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Shang Dynasty (1600 BCE - 1050 BCE)

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  • Shang Dynasty (1600 BCE - 1050 BCE)

    The Shang Dynasty starting with Emperor Tang who defeated the last Emperor of the Xia (Jie) and spanning 550 years was a major transition period of Chinese History.

    Situated in the North of China, had control over a small part of China proper, but there influence spread as far as the peoples through out the Yangzi valley.


    This is the first Dynasty where written evidence has been found on the likes of animal bones, tortoise shells, bronze and stone, which gives a much more detailed look into this period of Chinese history.


    War becomes far more technological and organised in this era with the introduction of Bronze-tipped spears and halberds, composite bows and horse drawn carriages, soldiers were being organised and sent out to battle in the thousands.

    The Shang Dynasty consisted of 30 Emperors, starting with Emperor Tang and ending with Emperor Zhou, also had several different ruling capitals with the more well known Zhengzhou and Anyang settlements.

  • #2
    Religion of the Shang

    The people of the Shang worshipped the god Shang-Ti or The Lord on High, who was above all other lesser gods and was believed to have ruled over the material universe and matters of human affairs.

    There was a belief in an after life, and that there family descendants resided in a heaven, and failing to honour there ancestors would result in bad things happening in there lives.

    Also there is evidence of human sacrifice of slaves and prisoners to appease the gods and ancestors , other times would be due to a building of a Temple or a palace, or when a king died which would result in hundreds of sacrifices.

    Source:http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ANCCHINA/SHANG.HTM

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    • #3
      Dear Padraig,

      Thank you so much for giving us this adventure into Chinese history.

      It is great to read and understand what was happening on the other side of the world from us here in Ireland.

      The Scholar project tours here and your a(nd my Shaolin Family) posts, have certainly opened my eyes to a wonderful connection between continents and countries.

      It is really fascinating

      Please continue.................

      Smile from the Heart,
      Joan
      Books don't mean a lot unless you open them, Hearts are the same.......


      Valentine's Smile from the Heart 2019 IRELAND - world renowned Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit.

      -A FEAST OF SHAOLIN transmitted by Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit FEBRUARY 16TH -19TH 2019
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      Sifujoan@gmail.com

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      • #4
        This is the first Dynasty where written evidence has been found
        Here an oracle bone from the Anyang settlement (Ruins of Yin settlement) which was one capital:


        The excavations at this site brought also forward many bronze vessels and weapons.
        A tripod vessel found there is considered the largest bronze vessel in the world today. Its weight is over 800 kg (there are diff. numbers around), its height is 1.33m. This indicates that the cast techniques and ingredients were of a very high level. An interesting article can be found here: http://www.absolutechinatours.com/An...uins-3419.html

        And my clever books say that as Yin was a capital this dynasty sometimes is called Yin dynasty.
        Andrea
        Last edited by Andrea; 12 July 2010, 07:31 PM.
        Enjoy some Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan & Qi Gong!

        Evening Classes in Zürich
        Weekend Classes in other Swiss locations


        Website: www.taichichuan-wahnam.ch
        Facebook: www.facebook.com/Taichichuan.Wahnam.ch

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        • #5
          Fù Hǎo - a first female general, stateswomen and strategist ?

          Another interesting person from the Shang dynasty is:

          Fù Hǎo ,wife of Emperor Wu Ding of the Shang

          Inscriptions on oracle bones indicate that she was a military general leading an army of 13'000 soldiers against various tribes. She also seems to have taken care of many of the state affairs for her husband and presided as a priestess over different ceremonies.

          Thus she is considered to be the first Chinese stateswomen, strategist and general ... and this around 1200 BCE .
          Last edited by Andrea; 12 July 2010, 07:32 PM.
          Enjoy some Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan & Qi Gong!

          Evening Classes in Zürich
          Weekend Classes in other Swiss locations


          Website: www.taichichuan-wahnam.ch
          Facebook: www.facebook.com/Taichichuan.Wahnam.ch

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          • #6
            Hi Sifu Joan and Andrea,

            Thanks Sifu, its opening my eyes also, its a fascinating and worthwhile project
            to be involved in. I had a great time at the scholar warrior day out in Galway, learning about our own history and the many brave Irish warriors we have had in past times. It was great to meet some of our Shaolin brothers and to be honest can't wait for the one.

            Thus she is considered to be the first Chinese stateswomen, strategist and general ... and this around 1200 BCE .
            The first of a long line!

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            • #7
              Mythology

              Here is a little mythology I came across of how the Xia fell and the Shang rose.

