Shang

Shang, also known as the Yin dynasty, refers to the second traditional dynasty of ancient China, generally dated to about 1600 to 1046 BCE. The ruling house is associated with the Chinese character 商 (Shang), and the dynasty is sometimes called Yin after its final capital. The period is best documented through archaeological finds and inscriptions on oracle bones, which provide early evidence of Chinese writing and ritual practice.

Geography and capitals

The Shang developed in the Yellow River valley, with their last and longest-lasting capital located at Anyang, in modern Henan Province. The site of Yinxu near Anyang contains royal tombs, workshop areas, and a vast stock of bronze ritual vessels, providing insight into state organization, religious practices, and elite life. The name Yin is often used to describe the late Shang period when the capital was at Anyang.

Politics and society

Shang society was a centralized monarchy with a king at its apex, supported by nobles, artisans, farmers, and slaves. The king acted as religious mediator, conducting royal ceremonies and divination. Ancestral worship and communication with deities were central to state religion, largely facilitated through oracle bone inscriptions. The economy featured intensive bronze metallurgy, as well as agriculture and craft production. The social hierarchy and military power of the Shang contributed to urbanization and state-building in the region.

Writing and culture

The Shang is noted for the earliest forms of Chinese writing found in oracle bones and bronze inscriptions, which laid foundations for later Chinese script. Bronze vessels, weapons, and ritual objects from Shang tombs reflect sophisticated metalworking and ceremonial culture.

Decline

Around 1046 BCE, the Zhou tribe revolted and established the Zhou dynasty, overthrowing the Shang. The fall is associated with internal strife, logistical challenges, and shifting political alliances, though details remain partly legendary and are reconstructed from later texts and archaeological records.