Xia dynasty

Quick Facts: Who was Xia dynasty?

Subject:

Xia dynasty

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The traditional first dynasty in Chinese historiography, associated with the Erlitou culture.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Xia dynasty (, SHEE-ah; Chinese: 夏朝; pinyin: Xiàcháo; Wade–Giles: Hsia Ch'ao) is the first dynasty in traditional Chinese historiography. Some scholars, especially Western historians and Sinologists, consider the Xia dynasty legendary or at least unsubstantiated, while a majority of Chinese archeologists consider it historical and identify it with the archaeological Erlitou culture (c. 1900–1500 BC). According to tradition, it was established by the likely legendary figure Yu the Great, after Shun, the last of the Five Emperors, gave the throne to him.

Career & Major Achievements

In traditional historiography, the Xia dynasty 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).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Xia dynasty

True or False: “True or false: The oldest Chinese texts, the oracle bone inscriptions, contain direct, contemporaneous records of the Xia dynasty.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): False. The oldest oracle bone inscriptions date from the Late Shang period and do not mention the Xia dynasty directly; mentions appear much later in the Book of Documents.

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