=Joshua J.|encyclopedia=]|access-date=2017-10-15}}</ref>


===Establishment=== === Interregnum ===
{{further|Hou Yi|Han Zhuo}}
Yu's success in stopping the flooding increased agricultural production (since the floods were destructive). The Xia tribe's power increased and Yu became the leader of the surrounding tribes. Soon afterwards ] sent Yu to lead an army to suppress the Sanmiao tribe, which continuously abused the border tribes. After defeating them, he exiled them south to the ] area. This victory strengthened the Xia tribe's power even more. As Shun aged, he thought of a successor and relinquished the throne to ], whom he deemed worthy. Yu's succession marks the start of the Xia dynasty. As Yu neared death he passed the throne to his son, ], instead of passing it to the most capable candidate, thus setting the precedent for dynastic rule or the Hereditary System. The Xia dynasty began a period of family or clan control.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Xia dynasty {{!}} Definition, Dates, & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Xia-dynasty|access-date=2021-01-25|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> It is believed that Zhenxun (modern ]) and ] (modern ])<ref>{{cite web|title=The Dating of the Wangchenggang Walled-site in Dengfeng County and Related Issues|url=http://www.kaogu.cn/uploads/soft/Chinese%20Archaeology/7/The%20Dating%20of%20the%20Wangchenggang%20Walled-site%20in%20Dengfeng%20County%20and%20Related%20Issues.pdf|publisher=Chinese Archaeology, Fang Yanming|access-date=13 January 2020|language=en }}</ref> were two of the capitals of the dynasty.
According to Sima Qian, the third Xia king was ], described as an avid hunter but ineffective ruler. The '']'' describe the Xia capital at ] being attacked by ] while Tai Kang was on a hunt beyond the ]. The occupation of Zhenxun marked the beginning of a significant interregnum. In the eighth year of the reign of Tai Kang's nephew ], Hou Yi was killed by his former chief minister ].<ref>{{Citation |last=Yuan |first=Ke |title=Dragons and Dynasties: An Introduction to Chinese Mythology |year=1993 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-140-5865-34}}</ref> 20 years later, Han Zhuo's forces killed King Xiang and usurped the throne, but the royal family escaped.


Xiang's son ] was sheltered by a tribal chief, surviving for years as a fugitive despite the efforts of Han Zhuo to eliminate him and prevent any reemergence of the Xia. Upon reaching adulthood, Shao Kang began organizing with local lords who hated Han Zhuo's rule. Shao Kang emerged victorious in the military confrontation that followed, and Han Zhuo committed suicide. The reign of Shao Kang and his son ] is traditionally characterized as one of the most prosperous periods in the Xia's history.<ref>{{Citation |last=Wu |first=Kuo-chen |title=The Chinese Heritage |year=1982 |place=New York |publisher=Crown |isbn=978-0-517-54475-4 |author-link=K. C. Wu |url=https://archive.org/details/chineseheritage00wuku}}</ref>
===Overthrow===
], the last king, was said to be immoral, lascivious, and tyrannical. He was overthrown by ], the first king of the ].
Tang is said to have given the small state of ] as a ] to the remnants of the Xia ruling family.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zonghe.17xie.com/book/10826459/597233.html |title=夏朝遗民流布情况概说 |publisher=Zonghe.17xie.com |access-date=2014-08-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-HBSS200503017.htm |title=夏代是杜撰的吗——与陈淳先生商榷 沈长云 |publisher=Cnki.com.cn |date=2013-06-21 |access-date=2014-08-16}}</ref>
This practice was referred to as "the two crownings and the three respects".


=== Overthrow ===
] was a descendant of the Xia dynasty Kings through ].<ref>《宗聖志》,(清)曾國荃續修,宗聖奉祀官府,1974年</ref><ref>《武城曾氏重修族譜》,(清)曾繁墫纂,1807年</ref>
] is recorded as the final King of Xia, and as with many last rulers in Chinese historiography, he was said to be immoral, lascivious, and tyrannical. He was overthrown by ], who inaugurated the new ]. King Tang is said to have given the remnants of the Xia clan a fief comprising the small state of ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zonghe.17xie.com/book/10826459/597233.html |title=夏朝遗民流布情况概说 |publisher=Zonghe.17xie.com |access-date=2014-08-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-HBSS200503017.htm |title=夏代是杜撰的吗——与陈淳先生商榷 沈长云 |publisher=Cnki.com.cn |language=zh|date=2013-06-21 |access-date=2014-08-16}}</ref> This practice was referred to as "the two crownings and the three respects".


== Traditional structure ==
The Kings of the ] claimed descent from the Xia dynasty Kings through Shao Kang.
=== Nine Provinces ===
According to the ''Book of Documents'', Yu the Great divided his state into ] ({{lang|zh|九州}}). These are Ji ({{lang|zh|冀}}), Yan ({{lang|zh|兗}}), Qing ({{lang|zh|青}}), Xu ({{lang|zh|徐}}), Yang ({{lang|zh|揚}}), Jing ({{lang|zh|荊}}), Yu ({{lang|zh|豫}}), Liang ({{lang|zh|梁}}) and Yong ({{lang|zh|雍}}). Each province was briefly described by the ''Book of Documents'' in terms of their soil quality, their productivity and other geographical characteristics. According to the chapter "Tribute of Yu" in the text, the Nine Provinces respectively correspond to modern regions of China as:<ref>王孝通 (1936). 《中国商业史》 (in traditional Chinese). 上海书店. p. 第14页</ref>
* Ji Province corresponds to modern ], ] and a part of ];
* Yan Province corresponds to parts of ] and Hebei;
* Qing Province corresponds to the part of Shandong to the east of ];
* Xu Province corresponds to northern parts of ], ], and the southern parts of Shandong;
* Yang Province corresponds to southern Jiangsu, southern Anhui, northern ], and northern ];
* Jing Province corresponds to parts of ], and northwestern Jiangxi;
* Yu Province corresponds to Henan, northern ], southeastern ], and southwestern Shandong;
* Liang Province corresponds to ], southern ], and Shaanxi;
* Yong Province corresponds to parts of Shaanxi, Gansu, ], and ].

=== Capital cities ===
The Xia dynasty moved the capital many times. According to traditional records, these capitals are as follows:

{|class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
|+ Capital cities of the Xia<ref>{{Citation |last=Chao |first=Fulin |title=Social Changes in Xia, Shang and Western Zhou Dynasties |date=June 1996 |publisher=] Press. |isbn=7-303-04144-3}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Tan |first=Qixiang |title=Concise Chinese Historical Atlas |date=1 October 1991 |publisher=China Map Publishing House |isbn=7503110155}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=He |first=Guangyue |year=1992 |author-mask=He Guangyue (何光岳) |trans-title=Origins of the Xia |script-title=zh:夏源流史 |publisher=Jiangxi Education Press |isbn=7-5392-1337-X |language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Qian |first=Mu |year=2001 |author-mask=Qian Mu (錢穆) |trans-title=Examination of the toponyms in the ''Records of the Grand Historian'' |script-title=zh:史记地名考 |publisher=The Commercial Press |isbn=7-100-03240-7}}</ref>
|-
! King !! Capital city !! Present location
|-
| rowspan="2" | ]|| Daxia || Part of Shanxi
|-
| Chong ({{lang|zh|崇}}) || Chong, Henan
|-
| rowspan="6" | ] || Gaomi ({{lang|zh|密都}}) || Xin'an, Henan<ref>{{cite book|title=中国古史的传说时代|author=徐旭生|publisher=广西师范大学出版社|year=2003年|language=zh|isbn=9787563342273}}</ref>
|-
| Yangcheng ({{lang|zh|阳城阳翟}}) || Gaocheng, Dengfeng, Henan
|-
| Yangzhai ({{lang|zh|阳城阳翟}}) || ], Henan
|-
| Jinyang ({{lang|zh|晋阳平阳}}) || Jinyuan, ]
|-
| Pingyang ({{lang|zh|晋阳平阳}}) ||Southwest of Linfen, Shanxi
|-
| Anyi ({{lang|zh|安邑}}) || Xia County, ], Shanxi
|-
| ], ] || Yangzhai ({{lang|zh|陽翟}}) || -
|-
| ], ] || ] || Speculated to be an Erlitou site 18 kilometers east of ]
|-
| rowspan="2" | ] || Diqiu ({{lang|zh|商丘}}) or ]|| Southwestern ], Henan ({{lang|zh|简明中国历史地图集}})
|-
| Zhenxun || {{none}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | ] || Lun ({{lang|zh|纶邑}}) || ], Henan
|-
| Xiayi || ], Henan
|-
| Shangqiu || {{none}}
|-
| ] || Yuan ({{lang|zh|原}}) || ], Henan
|-
| Zhu, ], ], ], ], ] || Laoqiu || ], Henan
|-
| ], ], ], ] || Xihe || Speculated to have been in ], Henan
|-
| rowspan=2 | ] || Zhenxun || {{none}}
|-
|}

=== ''Fangguo'' tribes ===
According to traditional Chinese records, the ''fangguo'' tribes were polities outside the Xia clan's direct rule. They were mostly large tribal peoples, but some were massive enough to become small states with more complex social structures, rivaling that of the Xia.<ref>{{cite book|author=佟柱臣|year=1991|title=中国夏商王国文明与方国文明试论. 《考古》 |publisher=中国北京: 中国社会科学院考古研究所考古杂志社}}</ref> Many of the tribes were described as in regular relationships with the Xia court, being either allies or enemies. Eventually, some of the tribal chiefs joined the force of ] to overthrow Jie's regime.

