The Xia Dynasty and the Shang Dynasty were the first two dynasties in Chinese history, both belonged to the slave dynasty, they were established at the beginning of their establishment, the rulers conquered the north to expand their power, the entire dynasty was very powerful, it was difficult to match, the Xia Dynasty lasted for 470 years, and the Shang Dynasty lasted for nearly 600 years. However, these two powerful dynasties were eventually destroyed by the princely states that had previously submitted to themselves.
A large palace during the Xia and Shang dynasties.
The Xia Dynasty made fine pottery.
In my opinion, there are three reasons. First, at the end of the dynasty, the gradual chaos of the central government. The history books record that the Xia Dynasty as early as the reign of Kong Jia, because of the "good deed ghost god" of Kong Jia after xia, the so-called good deed ghost god here should refer to the unbridled sacrifice held by Kong Jia after xia, and introduced new beliefs, which led to chaos in the central government of the theocratic state of the Xia Dynasty, resulting in "the princes are not dynastic", and the Xia Dynasty has since embarked on the road of no return.
The eating utensils of the Xia Dynasty nobles.
The same is true of the demise of the Yin Shang Dynasty, when the twenty-fourth Shang Dynasty Emperor Zu Jia reigned, the history books said that The Emperor Jia was "chaotic", and the result was that the Shang Dynasty "fell for seven generations", which shows that the demise of the Shang Dynasty began from the Emperor Jia period, of course, some history books recorded Zu Jia as an excellent Shang Dynasty emperor, so what does the "chaos" of the Emperor Jia refer to? It's worth playing. It is very likely that it was only the Shang King's own determination to reform (whether political, military or religious) that clashed with the aristocratic forces within the imperial court, and the central government of the Yin Shang Dynasty was naturally "chaotic", and if you look at Kong Jia from this point of view, it is difficult to guarantee that Kong Jia's so-called "chaotic summer" is not like this. But in any case, the central government was thus in chaos, and this chaos naturally provided an opportunity for the princes who sought the throne of the Son of Heaven.
The powerful Shang army tore apart the Xia Dynasty in a very short time
Bronze ware of the Shang Dynasty.
Second, the vassals of the Son of Heaven were cut off one by one by the conspirators. In the "Poetry of The Merchant Ode to Long Hair", it is said that "Wei Gu is both cut down, Kun Wu Xia Jie" means that we merchants must first conquer Wei Guo, Gu Guo and Kun Wu Guo, and finally conquer the King of Xia Jie. In order to kill Tianzi, Shang Tang first eliminated the vassals of Tianzi, and in order to destroy Xia, Shang Tang first eliminated the relatively small vassals of the Xia Hou clan such as Ge Guo, Youluo, Wen, and Jing, and finally destroyed the Wei Kingdom, Gu Guo and Kun WuGuo, the most loyal and powerful vassals of the Xia Dynasty Tianzi, and finally fought a decisive battle with Xia Jie at Mingtiao.
SenseTime.
However, when his vassals were taken away one by one, how did Xia Jie, the heavenly son of the Xia Dynasty at that time, react to this? Obviously not, because at the time of the merchant's conquest, Xia Jie had detained Shang Tang in Xia Tai, but finally let him go, and it was obvious that Xia Jie still believed that the merchant was not a threat to his position as the son of heaven.
Bronze Ding of the Shang Dynasty.
Today is the capital of the merchants.
The same was true of the demise of the Shang Dynasty. Once upon a time, there was a Ming Dynasty novel "List of Fengshen Gods" that greatly strengthened the image of the King of Shang in the hearts of the common people as a tyrant, and it seemed that everyone thought that the demise of the Shang Dynasty was the desire of the people, and it was easy for the Zhou people to obtain the world and respond to the people. However, a small detail of the Battle of Makino, but few people pay attention to, that is, the Zhou people seem to have suddenly appeared on the outskirts of Dayi Shang (the Shang Dynasty people's good name for their own country), we know that the Zhou people's territory is in today's Guanzhong area of Shaanxi, and dayi Shang (Yin Xu) was yesterday in today's Anyang area of Henan, is it difficult for the Zhou people to grow wings? Of course, this is impossible, and there is only one reason, that is, the power of the Zhou people has gradually penetrated into the hinterland of the Shang Dynasty, so the powerful army of the Zhou people can suddenly appear on the outskirts of the capital of the Shang Dynasty.
Bronze helmet and bronze mask.
Zhou Wuwang image.
In the second year of King Wen of Zhou, the Zhou people attacked the state of Qi (formerly located in present-day qinyang north of Henan); in the third year of King Wen of Zhou, the Zhou people attacked the state of Mi (in present-day Lingtai, Gansu), and in the fifth year, they attacked the state of Li ("Qi"),the site is in present-day Changzhi County, Shanxi Province), eliminating a large number of Yin merchant vassals. In the sixth year of King Wen of Zhou, Zhou annihilated Chong, and then King Wen of Zhou expanded his power to the south, and the power of the Zhou people extended all the way to the Yangtze River, Han River, and Rushui River. At this time, the power of the Shang Dynasty was extremely isolated, and in the end, Ji Fa destroyed the Shang and seized the position of The Son of Heaven, but it was only a matter of ripeness and water.
Yin Shang Bronze Ding.
Portrait of King Wen of Zhou.
The third and most important reason is the limitations of the early dynastic state. Whether it was the Xia Dynasty or the Shang Dynasty, and even the later Zhou Dynasty, the area that Tianzi could directly control was very limited, and the area that Tianzi could directly control was the so-called Wang Qi, and Wang Qi was surrounded by small countries attached to Tianzi, and Wang Qi's interior was not monolithic. So in general, tianzi at that time was actually more like an "aristocratic leader" than a head of state. The Xia Shang Zhou Dynasty was nothing more than an alliance of aristocratic states, which also determined that once the vassals of the Tianzi were crusaded and completely annihilated, the Tianzi would fall into isolation and be easily replaced by the princes.
Bronze spear of the Shang Dynasty.
Zhou Tenko image.
On the whole, the demise of the Xia Shang Dynasty is only the inevitable result of historical development, but at the same time, the various actions of the rulers at the end of the Xia Shang Dynasty have undoubtedly promoted the collapse of the dynasty, and it is more difficult to fight the country and the mountains.