Archaeology of the Shang Dynasty

The Three Dynasties of the Chinese Empire Xia c BCE Shang c BCE Zhou c BCE

History of The Shang Dynasty The Shang was the second hereditary dynasty in China. It lasted almost six hundred years with thirty-one kings over seventeen generations. Shang used to be an old tribe who lived in the lower reach of the Yellow River. It was a tributary of the Xia Kingdom

Geography & Territory of the Shang According to Zhou-era traditional texts, the city of Anyang in northern Henan province was the preeminent Shang capital, center of a territory ruled by one dominant royal house. The city served as the ritual capital of the last nine Shang kings, from Wu Ding (21st king, c BCE) to Di Xin (29th king, c BCE).

Geography & Territory of the Shang Cont’d

Fu Hao’s Tomb Anyang is also an important site because of the tomb of Fu Hao, royal consort of Wu Ding. Fu Hao's is the only unlooted royal tomb and the only one conclusively identified with a person named in ancient texts.

Findings from Fu Hao’s Tomb 468 bronze objects including 130 weapons, 23 bells, 27 knives, 4 mirrors, and 4 tigers or tiger heads 755 jade objects 63 stone objects 5 ivory objects 564 bone objects including nearly 500 bone hairpins and over 20 bone arrowheads 11 pottery objects 6,900 pieces of cowry shell Ivory beaker with turquoise From the tomb of the Shang dynasty queen Fu Hao, c, 1200 BCE.

Findings from Fu Hao’s Tomb Cont’d Bronze Pieces from Fu Hao Bronze Ding vessel Height: 80.1cm, Weight: 128kg Bronze Ax

Bronze Pieces from Fu Hao Covered container Height: 60cm, Length: 88cm, Drinking vessel Wine vessel Height: 46.3cm, Weight: 16kg sources/bronzesproject/html/bklynmuse.htm

Ancient Sichuan - Treasures From a Lost Civilization In 1928, discoveries of ancient bronzes were made at Anyang. These finds supported the account of early Chinese histories as recorded in early texts. These writings portrayed the early Chinese civilization as culturally homogeneous -- strong and prosperous and extending its sphere of influence outward to encompass an ever-larger area of 'the world.' t/TeacherResources/bronzesproject/html/ upcoming.htm

Oracle Bones bones used for divination by the Chinese during the Shang dynasty (traditionally c.1766 B.C.–c.1122 B.C.)Shang Along with contemporary inscriptions on bronze vessels, these records of divination, which were incised on the shoulder blades of animals (mainly oxen) and on turtle shells, contain the earliest form of Chinese writing. In addition to being an important source for understanding the development of written Chinese, they tell a great deal about Shang society.

Neat Sites of Current Research &Findings tml tml -11/11/content_ htm -11/11/content_ htm fs/shang.html fs/shang.html

BIBLIOGRAPHY RESENT DISCOVERIES BEST LINK tory.htm GENERAL INFORMATION SITES ORACLE BONE SITE tory.htm

BIBLIOGRAPHY CONTINUED General Image Links FU HAO'S TOMB SITE General Facts Mirrors appeared in Shang China and in Mycenaean Greece, about the same time period MAPS/GEOGRAPHY Erlitou Ruins SICHUAN coming.htm Vessel Images ynmuse.htm War Chariot Recreation coming.htm ynmuse.htm