=== Geopolitical system ===
According to the "Tribute of Yu" chapter of the ''Book of Documents,'' the scope of direct jurisdiction of the Xia state was limited to a small area controlled by the ruling clan. Beyond the Xia's own tribe, other tribal leaders enjoyed relatively independent management and ruling rights in their own territories; for the Xia Hou, they expressed their mutual relations in the form of submission and tribute.<ref>{{cite book|author=Li Yujie|title=The Nature of Early Chinese States|publisher=Henan University Press|date=October 1999|isbn=7-81041-690-1}}</ref> The ''Book of Documents'' says that Yu the Great determined the relationships between Xia and Fangguo tribes, dividing them into 5 categories according to the tribes' relative locations from the Xia clan's residence:
{{blockquote |
He conferred lands and surnames. (He said), 'Let me set the example of a reverent attention to my virtue,
and none will act contrary to my conduct, Five hundred ''li'' formed the Domain of the Sovereign. From the first
hundred they brought as revenue the whole plant of the grain; from the second, the cars, with a portion of the
stalk; from the third, the straw, but the people had to perform various services; from the fourth, the grain in the
husk; and from the fifth, the grain cleaned.

Five hundred ''li'' (beyond) constituted the Domain of the Nobles. The first hundred ''li'' was occupied by the cities
and lands of the (sovereign's) high ministers and great officers; the second, by the principalities of the barons; and
the (other) three hundred, by the various other princes.

Five hundred ''li'' (still beyond) formed the Peace−securing Domain. In the first three hundred, they cultivated
the lessons of learning and moral duties; in the other two, they showed the energies of war and defence.

Five hundred ''li'' (remoter still) formed the Domain of Restraint. The (first) three hundred were occupied by the
tribes of the Yi; the (other) two hundred, by criminals undergoing the lesser banishment.

Five hundred ''li'' (the most remote) constituted the Wild Domain. The (first) three hundred were occupied by the tribes of the Man; the (other) two hundred, by criminals undergoing the greater banishment.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=The Tribute of Yu|title=Book of Documents|translator=]|url=http://www.public-library.uk/ebooks/87/29.pdf}}</ref>}}

Texts like the ''Book of Documents'', the '']'', and the '']'' describe that the Xia had already established a distinguished official system with positions helping the Xia clan in managing the state. There were also laws set forth to maintain social stability within the country.

=== Economic status ===
Traditional narratives describe the Xia as enjoying prosperity in agriculture. The '']'' contends that Yu the Great devoted himself to irrigation, improving the drainage system for cultivating crops. The texts also say that the people of Xia was gifted in producing alcohol, with the notable legendary figure of ] who is usually identified with Shao Kang. The population was described to have had vegetables and rice as the staple crop, and meat was usually reserved for sacrifices.<ref>{{cite book|author=徐海荣|date=1 October 1999|title=中国饮食史|publisher=华夏出版社|isbn=7-5080-1958-X}}</ref> Additionally, manufacture of goods and trade with outside tribes flourished. The site at Erlitou contains many metallic fragments, suggesting that the time assigned to the Xia was characterized by bronze metallurgy.<ref>{{cite book|author=蒲坚|date=January 1999|title=中国法制通史•夏商周 (in Chinese)|publisher=法律出版社|isbn=7-5036-2373-X}}</ref>

During Yu the Great's controlling of the floods, he renewed the transportation system. Sima Qian wrote in his ''Records of the Grand Historian'' that Yu used carriages to travel on land, boats to travel on rivers, sleds to travel on mud, and horses to cross the mountains. He surveyed the lands and opened up routes through geographical locations so that tributes from tribal chiefs to the Xia would be more convenient. He organized people to build roads connecting the Nine Provinces, helping to improve tributary and economic relations between the tribes.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=中国公路交通史编审委员会|title=中国古代道路交通史|date=January 1994|publisher=人民交通出版社|pages=3–7}}</ref> Traditional texts record that the transport system of the Xia clan extended at least 500{{snd}}600 ''li'' horizontally and 300{{snd}}400 ''li'' vertically.<ref>{{cite book|author=白寿彝|year=1937|title=中国交通史. 上海书店|pages=4–5}}</ref> The '']'' also records that the Xia dynasty ordered the roads to be opened up in the 9th month, the bridges to be finished in the 10th month.

=== Population estimates ===
Although the existence of the Xia dynasty remains unproven and we have no population records from the Bronze Age, scholars have attempted to estimate its population by projecting backwards from known populations 1500 years later. The '']'' quotes ]'s work Diwang Shiji, which claims that when Yu the Great finished establishing the Nine Provinces, the total population was 13,553,923 individuals;<ref>南朝梁·劉昭注解晋·司马彪之《续汉书·郡国志一》引自晋·皇甫谧之《帝王世紀》</ref> however, this number is highly speculative because Huangfu Mi reached his conclusion by extrapolating from demographic statuses of the ], ], ]. Modern Chinese scholars estimated the Xia's population by employing records from ancient texts. Records have it that when Tai Kang established Lun as his capital, the settlement had about one ''lu'', which was 500 people according to Du Yu, and this number includes only soldiers. Modifying the figures and adding other types of people, Song Zhenhao postulated that this supposed city had between 1500 and 2500 individuals by the time of Tai Kang,<ref>{{cite book|author=宋镇豪|date=September 1994|title=夏商社会生活史|publisher=中国社会科学出版社|isbn=7-5004-1448-X}}</ref> a number he classified as medium. Estimating the number of populous cities, Song finally calculated the result of over 2 million. Wang Yumin, using description of demography during the reign of ] who directly preceded the Xia, concluded that the population of the dynasty was around 2.1 million.<ref>{{cite book|author=王育民|date=November 1995|title=中国人口史|publisher=江苏人民出版社|isbn=7-214-01580-3}}</ref>


== Modern studies == == Modern studies ==
], founder of the ]]] ], founder of the ]]]


The time gap between the supposed time of the Xia and the first written references to it have meant that the historicity of the Xia dynasty itself and the traditional narrative of its history are at best uncertain. The ] of early Chinese history, started by ] in the 1920s, was the first group of scholars within China to systematically question the traditional story of its early history. By critically examining the development of the narrative of early Chinese history throughout history, Gu concluded "the later the time, the longer the legendary period of earlier history... early Chinese history is a tale told and retold for generations, during which new elements were added to the front end".{{sfnp|Lee|2002|p=21}} The time gap between the supposed time of the Xia and the first written references to it have meant that the historicity of the Xia dynasty itself and the traditional narrative of its history are at best uncertain. The ] led by ] in the 1920s were the first scholars within China to systematically question the traditional story of its early history. By critically examining the development of the narrative of early Chinese history throughout history, Gu concluded, "the later the time, the longer the legendary period of earlier history early Chinese history is a tale told and retold for generations, during which new elements were added to the front end".{{sfnp|Lee|2002|p=21}}


Some historians have suggested that the Zhou rulers invented the Xia as a pretext, to justify their conquest of the Shang, by noting that just as the Shang had supplanted the Xia, they had supplanted the Shang.{{sfnp|Liu|Xu|2007|p=897}} The existence of the Xia remains unproven, despite efforts by Chinese archaeologists to link them with the ] ].{{sfnp|Liu|Xu|2007|p=898}} Some historians have suggested that the Zhou rulers invented the Xia as a pretext, to justify their conquest of the Shang, by noting that just as the Shang had supplanted the Xia, they had supplanted the Shang.{{sfnp|Liu|Xu|2007|p=897}} The existence of the Xia remains unproven, despite efforts by Chinese archaeologists to link them with the Bronze Age ].{{sfnp|Liu|Xu|2007|p=898}}


