Chinese Dynasties | The Xia Dynasty

The Xia Dynasty (Chinese: pinyin: Xià Cháo; Wade-Giles: Hsia-Ch'ao;ca. 2070 BC-ca. 1600 BC) is the first dynasty in China to be described in ancient historical chronicles such as Records of the Grand Historian and Bamboo Annals, succeeded by the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC). According to Warring States and Han Dynasty texts, the Xia Dynasty was established by the legendary Yu the Great after Shun gave his throne to him, and was later defeated and replaced by the Shang.

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Mining and metallurgy led to the discovery of bronze in China, resulting in more enduring objects of art and implements of warfare. Not as brittle as iron, and more aesthetically pleasing, bronze became an additional material to the preceding use of ceramics and pottery. Bronze Xia artefacts have been found at Erlitou.

Xia Bronze Jue Image: Wikimedia

1st Xia Emperor - Yu the Great! Ruled for around 45 years (circa 2070 to 2025 BCE)... was famous for his flood mitigation works. His father, Gun, spent nine years unsuccessfully trying to use earthen dikes to hold back the waters of the Yellow River. He was executed by King Di Shun for his failure. Di Shun then gave this task to Yu, who built canals to drain the waters and provide irrigation channels for the farmers.

Yu was so dedicated to his task that, on three occasions, he passed his house and refused to visit his family. Imagine how long a marriage would last today under these circumstances! His dedication and the effectiveness of his work resulted in him being bestowed with the kingdom.

2nd Xia Emperor - Qi, Son of Yu... ruled for around 9 years (circa 2025 to 2016 BCE). There is some doubt whether Qi grabbed power for himself by assassinating his father's preferred successor, Boyi, the son of Gao Yao (Yu's trusted advisor), or it was thrust upon him by Xia leaders who revered his father so much they installed Qi and introduced a hereditary system.

According to the Bamboo Annals, Boyi took the throne and became the King of the Xia, but later Qi assassinated him and supplanted him! Another version cites Boyi as being installed as regent but proved unpopular, so the Xia leaders voted Qi into power!

3rd Xia Dynasty Ruler - Tai Kang, Son of Qi... Ruled for around 19 years (2016 to1097 BCE). The third Xia King was reported to be an unremarkable ruler who preferred hunting to royal duties. He established his kingdom at Zhen Xun, and drowned in a lake, several years after losing his throne.

4th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Zhong Kang, Younger Brother of Tai Kang... Zhong Kang ordered his military chief, General Zeng, to invade Yihe, as their king drank alcohol heavily and had many concubines. This resulted in the people living a profligate lifestyle. Zhong Kang made Kun Wu his prime minister and his son the Duke of Deng. Towards the end of his reign his son, Xiang, left his family home to live in Shangqiu with a minister named Pi.

5th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Xiang, Son of Zhong Kang... Battles on horseback commenced during this period. Established his capital in Shangqiu. In the first two years of his reign, he sent troops to battle the Huai, Fei, Feng and Huang Barbarians. Xiang led a military empire for around 40 years, that was shared with a great archer Houyi and a rival named Han Zhuo. During this kingdom, Han Zhuo killed legendary archer, Houyi, (who has become deified) with his son Jiao.

Later, Han Zhuo ordered his son to kill Xiang and his pregnant wife, Queen Ji, but this plot was partially foiled. Xiang was assassinated, but Ji escaped and gave birth to a boy, named Shao Kang, who later executed Han Zhuo and claimed the throne.

6th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Shao Kang (Ning), Posthumous Son of Xiang... ruled for about 21 years and was, by legend, responsible for restoring the reputation of the Xia emperors who had been squandering their reputations and the family fortune. Prior to his reign, the people were becoming dissident because of the poor administration of his predecessors..

7th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Zhu, Son of Shao Kang...

8th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Huai, Son of Zhu...

9th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Mang, Son of Huai...

10th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Xie, Son of Mang...

11th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Bu Jiang, Son of Xie...

12th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Jiong, Younger Brother of Bu Jiang...

13th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Jin, Son of Jiong...

14th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Kong Jia, Son of Bu Jiang... enjoyed drinking wine and bedding beautiful women. Kong Jia was a very superstitious ruler and the power of the Xia dynasty declined from his reign onwards.

15th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Gao, Son of Kong Jia...

16th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Fa, Son of Gao... An earthquake happened in Shandong province, near Mount Tai during his rule. He was second last of the Xia rulers, succeeded by his notorious son, Jie.

17th Xia Dynasty Ruler - Jie, Son of Fa... had the reputation of being a cruel and despotic tyrant. He was influenced by a concubine, Mo Xi, who was extremely beautiful but corrupt and completely lacking in moral propriety. She was said to have had the King ordered a lake to be made of wine and 3,000 men to drink it dry. The royal couple amused themselves, laughing as the victims drowned in the lake.

Eventually, Jie abandoned Mo Xi for the two beautiful daughters, Wan and Yan, of a neighbouring king who he defeated in battle. He took them as his wives, renaming them Zhao and Hua, and built a pyramid on top of the royal palace for them to live in. Tiring of Jie's outrageous behaviour and cruelty, Tang of Shang waged a war on him and overthrew Xia Jie to create the Shang Dynasty.

1 From Yao to Mao: 5000 Years of Chinese History, Lecture 2 - "The First Dynasties" ~ Professor Kenneth J. Hammond, B.A., A.M., Ph.D. Associate Professor of History, (Head of History Department, New Mexico State University)