              "In Book 5 of Mozi, Mozi described the end of Xia dynasty and the new Shang dynasty. During the reign of King Jie of Xia, there was a great climactic change. The paths of the sun and moon were different, the seasons were confused and the five grains were dried up. Ghouls were crying in the country and cranes shrieked for ten nights. Heaven ordered Shang Tang to receive the heavenly commission from Xia dynasty. The Xia dynasty have failed morally and Heaven has determined her end. Therefore, Shang Tang was commanded to destroy Xia with the promise of Heaven's help. In the dark, Heaven destroyed the fortress' pool. Shang Tang then gained victory easily".



              Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_Dynasty

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              • #8
                Shang Chariots

                Chariots provided significant advantages to the warrior elite who possessed them.

                The Shang may have used chariots for supervising their troops and give archers and soldiers with weapons greater mobility rather than for actual use in battle.

                The battle where Emperor Tang the first Emperor of the Shang defeated King Jie of the Xia, over a thousand chariots were thought to have been used.

                Chariots were also used in hunting expeditions, ceremonial occasions and transportation.


                The western military frontier of the Shang was at the Taihang mountains were they fought with the Ma” horse” barbarians, the Ma warriors were thought to have used there chariots as part of the battle itself rather than supervising troops (using them for muscle power instead of strategy).


                Chariots carried three men, the driver was placed in the centre, an archer on the left and on the right a warrior carrying a dagger-axe/halberd for protection.

                Chariots where pulled by sets of two or four horses.




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                • #9
                  Shang halberd

                  One of the most commonly found weapons archaeologists find that date back to the Shang Dynasty is the halberd, or ji.

                  The halberd is mainly used in military warfare.

                  The halberd was constructed out of bronze, with the pole part sometimes out of wood. Originally a long pole with one or two blades (often curved or in a rectangular shape) mounted at the end, a pointed tip was added to the main body of the pole later to increase its functionality during warfare. As a result, it is similar to a spear, but with an extra blade attached at the end.


                  The halberd can be used for stabbing, slicing, or slashing. The flat side of its blade can also be used to slap an opponent, in order to make them lose their balance on a horse.



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                  • #10
                    Shang Composite bow

                    The Shang used compound or composite bows. Early versions of these weapons were made of slender strips of wood with elastic animal tendons glued to the outside and compressible animal horn glued on the inside. Tendons are strongest when they are stretched, and bone and horn are strongest when compressed giving an extremely efficient weapon.

                    Early glues were made from boiled cattle tendons and fish skin and were applied in a very precise and controlled manner, sometimes requiring a year to dry properly.

                    The composite bow gives an advantage of being short in length compared to the longbow but giving just as good of range making them easy to carry and use.

                    Disadvantages are the length of time to make each bow as mentioned above which could take a year.



                    Shang warrior in full battle dress with halberd and bow.

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                    • #11
                      Amazing to read about the technical progress already achieved at this early period. The composite bow looks very efficient. I'd love to try it .
                      Those (shorter) bows were also better adapted to a usage on a chariot or horse.

                      Andrea
                      Enjoy some Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan & Qi Gong!

                      Evening Classes in Zürich
                      Weekend Classes in other Swiss locations


                      Website: www.taichichuan-wahnam.ch
                      Facebook: www.facebook.com/Taichichuan.Wahnam.ch

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                      • #12
                        Shang Artifacts



                        Shang bronze wine vessel






                        A bronze pot




                        Jade tiger





                        Two bronze daggers and spoon.

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                        • #13
                          Fall of the Shang

                          The Shang dynasty came to an end in much the same way as the Xia dynasty with a tyranical ruler.

                          King Zhou as he is better known, was an immoral and cruel ruler who ruled his people in an improper manner, one story goes he built a lake filled with wine and had an island put in the middle where there were "trees" with branches of roast meat so he, his friends and concubines could drift about on boats eating and drinking there fill while the heavenly and earthly duties went unattended.

                          Punishments were severe with one story telling of an offical who complained to King Zhou about the mistreatment of the people and his lack of emperial duties, where upon King Zhou had his body ground into paste and distributed to other officials of the state as a warning of what happens to those who are unhappy with his way of ruling.


                          While the Shang people were becoming more frustrated and unhappy with there king, the Zhou clan were growing more in strength.The Zhou clan leader Wenwang saw it was time to strike, so as his last wish he sent his son out named Wuwang to defeat King Zhou.

                          After Wenwang died his son prepared for battle as the new leader of the Zhou clan, marched out his troops and defeated King Zhou, ending the Shang dynasty and starting a new family empire, the Zhou dynasty.

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                          • #14
                            Wonderful threads Padraig, sorry I can't contribute as history was never my strong point. Very interesting reading though. Keep it going.

                            Best wishes
                            Mark

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