Among other points, Gu and other historians note certain parallels between the traditional narrative of Xia history and Shang history that would suggest probable Zhou-era fabrication or at least embellishment of Xia history. Yun Kuen Lee's criticism of nationalist sentiment in developing an explanation of Three Dynasties chronology focuses on the dichotomy of evidence provided by archaeological versus historical research, in particular, the claim that the archaeological Erlitou culture is also the historical Xia dynasty. "How to fuse the archaeological dates with historical dates is a challenge to all chronological studies of early civilization."{{sfnp|Lee|2002|p=16}} Among other points, Gu and other historians note certain parallels between the traditional narrative of Xia history and Shang history that would suggest probable Zhou-era fabrication or at least embellishment of Xia history. Yun Kuen Lee's criticism of nationalist sentiment in developing an explanation of Three Dynasties chronology focuses on the dichotomy of evidence provided by archaeological versus historical research, in particular, the claim that the archaeological Erlitou culture is also the historical Xia dynasty. "How to fuse the archaeological dates with historical dates is a challenge to all chronological studies of early civilization."{{sfnp|Lee|2002|p=16}}


In ''The Shape of the Turtle: Myth, Art, and Cosmos in Early China'', ] noted that many aspects of the Xia are simply the opposite of traits held to be emblematic of the Shang. The implied dualism of the Shang myth system, Allan argues, is that while the Shang represent the suns, sky, birds, east and life, the Xia represent the moons, watery underworld, dragons, west and death. Allan argues that this mythical Xia was re-interpreted by the Zhou as a ruling dynasty replaced by the Shang, a parallel with their own replacement of the Shang.{{sfnp|Allan|1991|p=73}} In ''The Shape of the Turtle: Myth, Art, and Cosmos in Early China'', ] noted that many aspects of the Xia are simply the opposite of traits held to be emblematic of the Shang. The implied dualism of the Shang myth system, Allan argues, is that while the Shang represent the suns, sky, birds, east and life, the Xia represent the moons, watery underworld, dragons, west and death. Allan argues that this mythical Xia was re-interpreted by the Zhou as a ruling dynasty replaced by the Shang, a parallel with their own replacement of the Shang.{{sfnp|Allan|1991|p=73}}


Other scholars also argue that Shang political class's remnants still existed during the early Zhou dynasty, Zhou rulers could not simply justify their succession to pacify Shang remnants if it's entirely fabricated since the Shang remnants, who remembered prior histories, would not believe it in the first place.<ref>李宏飛. 「夏商世系探索」. 《甲骨學110年:回顧與展望——王宇信教授師友國際學術研討會論文集》 (中國北京: 中國社會科學出版社). 2009年11月1日 (中文(中國大陸)).</ref> For example, the '']'' preserves the "Eulogies of Shang" (商頌 ''Shāng sòng'') which represents the powerful ],<ref>] (1992). ''A Handbook of Old Chinese phonology''. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. p. 356</ref> whose rulers were the direct descendants of Shang dynasty.<ref>Theobald, Ulrich (2018). ''ChinaKnowledge.de - An Encyclopaedia on Chinese History, Literature and Art''</ref> Among those eulogies, the eulogy ''Chang Fa'' (長發) celebrated victories by the "Martial King" ] against Wei (韋), Gu (顧), Kunwu (昆吾), and ].<ref>'']'', "Eulogies of Shang - "</ref> During the later ] (960–1279 AD), an ancient bronze artifact, "Shu Yi Zhong" (叔夷鐘), was unearthed with an inscription describing how the founder of the Shang dynasty, Tang, overthrew the Xia dynasty. The owner of this artifact, Shu Yi, a high officer of the ] during the ] (c.&nbsp;600&nbsp;BC), was actually a direct descendant of the Song rulers, which means he himself was a descendant of Shang people. This bronze artifact was used to memorialize his Shang ancestors. The inscription contradicts the hypothesis that the Zhou dynasty manufactured the existence of the Xia dynasty.<ref>{{cite web Other scholars also argue that Shang political class's remnants still existed during the early Zhou dynasty, Zhou rulers could not simply justify their succession to pacify Shang remnants if it had been entirely fabricated since the Shang remnants, who remembered prior histories, would not believe it in the first place.<ref>李宏飛. 「夏商世系探索」. 《甲骨學110年:回顧與展望——王宇信教授師友國際學術研討會論文集》 (中國北京: 中國社會科學出版社). 2009年11月1日 (中文(中國大陸)).</ref> For example, the '']'' preserves the "Eulogies of Shang" (商頌 ''Shāng sòng'') which represents the powerful ],<ref>] (1992). ''A Handbook of Old Chinese phonology''. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. p. 356</ref> whose rulers were the direct descendants of Shang dynasty.<ref>{{cite web |last=Theobald |first=Ulrich |url=http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Zhou/rulers-song.html |date=Nov 1, 2018 |title=The Regional State of Song 宋 |website=ChinaKnowledge.de - An Encyclopaedia on Chinese History, Literature and Art}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=March 2024}} Among those eulogies, the eulogy ''Chang Fa'' ({{zhi|c=長發}}) celebrated victories by the "martial king" ] against Wei ({{zhi|c=}}), Gu ({{zhi|c=}}), Kunwu ({{zhi|c=昆吾}}), and ].<ref>'']'', "Eulogies of Shang - "</ref> During the later ] (960–1279 AD), an ancient bronze artifact, ''Shu Yi Zhong'' ({{zhi|c=叔夷鐘}}), was unearthed with an inscription describing how the founder of the Shang dynasty, Tang, overthrew the Xia dynasty. Shu Yi, the owner of this artifact, was a high officer of the ] during the ] ({{circa|600&nbsp;BC}}), was actually a direct descendant of the Song rulers, which means he himself was a descendant of Shang people. This bronze artifact was used to memorialize his Shang ancestors. The inscription contradicts the hypothesis that the Zhou manufactured the existence of the Xia.<ref>{{Citation |last=Zhang |first=Zhenglang |author-mask=Zhang Zhenglang (张政烺) |trans-title="Ten plus two dukes" and related issues |script-title=zh:"十又二公"及其相关问题 |url=http://www.guoxue.com/xstj/gxjl/gx_syeg.htm |language=zh}}</ref>
|script-title=zh:"十又二公"及其相关问题
|title=Shi you er gong ji qi xiang guan wen ti
|trans-title="Ten plus two dukes" and related issues
|surname=Zhang |given=Zhenglang 张政烺
|url=http://www.guoxue.com/xstj/gxjl/gx_syeg.htm
}}</ref>


Although the Shang ] inscriptions contain no mention of the Xia, some scholars have suggested that polities they mention might be remnants of the Xia. Although the Shang ] inscriptions contain no mention of the Xia, some scholars have suggested that polities they mention might be remnants of the Xia.
] suggested that an enemy state called Tufang state of the Fang states mentioned in many inscriptions might be identified with the Xia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wanfangdata.com.cn/details/detail.do?_type=perio&id=gmrxk201601011 |title=再论卜辞"土方"与相关问题 |publisher= 郭沫若学刊 }}</ref> ] suggested that an enemy state called Tufang state of the Fang states mentioned in many inscriptions might be identified with the Xia.<ref>{{cite web |title=再论卜辞"土方"与夏人的相关问题 |url=http://www.wanfangdata.com.cn/details/detail.do?_type=perio&id=gmrxk201601011 |publisher=郭沫若学刊}}</ref> Historian Shen Changyun points to four inscriptions mentioning Qi, the same name as the state of Qi, which according to traditional accounts was established by the defeated royal house of Xia.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=zh:代是杜撰吗——与陈淳先生商榷 |trans-title=Is the Xia dynasty fabricated – a response to Chen Chun |surname=Shen |given=Changyun |author-mask=Shen Changyun (沈长云) |year=2005 |url=http://www.xianqin.org/xr_html/articles/qydt/286.html}}</ref>
The historian Shen Changyun pointed to four inscriptions mentioning Qǐ (杞), the same name as the state of ], which according to traditional accounts was established by the defeated royal house of Xia.<ref>{{cite web
|script-title=zh:夏代是杜撰的吗——与陈淳先生商榷
|title=Xiàdài shì dùzhuàn de ma——yǔ Chén Chún xiānshēng shāngquè
|trans-title=Is the Xia dynasty fabricated – a response to Chen Chun
|surname=Shen |given=Changyun 沈长云
|year=2005
|url=http://www.xianqin.org/xr_html/articles/qydt/286.html
}}</ref>


