<Material are from these two books: "A Concise History" and "A History of China".>

Shang History

The Chinese had settled in the Huang He, or Yellow River, valley of northern China by 3,000 BC. By then they had not yet discovered writing or the uses of metals. The first of the traditional dynasties, for which archaeology has yet to find proof, is the Xia (Hsia), 2205-1766 BC or 1994-1523 BC, according to two different ancient sources. Founded and ruled by legendary demigods, it was described in histories as a small state in north-central China. Its supposedly cruel last ruler was overthrown by a virtuous man, who established the Shang dynasty, 1766-1122 BC or 1523-1027 BC, also centered in the North China plain. The Shang dynasty ruled the territory of the present-day north-central Chinese provinces of Henan (Honan), Hubei (Hupeh), and Shandong (Shantung) and the northern part of Anhui (An-hui). The capital city was Anyang near northern border of Henan Province. In China, records of the Shang dynasty were written on animal bones and tortoise shells. Artifacts of divination on oracle bones and shells have been one major archeological source of Shang life. An authenticated period through archaeological discoveries, the Shang practiced agriculture, worshipped ancestors, developed early forms of Chinese written characters, invented the calendar, and shaped beautiful bronze vessels. In these early times, great social gaps existed between the authoritarian aristocratic leaders and the mass of the people. Shang people worshipped their ancestors and a multitude of gods, the principal of whom was known as Shang Ti, the Lord on High.

The Shang Sovereigns from time to time:

Cheng Tang, 1766-1754(BC)

Tai Jia, 1753-1721

Wu Ding, 1720-1692

Tai Geng, 1691-1667

Xiao Jia, 1666-1650

Yung Ji, 1649-1638

Tai Wu, 1637-1563

Zhong Ding, 1562-1550

Wai Ren, 1549-1535

Jian Jia, 1534-1526

Zu Yi, 1525-1510

Zu Xin, 1509-1489

Qiang Jia, 1488-1466

Zu Ding, 1465-1434

Nan Geng, 1433-1409

Hu Jia, 1408-1402