==Archaeological discoveries== == Archaeological discoveries ==
{{See also|Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project}} {{See also|Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project}}
] sites (black) and Xia capitals identified in traditional sources (red, with numbers for those from the "current text" ''Bamboo Annals'')]] ] sites (black) and Xia capitals identified in traditional sources (red, with numbers for those from the "current text" ''Bamboo Annals'')]]
Inspired by the discovery of the late Shang capital (]) near modern ], Chinese archaeologists searched the Yellow River basin for earlier capitals.{{sfnp|Liu|Chen|2012|p=10}}
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. There exists a debate as to whether or not the ] was the site of the Xia dynasty, largely centering on whether archeological evidence of urban habitation across the region before the Shang dynasty should be taken as corroboration of the traditional account of a Xia, or expected regardless of the historicity of the Xia due to the trajectory of population growth and agricultural development in the fertile regions of eastern China from the neolithic through early history. ] places the Erlitou sites at {{Circa|2100}} to 1800 BC, providing physical evidence of the existence of a state contemporaneous with and possibly equivalent to the Xia dynasty as described in later classical Chinese historical works.<ref>] ''China: A New History''. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1992, page 35.</ref> In 1959, a site located in the city of ] was excavated containing large palaces that some archaeologists have claimed to be the ]. Through the 1960s and 1970s, archaeologists have uncovered urban sites, bronze implements, and tombs in the same locations cited in ancient Chinese historical texts regarding Xia;<ref name=library/> in 2011, Chinese archaeologists uncovered the remains of an imperial sized palace—dated to about 1700 BC—at ] in ], further fueling the discussions about the existence of the dynasty.<ref>{{cite web | title=China finds 3,600-year-old palace | url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90782/7675375.html | publisher=People's Daily Online | date=13 December 2011}}</ref> At a minimum, the era traditionally denoted as the Xia dynasty marked a period of urbanization and agricultural development bridging the late ] cultures and the urban civilization of the ].<ref name=library>{{cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+cn0013%29|title=China – the ancient dynasties|publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies}}</ref>
In 1959, ] conducted a survey of the ]–] basin, which he had identified from received texts as a possible location of Xia capitals.
Among his discoveries was the large Bronze Age site of ] near modern ].{{sfnp|Liu|Chen|2012|p=259}}
The site was an urban centre, with ] foundations of several buildings, which were interpreted as palaces or temples.{{sfnp|Lee|2002|p=23}}
] in the late 20th century had wide error margins, and placed the Erlitou culture between 2100 and 1300 BC, which fit well with the traditional dates of the Xia.{{sfnp|Zhang|Qiu|Cai|Bo|2014|p=200}}
Most Chinese archaeologists identify the Xia with Erlitou, while many western archaeologists argue that the identification, and indeed the very existence of Xia, is unprovable, due to the lack of testable detail in the traditional accounts.{{sfnp|Liu|Chen|2012|p=260}}{{sfnp|Shelach-Lavi|2015|p=164}}
For a time, archaeologists debated which of the four phases of Erlitou should be interpreted as Xia and which as Shang.{{sfnp|Lee|2002|p=23}}

The refined dating techniques used by the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project produced a narrower range for the Erlitou culture of 1880 to 1520 BC.{{sfnp|Zhang|Qiu|Cai|Bo|2014|p=200}}
The project assigned all four phases of Erlitou to the Xia, and identified the transition to the Shang with the construction of walled cities at Yanshi and ] around 1600 BC.{{sfnp|Li|2002|p=332}}
Since the project had settled on a start date for the Xia of 2070 BC, based on received texts, this forced them to designate the late part of the Henan ], including the ] phase, as the early part of the Xia period.{{sfnp|Shelach-Lavi|2015|p=164}}
No corresponding cultural transition in the archaeological record has yet been discovered.{{sfnp|Wagner|Tarasov|2008|p=76}}
Even more refined carbon dating in 2005 and 2006 produced more tightly defined ranges, dating Xinzhai at 1870–1720 BC and Erlitou at 1735–1530 BC.{{sfnp|Zhang|Qiu|Cai|Bo|2014|pp=202–203, 206}}

]'' vessel]]
The only ]s found at Erlitou are a '']'' sounding stone, two small clapper bells (one ], one bronze) and a '']'' with one finger hole.{{sfnp|Tong|1983a|p=78}}{{sfnp|Tong|1983b|pp=105, 156}} Due to this extreme scarcity of surviving instruments and the general uncertainty surrounding most of the Xia, creating a musical narrative of the period is impractical.{{sfnp|Tong|1983a|p=23}}

Archaeological evidence of a ] that destroyed the ] site on the upper reaches of the Yellow River has been dated to {{c.|1920 BC}}. This date is shortly before the rise of the Erlitou culture in the middle Yellow River valley and the ] in Shandong, following the decline of the ] in the ]. The authors suggest that this flood may have been the basis for the later myth of Yu the Great, and contributed to the cultural transition into the Erlitou period. They further argue that the timing is further evidence for the identification of the Xia with the Erlitou culture.<ref>{{Cite journal |display-authors=etal |year=2016 |title=Outburst flood at 1920 BCE supports historicity of China's Great Flood and the Xia dynasty |journal=Science |volume=353 |issue=6299 |pages=579–582 |bibcode=2016Sci...353..579W |doi=10.1126/science.aaf0842 |pmid=27493183 |s2cid=206646492 |given1=Qinglong |surname1=Wu |given2=Zhijun |surname2=Zhao |given3=Li |surname3=Liu |given4=Darryl E. |surname4=Granger |given5=Hui |surname5=Wang |given6=David J. |surname6=Cohen |given7=Xiaohong |surname7=Wu |given8=Maolin |surname8=Ye |given9=Ofer |surname9=Bar-Yosef |given10=Bin |surname10=Lu |given11=Jin |surname11=Zhang |given12=Peizhen |surname12=Zhang |given13=Daoyang |surname13=Yuan |given14=Wuyun |surname14=Qi |given15=Linhai |surname15=Cai |given16=Shibiao |surname16=Bai}}</ref> However, no evidence of contemporaneous widespread flooding in the North China Plain has yet been found.<ref>{{Citation |last=Normile |first=Dennis |title=Massive flood may have led to China's earliest empire |work=News |year=2016 |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/massive-flood-may-have-led-chinas-earliest-empire |access-date=5 August 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref>


'']'' (1999) takes the beginning of Chinese history as the Xia's successor Shang dynasty ({{circa|1600|1046&nbsp;BC}}). Xie Weiyang responded to this standpoint unfavorably towards efforts in China to link archaeological research to historical records:
]'' from the ]]]
{{blockquote|
Archaeological evidence of a ] that destroyed the ] site on the upper reaches of the Yellow River has been dated to about 1920 BC. This date is shortly before the rise of the Erlitou culture in the middle Yellow River valley and the ] in Shandong, following the decline of the ] in the ]. The authors suggest that this flood may have been the basis for the later myth of ], and contributed to the cultural transition into the Erlitou period. They further argue that the timing is further evidence for the identification of the Xia with the Erlitou culture.<ref>{{cite journal
The Cambridge History of Ancient China adopted this standpoint with the promise of providing a commonly accepted synthesis based on an exhaustive discussion of the latest pre-Qin material available at the end of the 1990s. This is of extraordinary significance, because if this book aims to provide a commonly accepted synthesis, then the blood, sweat, and tears of Chinese scholars over the past decade that brought about countless achievements in Xia period research will become a joke, and many Chinese scholars in the field will lose all sense of direction and not know how to get back on the right track.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Xie Weiyang 謝維揚|title=Shui shi Lushan zhenmianmu: Jianqiao Zhongguo shanggushi duhou 誰識廬山真面目—〈劍橋中國上古史〉讀後 |journal=Wen Hui Bao 文匯報|date=April 21, 2001}}</ref>}}
| title = Outburst flood at 1920 BCE supports historicity of China's Great Flood and the Xia dynasty
| given1 = Qinglong | surname1 = Wu
| given2 = Zhijun | surname2 = Zhao
| given3 = Li | surname3 = Liu
| given4 = Darryl E. | surname4 = Granger
| given5 = Hui | surname5 = Wang
| given6 = David J. | surname6 = Cohen
| given7 = Xiaohong | surname7 = Wu
| given8 = Maolin | surname8 = Ye
| given9 = Ofer | surname9 = Bar-Yosef
| given10 = Bin | surname10 = Lu
| given11 = Jin | surname11 = Zhang
| given12 = Peizhen | surname12 = Zhang
| given13 = Daoyang | surname13 = Yuan
| given14 = Wuyun | surname14 = Qi
| given15 = Linhai | surname15 = Cai
| given16 = Shibiao | surname16 = Bai
| journal = Science | year = 2016
| volume = 353 | issue = 6299 | pages = 579–582
| doi = 10.1126/science.aaf0842 | pmid=27493183
| bibcode = 2016Sci...353..579W | s2cid = 206646492 }}</ref>
However, no evidence of contemporaneous widespread flooding in the North China Plain has yet been found.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Massive flood may have led to China's earliest empire
| website = News | publisher = ]
| given = Dennis | surname = Normile
| year = 2016
| url = https://www.science.org/content/article/massive-flood-may-have-led-chinas-earliest-empire
| access-date = 5 August 2016
}}</ref>


However, as Chen Chun and Gong Xin point out, the debate upon the Xia dynasty's historical existence stems from different research orientations between Chinese and Western scholars. The authors assert that overseas scientific communities are hesitant to accept the results of Chinese researchers because their studies used traditional narratives of the Xia as a guide that instructed them on what to find, and because they quickly linked newly discovered artifacts, constructions and other evidences as representing the proof for the Xia's actual existence. They claim that mainland Chinese scholars focused mainly on extrapolations of excavated evidence to establish a historical perspective, and overlooked other complex factors in ancient human activities. This method, according to the two authors, resulted in high levels of subjectivity and contradicted the common trend among Western researchers, which took the physical discoveries as not necessarily representing real social or political units.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Chen Chun|author2=Gong Xin|title=Erlitou and Xia: A Dispute between Chinese and Overseas Scholars|journal=Social Evolution & History|volume=7|number=2|date=September 2018|pages=235–257|doi=10.30884/seh/2018.02.13|url=https://www.sociostudies.org/upload/sociostudies.org/journal/seh/2018_2/235-257.pdf}}</ref>
The only ]s dated to the Xia dynasty are two '']'', two small bells (one ], one ]) and a '']''.{{sfn|Tong|1983|p=23}} Due to this extreme scarcity of surviving instruments and the general uncertainty surrounding most of the Xia, creating a musical narrative of the period is impractical.{{sfn|Tong|1983|p=23}}


==Sovereigns of the Xia dynasty== ==Sovereigns==
The following table lists the rulers of Xia according to ]'s '']''. Unlike Sima's list of ] kings, which is closely matched by inscriptions on ] from late in that period, records of Xia rulers have not yet been found in archaeological excavations of contemporary sites, or records on later Shang dynasty oracle bones. The following table lists the rulers of Xia according to the '']''. Unlike Sima's list of Shang kings, which is closely matched by inscriptions on ] from late in that period, records of Xia rulers have not yet been found in archaeological excavations of contemporary sites, or records on later Shang dynasty oracle bones.
{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|+ Posthumous names
|- |-
! scope="col" | {{numero|abbr=yes}} !! scope="col" | Years !! scope="col" | Name !! scope="col" | Notes
! style="background:#efefef;" colspan="6" | Posthumous names (] 諡號)<sup>1</sup>
|- |-
! scope="row" | 1
! Order
! Reign<sup>2</sup>
! ]
! '']''
! colspan="2"|Notes
|-
| 01
| 45 | 45
| ] {{zhi|c=禹}}
| 禹
| Founder of the Xia
| class = "lft" | ]
| Also Yu the Great (''大禹''; ''Dà Yǔ'')
| Founder of Xia dynasty
|- |-
! scope="row" | 2
| 02
| 10 | 10
| ] {{zhi|c=啟}}
| 啟
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Yu | Son of Yu
|
|- |-
! scope="row" | 3
| 03
| 29 | 29
| 太康 | ] {{zhi|c=太康}}
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Qi | Son of Qi
| &nbsp;
|- |-
! scope="row" | 4
| 04
| 13 | 13
| 仲康 | ] {{zhi|c=仲康}}
| Son of Qi, younger brother of Tai Kang
| class = "lft" | ]

| Son of Qi and younger brother of Tai Kang
| &nbsp;
|- |-
! scope="row" | 5
| 05
| 28 | 28
| ] {{zhi|c=相}}
| 相
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Zhong Kang | Son of Zhong Kang
| &nbsp;
|- |-
! scope="row" | 6
| 06
| 21 | 21
| 少康 | ] {{zhi|c=少康}}
| Son of Xiang. Restored the Xia.
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Xiang
| Restored the Xia dynasty
|- |-
! scope="row" | 7
| 07
| 17 | 17
| ] {{zhi|c=杼}}
| 杼
| ]
| Son of Shao Kang | Son of Shao Kang
| &nbsp;
|- |-
! scope="row" | 8
| 08
| 26 | 26
| ] {{zhi|c=槐}}
| 槐
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Zhu | Son of Zhu
| &nbsp;
|- |-
! scope="row" | 9
| 09
| 18 | 18
| ] {{zhi|c=芒}}
| 芒
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Huai | Son of Huai
|
|- |-
| 10 ! scope="row" | 10
| 16 | 16
| ] {{zhi|c=泄}}
| 泄
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Mang | Son of Mang
|
|- |-
| 11 ! scope="row" | 11
| 59 | 59
| 不降 | ] {{zhi|c=不降}}
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Xie | Son of Xie
| &nbsp;
|- |-
| 12 ! scope="row" | 12
| 21 | 21
| ] {{zhi|c=扃}}
| 扃
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Xie, younger brother of Bu Jiang | Son of Xie, younger brother of Bu Jiang
| &nbsp;
|- |-
| 13 ! scope="row" | 13
| 21 | 21
| ] {{zhi|c=廑}}
| 廑
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Jiong | Son of Jiong
| ]: ''Jǐn'' or ''Jìn'', ]: ''Jǐn''
|- |-
| 14 ! scope="row" | 14
| 31 | 31
| 孔甲 | ] {{zhi|c=孔甲}}
| Son of Bu Jiang, nephew of Jiong, cousin of Jin
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Bu Jiang, nephew of Jiong and cousin of Jin
| &nbsp;
|- |-
| 15 ! scope="row" | 15
| 11 | 11
| ] {{zhi|c=皋}}
| 皋
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Kong Jia | Son of Kong Jia
| &nbsp;
|- |-
| 16 ! scope="row" | 16
| 11 | 11
| ] {{zhi|c=發}}
| 發
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Gao | Son of Gao
| &nbsp;
|- |-
| 17 ! scope="row" | 17
| 52 | 52
| ] {{zhi|c=桀}}
| 桀
| Son of Fa. Also known as Lu Gui ({{zhi|c=履癸}}).
| class = "lft" | ]
| Son of Fa
| Also '''Lu Gui''' (''履癸'', ''Lǚ Guǐ'')
|- |-
| style="background:#efefef" colspan="6" | <small><sup>1</sup> The reign name is sometimes preceded by the name of the dynasty, Xia (''夏''), for example ''Xia Yu'' (''夏禹'').</small>
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#efefef" |<small><sup>2</sup> Possible length of reign, in years. Mostly based on ''] Waiji''.</small>
|} |}


==Xia dynasty family tree== === Family tree ===

{{Xia dynasty family tree}} {{Xia dynasty family tree}}


==See also== == See also ==
*]
*]


== Notes ==
*]
{{Notelist}}
*]
**]
**]
**]
**]


== References == == References ==
=== Citations === === Citations ===
{{sfn whitelist |CITEREFMungello2009}}
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


=== Sources === === Sources ===
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}} }}
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| editor-surname = Schwartz | editor-given = Adam C. | editor-surname = Schwartz | editor-given = Adam C.
| title = The Nivison Annals | title = The Nivison Annals
| publisher = De Gruyter Mouton | year = 2018 | isbn = 978-1-5015-1454-8 | publisher = De Gruyter Mouton | year = 2018 | isbn = 978-1-5015-1454-8
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| journal = Early China | year = 1981–1982 | volume = 7 | pages = 2–37 | journal = Early China | year = 1981 | volume = 7 | pages = 2–37
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| url = http://www.lehigh.edu/~dwp0/Assets/images/astronomicaldates.pdf | url = http://www.lehigh.edu/~dwp0/Assets/images/astronomicaldates.pdf
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| journal = Early China | year = 1985 | volume = 9 | issue = 1 | pages = 175–183
| jstor = 23351600 | doi = 10.1017/S0362502800006349
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| title = ''Mozi'' and the Dates of Xia, Shang, and Zhou: A Research Note | title = Shang Musical Instruments: Part One
| surname = Tong | given = Kin-Woon
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| journal = Early China | year = 1984 | volume = 9/10 | pages = 175–183 | journal = Asian Music | volume = 14 | issue = 2 | pages = 17–182 | year = 1983a
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| journal = Asian Music | volume = 15 | issue = 1 | pages = 17–182 | year = 1983b
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| surname2 = Tarasov | given2 = Pavel E.
| chapter = The present perception of the origin of Chinese civilization | pages = 69–84
| title = Perceptions of Antiquity in Chinese Civilization
| editor1-given = Dieter | editor1-surname = Kuhn
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| title = Writing and the Ancient State: Early China in Comparative Perspective
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| surname4 = Bo | given4 = Guancheng
| surname5 = Wang | given5 = Jinxia
| surname6 = Zhong | given6 = Jian
| translator-surname1 = Zhang | translator-given1 = Xuelian
| translator-given2 = Yun Kuen | translator-surname2 = Lee
| title = Establishing and refining the archaeological chronologies of Xinzhai, Erlitou and Erligang cultures
| journal = Chinese Archaeology | volume = 8 | issue = 1 | pages = 197–210 | year = 2014
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{{refend}} {{refend}}


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{{Commons category|Xia Dynasty}} {{Commons category|Xia Dynasty}}
{{Wikisourcelang|zh|史記|Shiji (in Chinese)}} {{Wikisourcelang|zh|史記|Shiji (in Chinese)}}
* {{cite journal * {{citation
| title = Ssŭma Ch'ien's ''Historical Records'', Chapter II – The Hsia Dynasty | title = Ssŭma Ch'ien's ''Historical Records'', Chapter II – The Hsia Dynasty
| translator-first = Herbert J. | translator-last = Allen | translator-link = | translator-first = Herbert J. | translator-last = Allen | translator-link =
| journal = Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society | volume = 27 | number = 1 | year = 1895 | pages = 93–110 | journal = Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society | volume = 27 | number = 1 | year = 1895 | pages = 93–110
| doi = 10.1017/S0035869X00022784 | doi = 10.1017/S0035869X00022784
| s2cid = 250351018 | url = http://www.sacred-texts.com/journals/jras/1895-03.htm | s2cid = 250351018 | url = http://www.sacred-texts.com/journals/jras/1895-03.htm
| ref = none | ref = none
}} }}
* {{cite book * {{citation
| chapter = The Annals of the Bamboo Books: The Dynasty of Hea | chapter = The Annals of the Bamboo Books: The Dynasty of Hea
| chapter-url = https://archive.org/stream/chineseclassics07legggoog#page/n135/mode/2up | chapter-url = https://archive.org/stream/chineseclassics07legggoog#page/n135/mode/2up
| pages = –127 | pages = –127
| title = The Chinese Classics, volume 3, part 1 | title = The Chinese Classics, volume 3, part 1
| translator-first = James | translator-last = Legge | translator-link = James Legge | translator-first = James | translator-last = Legge | translator-link = James Legge
| year = 1865 | year = 1865
| url = https://archive.org/details/chineseclassics07legggoog | url = https://archive.org/details/chineseclassics07legggoog
| ref = none | ref = none
}} }}


{{-}} {{Clear}}
{{S-start}} {{S-start}}
{{s-bef|before=]}} {{s-bef|before=]}}
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{{s-aft|after=]}} {{s-aft|after=]}}
{{s-end}} {{s-end}}
{{Kings of Xia|state=collapsed}}
{{Xia dynasty topics}}


{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}

Latest revision as of 08:27, 1 January 2025

Traditional first dynasty in Chinese history For other dynasties with the same name, see Xia (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Xi dynasty, Xin dynasty, or Western Xia.
Xia
c. 2070 – c. 1600 BC
Proposed location of the Xia dynastyProposed location of the Xia dynasty
Capital
GovernmentMonarchy
King 
History 
• Established c. 2070 BC
• Disestablished c. 1600 BC
Preceded by Succeeded by
Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
Shang dynasty
Xia
Chinese
Hanyu PinyinXià
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXià
Bopomofoㄒㄧㄚˋ
Wade–GilesHsia
Tongyong PinyinSià
Yale RomanizationSyà
MPS2Shià
IPA
Wu
RomanizationGho
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationHah
JyutpingHaa6
IPA
Southern Min
Tâi-lôHē (col.)
Hā (lit.)
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese/ɦˠaX/
Old Chinese
Baxter–Sagart (2014)*ˤraʔ
Zhengzhang/*ɡraːʔ/
Part of a series on the
History of China
History of China in Chinese characters and seal script
Prehistoric
Yellow, Yangtze, and Liao civilization
Ancient
  • Xia (c. 2070 – c. 1600 BC)

  • Shang (c. 1600 – c. 1046 BC)
Late Shang (c. 1250 – c. 1046 BC)

  • Zhou (c. 1046 – c. 256 BC)
Western Zhou (1046–771 BC)
Eastern Zhou (771–256 BC)
Spring and Autumn (c. 770 – c. 476 BC)
Warring States (475–221 BC)
Imperial
  • Qin (221–207 BC)

  • Han (206 BC – 220 AD)
Chu–Han Contention (206–202 BC)
Western Han (202 BC – 9 AD)
Xin (9–23 AD)
Eastern Han (25–220 AD)

Wei, Shu, and Wu

  • Jin (266–420)
   
Western Jin (266–316)
Eastern Jin (317–420)


  • Sui (581–618)


   
Northern Song (960–1127)
Southern Song (1127–1279)



Modern
   
Related articles

The Xia dynasty (/ʃiɑː/; Chinese: 夏朝; pinyin: Xià cháo) is the first dynasty in traditional Chinese historiography. According to tradition, it was established by the legendary figure Yu the Great, after Shun, the last of the Five Emperors, gave the throne to him. In traditional historiography, the Xia was succeeded by the Shang dynasty.

There are no contemporaneous records of the Xia, and they are not mentioned in the oldest Chinese texts, the earliest oracle bone inscriptions dating from the Late Shang period (13th century BC). The earliest mentions occur in the oldest chapters of the Book of Documents, which report speeches from the early Western Zhou period and are accepted by most scholars as dating from that time. The speeches justify the Zhou conquest of the Shang as the passing of the Mandate of Heaven and liken it to the succession of the Xia by the Shang. That political philosophy was promoted by the Confucian school in the Eastern Zhou period. The succession of dynasties was incorporated into the Bamboo Annals and Shiji and became the official position of imperial historiography and ideology. Some scholars consider the Xia dynasty legendary or at least unsubstantiated, but others identify it with the archaeological Erlitou culture (c. 1900–1700 BC).

According to the traditional chronology, based upon calculations by Liu Xin, the Xia ruled between 2205 and 1766 BC. According to the chronology based on the "current text" Bamboo Annals, it ruled between 1989 and 1558 BC. Comparing the same text with dates of five-planet conjunctions, David Pankenier, supported by David Nivison, proposed dates of 1953 and 1555 BC. The Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project, commissioned by the Chinese government in 1996, proposed that the Xia existed between 2070 and 1600 BC.

Traditional historiography

The Xia dynasty was described in several Chinese classics, including the Book of Documents, the Bamboo Annals, and Sima Qian's Shiji. These sources make clear that the Xia was considered a historical dynasty in the first millennium BCE. The Shiji and Book of Rites say that Yu the Great, the founder of the Xia dynasty, was the grandson of Zhuanxu, who was the grandson of the Yellow Emperor. But there are also other records, like Ban Gu's, that say Yu's father was a fifth generation descendant of Zhuanxu. Other sources such as Classic of Mountains and Seas mention Yu's father Gun was the son of Luoming, who was the son of the Yellow Emperor. Sima Qian traced the origin of the dynasty to the name of a fief granted to Yu, who would use it as his own surname and his state's name.

According to Sima Qian and other early texts, Gun, the father of Yu the Great, is the earliest recorded member of the Xia clan. He describes how when the Yellow River flooded, many tribes united together to control and stop the flooding and Gun was appointed by Emperor Yao to stop the flooding. He ordered the construction of large levees to block the path of the water. The attempts of Gun to stop the flooding lasted for nine years, but ultimately failed because the floods strengthened. After nine years, Yao had already given his throne to Shun. Shun ordered that Gun be imprisoned for life by at Yushan (羽山, 'Feather Mountain'), a mountain located between modern Donghai County in Jiangsu, and Linshu County in Shandong.

See also: Great Flood (China)
Han dynasty stone relief rendering of Yu the Great
Approximate location of Xia dynasty (in pink) in traditional Chinese historiography. Because of the lack of written records, the existence of Xia cannot be proven.

According to traditional accounts, Shun trusted Yu and appointed him to stop the flooding, which he did by organizing people from different tribes and ordered them to help him dig channels in all the major rivers and lead the water out to the sea. This was considered to have established the layout of the world's rivers. Legend says that in the 13 years it took him to successfully complete the work to stop the floods, he never went back to his home village to stop and rest, even though he passed by his house three times.

Story of the Founding of the Xia dynasty

According to traditional texts, Yu's success in stopping the flooding increased agricultural production. The Xia tribe's power increased and Yu became the leader of the surrounding tribes. Soon afterwards Shun sent Yu to lead an army to suppress the Sanmiao tribe, which continuously abused the border tribes. After defeating them, he exiled them south to the Han River area. This victory strengthened the Xia tribe's power even more. As Shun aged, he thought of a successor and relinquished the throne to Yu, whom he deemed worthy. Yu's succession marks the start of the Xia dynasty. As Yu neared death he passed the throne to his son, Qi, instead of passing it to the most capable candidate, thus setting the precedent for dynastic rule or the Hereditary System. The Xia dynasty began a period of family or clan control. It is believed that Zhenxun (modern Gongyi) and Yangcheng (modern Gaocheng) were two of the capitals of the dynasty.

Interregnum

Further information: Hou Yi and Han Zhuo

According to Sima Qian, the third Xia king was Tai Kang, described as an avid hunter but ineffective ruler. The Bamboo Annals describe the Xia capital at Zhenxun being attacked by Hou Yi while Tai Kang was on a hunt beyond the Luo River. The occupation of Zhenxun marked the beginning of a significant interregnum. In the eighth year of the reign of Tai Kang's nephew Xiang, Hou Yi was killed by his former chief minister Han Zhuo. 20 years later, Han Zhuo's forces killed King Xiang and usurped the throne, but the royal family escaped.

Xiang's son Shao Kang was sheltered by a tribal chief, surviving for years as a fugitive despite the efforts of Han Zhuo to eliminate him and prevent any reemergence of the Xia. Upon reaching adulthood, Shao Kang began organizing with local lords who hated Han Zhuo's rule. Shao Kang emerged victorious in the military confrontation that followed, and Han Zhuo committed suicide. The reign of Shao Kang and his son Zhu is traditionally characterized as one of the most prosperous periods in the Xia's history.

Overthrow

Jie is recorded as the final King of Xia, and as with many last rulers in Chinese historiography, he was said to be immoral, lascivious, and tyrannical. He was overthrown by Tang, who inaugurated the new Shang dynasty. King Tang is said to have given the remnants of the Xia clan a fief comprising the small state of Qi. This practice was referred to as "the two crownings and the three respects".

Traditional structure

Nine Provinces

According to the Book of Documents, Yu the Great divided his state into nine provinces (九州). These are Ji (冀), Yan (兗), Qing (青), Xu (徐), Yang (揚), Jing (荊), Yu (豫), Liang (梁) and Yong (雍). Each province was briefly described by the Book of Documents in terms of their soil quality, their productivity and other geographical characteristics. According to the chapter "Tribute of Yu" in the text, the Nine Provinces respectively correspond to modern regions of China as:

  • Ji Province corresponds to modern Hebei, Shanxi and a part of Liaoning;
  • Yan Province corresponds to parts of Shandong and Hebei;
  • Qing Province corresponds to the part of Shandong to the east of Mount Tai;
  • Xu Province corresponds to northern parts of Jiangsu, Anhui, and the southern parts of Shandong;
  • Yang Province corresponds to southern Jiangsu, southern Anhui, northern Zhejiang, and northern Jiangxi;
  • Jing Province corresponds to parts of Hunan, and northwestern Jiangxi;
  • Yu Province corresponds to Henan, northern Hubei, southeastern Shaanxi, and southwestern Shandong;
  • Liang Province corresponds to Sichuan, southern Gansu, and Shaanxi;
  • Yong Province corresponds to parts of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai.

Capital cities

The Xia dynasty moved the capital many times. According to traditional records, these capitals are as follows:

Capital cities of the Xia
King Capital city Present location
Gun Daxia Part of Shanxi
Chong (崇) Chong, Henan
Yu Gaomi (密都) Xin'an, Henan
Yangcheng (阳城阳翟) Gaocheng, Dengfeng, Henan
Yangzhai (阳城阳翟) Xuchang, Henan
Jinyang (晋阳平阳) Jinyuan, Taiyuan
Pingyang (晋阳平阳) Southwest of Linfen, Shanxi
Anyi (安邑) Xia County, Yuncheng, Shanxi
Qi, Tai Kang Yangzhai (陽翟) -
Tai Kang, Zhong Kang Zhenxun Speculated to be an Erlitou site 18 kilometers east of Luoyang
Xiang Diqiu (商丘) or Shangqiu Southwestern Puyang, Henan (简明中国历史地图集)
Zhenxun {{{1}}}
Shao Kang Lun (纶邑) Yucheng, Henan
Xiayi Xia County, Henan
Shangqiu {{{1}}}
Zhu Yuan (原) Jiyuan, Henan
Zhu, Huai, Mang, Xie, Bu Jiang, Jiong Laoqiu Kaifeng, Henan
Jin, Kong Jia, Gao, Fa Xihe Speculated to have been in Anyang, Henan
Jie Zhenxun {{{1}}}

Fangguo tribes

According to traditional Chinese records, the fangguo tribes were polities outside the Xia clan's direct rule. They were mostly large tribal peoples, but some were massive enough to become small states with more complex social structures, rivaling that of the Xia. Many of the tribes were described as in regular relationships with the Xia court, being either allies or enemies. Eventually, some of the tribal chiefs joined the force of Tang to overthrow Jie's regime.

Geopolitical system

According to the "Tribute of Yu" chapter of the Book of Documents, the scope of direct jurisdiction of the Xia state was limited to a small area controlled by the ruling clan. Beyond the Xia's own tribe, other tribal leaders enjoyed relatively independent management and ruling rights in their own territories; for the Xia Hou, they expressed their mutual relations in the form of submission and tribute. The Book of Documents says that Yu the Great determined the relationships between Xia and Fangguo tribes, dividing them into 5 categories according to the tribes' relative locations from the Xia clan's residence:

He conferred lands and surnames. (He said), 'Let me set the example of a reverent attention to my virtue, and none will act contrary to my conduct, Five hundred li formed the Domain of the Sovereign. From the first hundred they brought as revenue the whole plant of the grain; from the second, the cars, with a portion of the stalk; from the third, the straw, but the people had to perform various services; from the fourth, the grain in the husk; and from the fifth, the grain cleaned.

Five hundred li (beyond) constituted the Domain of the Nobles. The first hundred li was occupied by the cities and lands of the (sovereign's) high ministers and great officers; the second, by the principalities of the barons; and the (other) three hundred, by the various other princes.

Five hundred li (still beyond) formed the Peace−securing Domain. In the first three hundred, they cultivated the lessons of learning and moral duties; in the other two, they showed the energies of war and defence.

Five hundred li (remoter still) formed the Domain of Restraint. The (first) three hundred were occupied by the tribes of the Yi; the (other) two hundred, by criminals undergoing the lesser banishment.

Five hundred li (the most remote) constituted the Wild Domain. The (first) three hundred were occupied by the tribes of the Man; the (other) two hundred, by criminals undergoing the greater banishment.

Texts like the Book of Documents, the Book of Rites, and the Mencius describe that the Xia had already established a distinguished official system with positions helping the Xia clan in managing the state. There were also laws set forth to maintain social stability within the country.

Economic status

Traditional narratives describe the Xia as enjoying prosperity in agriculture. The Analects contends that Yu the Great devoted himself to irrigation, improving the drainage system for cultivating crops. The texts also say that the people of Xia was gifted in producing alcohol, with the notable legendary figure of Du Kang who is usually identified with Shao Kang. The population was described to have had vegetables and rice as the staple crop, and meat was usually reserved for sacrifices. Additionally, manufacture of goods and trade with outside tribes flourished. The site at Erlitou contains many metallic fragments, suggesting that the time assigned to the Xia was characterized by bronze metallurgy.

During Yu the Great's controlling of the floods, he renewed the transportation system. Sima Qian wrote in his Records of the Grand Historian that Yu used carriages to travel on land, boats to travel on rivers, sleds to travel on mud, and horses to cross the mountains. He surveyed the lands and opened up routes through geographical locations so that tributes from tribal chiefs to the Xia would be more convenient. He organized people to build roads connecting the Nine Provinces, helping to improve tributary and economic relations between the tribes. Traditional texts record that the transport system of the Xia clan extended at least 500 – 600 li horizontally and 300 – 400 li vertically. The Guoyu also records that the Xia dynasty ordered the roads to be opened up in the 9th month, the bridges to be finished in the 10th month.

Population estimates

Although the existence of the Xia dynasty remains unproven and we have no population records from the Bronze Age, scholars have attempted to estimate its population by projecting backwards from known populations 1500 years later. The Book of the Later Han quotes Huangfu Mi's work Diwang Shiji, which claims that when Yu the Great finished establishing the Nine Provinces, the total population was 13,553,923 individuals; however, this number is highly speculative because Huangfu Mi reached his conclusion by extrapolating from demographic statuses of the Qin, Han, Jin dynasties. Modern Chinese scholars estimated the Xia's population by employing records from ancient texts. Records have it that when Tai Kang established Lun as his capital, the settlement had about one lu, which was 500 people according to Du Yu, and this number includes only soldiers. Modifying the figures and adding other types of people, Song Zhenhao postulated that this supposed city had between 1500 and 2500 individuals by the time of Tai Kang, a number he classified as medium. Estimating the number of populous cities, Song finally calculated the result of over 2 million. Wang Yumin, using description of demography during the reign of Emperor Shun who directly preceded the Xia, concluded that the population of the dynasty was around 2.1 million.

Modern studies

Gu Jiegang, founder of the Doubting Antiquity School

The time gap between the supposed time of the Xia and the first written references to it have meant that the historicity of the Xia dynasty itself and the traditional narrative of its history are at best uncertain. The Doubting Antiquity School led by Gu Jiegang in the 1920s were the first scholars within China to systematically question the traditional story of its early history. By critically examining the development of the narrative of early Chinese history throughout history, Gu concluded, "the later the time, the longer the legendary period of earlier history early Chinese history is a tale told and retold for generations, during which new elements were added to the front end".

Some historians have suggested that the Zhou rulers invented the Xia as a pretext, to justify their conquest of the Shang, by noting that just as the Shang had supplanted the Xia, they had supplanted the Shang. The existence of the Xia remains unproven, despite efforts by Chinese archaeologists to link them with the Bronze Age Erlitou culture.

Among other points, Gu and other historians note certain parallels between the traditional narrative of Xia history and Shang history that would suggest probable Zhou-era fabrication or at least embellishment of Xia history. Yun Kuen Lee's criticism of nationalist sentiment in developing an explanation of Three Dynasties chronology focuses on the dichotomy of evidence provided by archaeological versus historical research, in particular, the claim that the archaeological Erlitou culture is also the historical Xia dynasty. "How to fuse the archaeological dates with historical dates is a challenge to all chronological studies of early civilization."

In The Shape of the Turtle: Myth, Art, and Cosmos in Early China, Sarah Allan noted that many aspects of the Xia are simply the opposite of traits held to be emblematic of the Shang. The implied dualism of the Shang myth system, Allan argues, is that while the Shang represent the suns, sky, birds, east and life, the Xia represent the moons, watery underworld, dragons, west and death. Allan argues that this mythical Xia was re-interpreted by the Zhou as a ruling dynasty replaced by the Shang, a parallel with their own replacement of the Shang.

Other scholars also argue that Shang political class's remnants still existed during the early Zhou dynasty, Zhou rulers could not simply justify their succession to pacify Shang remnants if it had been entirely fabricated since the Shang remnants, who remembered prior histories, would not believe it in the first place. For example, the Classic of Poetry preserves the "Eulogies of Shang" (商頌 Shāng sòng) which represents the powerful state of Song, whose rulers were the direct descendants of Shang dynasty. Among those eulogies, the eulogy Chang Fa (長發) celebrated victories by the "martial king" Tang of Shang against Wei (韋), Gu (顧), Kunwu (昆吾), and Jie of Xia. During the later Song dynasty (960–1279 AD), an ancient bronze artifact, Shu Yi Zhong (叔夷鐘), was unearthed with an inscription describing how the founder of the Shang dynasty, Tang, overthrew the Xia dynasty. Shu Yi, the owner of this artifact, was a high officer of the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period (c. 600 BC), was actually a direct descendant of the Song rulers, which means he himself was a descendant of Shang people. This bronze artifact was used to memorialize his Shang ancestors. The inscription contradicts the hypothesis that the Zhou manufactured the existence of the Xia.

Although the Shang oracle bone inscriptions contain no mention of the Xia, some scholars have suggested that polities they mention might be remnants of the Xia. Guo Moruo suggested that an enemy state called Tufang state of the Fang states mentioned in many inscriptions might be identified with the Xia. Historian Shen Changyun points to four inscriptions mentioning Qi, the same name as the state of Qi, which according to traditional accounts was established by the defeated royal house of Xia.

Archaeological discoveries

See also: Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project
Erlitou sites (black) and Xia capitals identified in traditional sources (red, with numbers for those from the "current text" Bamboo Annals)

Inspired by the discovery of the late Shang capital (Yinxu) near modern Anyang, Chinese archaeologists searched the Yellow River basin for earlier capitals. In 1959, Xu Xusheng conducted a survey of the YiLuo basin, which he had identified from received texts as a possible location of Xia capitals. Among his discoveries was the large Bronze Age site of Erlitou near modern Yanshi. The site was an urban centre, with rammed-earth foundations of several buildings, which were interpreted as palaces or temples. Radiocarbon dating in the late 20th century had wide error margins, and placed the Erlitou culture between 2100 and 1300 BC, which fit well with the traditional dates of the Xia. Most Chinese archaeologists identify the Xia with Erlitou, while many western archaeologists argue that the identification, and indeed the very existence of Xia, is unprovable, due to the lack of testable detail in the traditional accounts. For a time, archaeologists debated which of the four phases of Erlitou should be interpreted as Xia and which as Shang.

The refined dating techniques used by the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project produced a narrower range for the Erlitou culture of 1880 to 1520 BC. The project assigned all four phases of Erlitou to the Xia, and identified the transition to the Shang with the construction of walled cities at Yanshi and Zhengzhou around 1600 BC. Since the project had settled on a start date for the Xia of 2070 BC, based on received texts, this forced them to designate the late part of the Henan Longshan culture, including the Xinzhai phase, as the early part of the Xia period. No corresponding cultural transition in the archaeological record has yet been discovered. Even more refined carbon dating in 2005 and 2006 produced more tightly defined ranges, dating Xinzhai at 1870–1720 BC and Erlitou at 1735–1530 BC.

Erlitou jue vessel

The only musical instruments found at Erlitou are a qing sounding stone, two small clapper bells (one earthenware, one bronze) and a xun with one finger hole. Due to this extreme scarcity of surviving instruments and the general uncertainty surrounding most of the Xia, creating a musical narrative of the period is impractical.

Archaeological evidence of a large outburst flood at Jishi Gorge that destroyed the Lajia site on the upper reaches of the Yellow River has been dated to c. 1920 BC. This date is shortly before the rise of the Erlitou culture in the middle Yellow River valley and the Yueshi culture in Shandong, following the decline of the Longshan culture in the North China Plain. The authors suggest that this flood may have been the basis for the later myth of Yu the Great, and contributed to the cultural transition into the Erlitou period. They further argue that the timing is further evidence for the identification of the Xia with the Erlitou culture. However, no evidence of contemporaneous widespread flooding in the North China Plain has yet been found.

The Cambridge History of Ancient China (1999) takes the beginning of Chinese history as the Xia's successor Shang dynasty (c. 1600 – c. 1046 BC). Xie Weiyang responded to this standpoint unfavorably towards efforts in China to link archaeological research to historical records:

The Cambridge History of Ancient China adopted this standpoint with the promise of providing a commonly accepted synthesis based on an exhaustive discussion of the latest pre-Qin material available at the end of the 1990s. This is of extraordinary significance, because if this book aims to provide a commonly accepted synthesis, then the blood, sweat, and tears of Chinese scholars over the past decade that brought about countless achievements in Xia period research will become a joke, and many Chinese scholars in the field will lose all sense of direction and not know how to get back on the right track.

However, as Chen Chun and Gong Xin point out, the debate upon the Xia dynasty's historical existence stems from different research orientations between Chinese and Western scholars. The authors assert that overseas scientific communities are hesitant to accept the results of Chinese researchers because their studies used traditional narratives of the Xia as a guide that instructed them on what to find, and because they quickly linked newly discovered artifacts, constructions and other evidences as representing the proof for the Xia's actual existence. They claim that mainland Chinese scholars focused mainly on extrapolations of excavated evidence to establish a historical perspective, and overlooked other complex factors in ancient human activities. This method, according to the two authors, resulted in high levels of subjectivity and contradicted the common trend among Western researchers, which took the physical discoveries as not necessarily representing real social or political units.

Sovereigns

The following table lists the rulers of Xia according to the Records of the Grand Historian. Unlike Sima's list of Shang kings, which is closely matched by inscriptions on oracle bones from late in that period, records of Xia rulers have not yet been found in archaeological excavations of contemporary sites, or records on later Shang dynasty oracle bones.

Posthumous names
No. Years Name Notes
1 45 Yu Founder of the Xia
2 10 Qi of Xia Son of Yu
3 29 Tai Kang 太康 Son of Qi
4 13 Zhong Kang 仲康 Son of Qi, younger brother of Tai Kang
5 28 Xiang Son of Zhong Kang
6 21 Shao Kang 少康 Son of Xiang. Restored the Xia.
7 17 Zhu Son of Shao Kang
8 26 Huai Son of Zhu
9 18 Mang Son of Huai
10 16 Xie Son of Mang
11 59 Bu Jiang 不降 Son of Xie
12 21 Jiong Son of Xie, younger brother of Bu Jiang
13 21 Jin Son of Jiong
14 31 Kong Jia 孔甲 Son of Bu Jiang, nephew of Jiong, cousin of Jin
15 11 Gao Son of Kong Jia
16 11 Fa Son of Gao
17 52 Jie Son of Fa. Also known as Lu Gui (履癸).

Family tree

Xia dynasty
Yu the Great
大禹
Qi
Tai Kang
太康
Zhong Kang
仲康
Xiang
Shao Kang
少康
Zhu
Huai
Mang
Xie
Bu Jiang
不降
Jiong
Kong Jia
孔甲
Jin
Gao
Fa
Jie


See also

Notes

  1. ^ According to the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project.

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Sources

External links

Preceded byThree Sovereigns and Five Emperors Dynasties in Chinese history
2070–1600 BC
Succeeded byShang dynasty
Kings of the Xia dynasty
The Xia rulers are semi-legendary
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