Shang Dynasty Economy
The economy of the Shang Dynasty consisted mainly of agriculture, handicrafts and commerce, and the three cooperated and promoted each other, laying a solid foundation for the prosperity of the Shang Dynasty.
The Shang Dynasty was an era of agricultural civilization, and agriculture was the main source of the Shang Dynasty's economy. Agriculture during the Shang Dynasty was mainly based on grain cultivation and animal husbandry. In terms of cultivation, the Shang dynasty people cultivated a large number of grains, such as wheat, millet, millet, beans, etc.
In terms of animal husbandry, the Shang Dynasty people mainly raised cattle, sheep, pigs and other domestic animals. Agricultural tools made of copper have appeared during the Shang Dynasty, which has greatly helped to improve agricultural production.
The handicraft industry of the Shang Dynasty was mainly based on the production of bronze, and the cast ware was exquisite and the decorative ornaments were also very rich. The appearance of bronze in the Shang Dynasty greatly promoted the development of handicrafts.
In addition, the Shang Dynasty also produced a large number of handicrafts such as jade, pottery, cloth, etc., which already had a fairly high level during the Shang Dynasty.
Commerce flourished during the Shang Dynasty. The Shang Dynasty mainly focused on the eastern coast and the Yangtze River basin as commercial centers, and merchants were mainly engaged in maritime trade and land trade. During the Shang Dynasty, a large number of markets appeared, the circulation of goods was relatively free, and the market economy also developed. There was already copper money during the Shang Dynasty, which was one of the earliest currencies in Chinese history.
In short, the agriculture, handicrafts and commercial economy of the Shang Dynasty were intertwined and promoted each other, so that the economy of the Shang Dynasty reached a very high level at that time. The economic development of the Shang Dynasty laid the foundation for the feudal economy in Chinese history, which had a profound impact on the economic development of later generations.
Cultural achievements and artistic expressions of the Shang Dynasty
During the Shang Dynasty, Shang Wen gradually became the main communication medium in the society at that time. The Shang Dynasty script reflected a list of social issues at that time, but was not limited to development, economy, and culture. The history books of the Shang Dynasty mainly include "Shiji", "Bamboo Book Chronicle", etc., which are of great significance for the study of the history and culture of the Shang Dynasty.
During the Shang Dynasty, both the ritual system and music were greatly developed. The ritual system of the Shang Dynasty mainly refers to the provisions of ceremonies such as sacrifices and pilgrimages. The sacrificial ceremonies of the Shang Dynasty were very solemn, such as the sacrificial ceremonies of the Shang Dynasty, including important rituals such as sacrificing heaven and earth, ancestors, etc.
In addition, the music of the Shang Dynasty was also very rich, and the music of the Shang Dynasty was mainly wind music. There are many wind music repertoire during the Shang Dynasty, such as "Drinking Feather" and "Dawu".
The level of art and crafts production in the Shang Dynasty is also a superb in history. The main art forms of the Shang dynasty were bronze and jade. The Shang Dynasty bronze production technology is very high, the cast objects are exquisite, and the decorative ornaments are also very rich. The jade of the Shang Dynasty is also very exquisitely made, the most famous of which is Shang jade, which has a high collector's value.
The literature and philosophy of the Shang Dynasty also had certain achievements. The literature of the Shang Dynasty was mainly based on poetry, such as "Ode to Shang" and "Ode to Zhou". The philosophy of the Shang Dynasty was mainly represented by Zhou Yi, a well-known philosophical classic that had a profound influence on the development of Chinese philosophy.
In short, the cultural achievements and artistic expressions of the Shang Dynasty were very rich and colorful, which played a decisive role in the development of Chinese history and culture. The culture and art of the Shang Dynasty not only reached a high level at that time, but also had an important impact on the development of culture and art in later generations.
The rise and fall of the various dynasties of the Shang Dynasty and historical events
The Xia Dynasty was the predecessor of the Shang Dynasty, which was ruled by Dayu's son Qi, who built the capital in the Zhuolu region near Anyang. The Xia Dynasty prospered economically and culturally, but due to the lack of rulers, the Xia Dynasty was destroyed by the Shang Dynasty in the 16th century BC.
The Shang Tang Dynasty was the founder of the Shang Dynasty, and he successfully overthrew the rule of the Xia Dynasty. Shang Tang was the first monarch of the Shang Dynasty, and his success was influenced by many other factors besides his own intelligence and courage, such as Shang Tang's success in moving the center of Shang Dynasty rule from the Zhuolu region of the Xia Dynasty to the Shang Dynasty's capital Yinxu.
This brought the economic and cultural development of the Shang Dynasty to a new height, and the Shang Tang Dynasty was strong and culturally prosperous, which also made the Shang Dynasty one of the most powerful countries in East Asia at that time.
The collapse of the Shang Tang Dynasty and the rise of the Shang Dynasty was an important turning point in the history of the Shang Dynasty. The Shang Dynasty was the last dynasty of the Shang Dynasty and the period of its greatest decline.
King Shang was the 12th monarch of the Shang Dynasty, and his greedy and ruling methods were brutal, which caused the Shang Dynasty to fall economically, politically and culturally. In addition, King Shang also continued to collect heavy taxes from the people, increasing the burden of the people and causing dissatisfaction among the people. Eventually, under the leadership of King Wu of Zhou, the Shang dynasty was overthrown in 1046 BC, ending the Shang dynasty's rule.
In short, the Shang Dynasty is a very important dynasty in Chinese history, and its historical development has produced many heroes and great cultural achievements, as well as experienced the rise and fall of many dynasties and historical events.
In the early Shang Dynasty, several dynasties such as Wang Pi, Wang Zu, Wang Ji and Wang Sang appeared. Among them, the Wang Pi Dynasty was the founder of the Shang Dynasty, and the Wang Ji Dynasty was the most glorious period of the Shang Dynasty.
The establishment of the Wang Pi Dynasty was an important symbol of the Shang Dynasty's gradual move from tribal alliances to centralized power. Their capital was near the present-day city of Baoji in Shaanxi Province, known in historical records as Pangeng City, one of the earliest capitals of the Shang Dynasty. Important events during the Wang Pi dynasty included the legend of the Sixty Branches and Bagua taught by the Fuxi clan, and the battle between the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor.
The Wang Zu Dynasty was the second dynasty of the Shang Dynasty, and its establishment was an important node in the change of dynasties of the Shang Dynasty.
During the Wang Zu Dynasty, the Shang Dynasty had already begun to enter the stage of centralization. At this time, the Shang Dynasty had great political, economic, cultural and military development, and the history books called it "the rule of Emperor Gaozong of Shang". Important events in this period include the usurpation of the throne by Shizhu and the discovery of the Yin ruins.
The Wang Ji Dynasty was the most glorious period of the Shang Dynasty and the heyday of the Shang Dynasty. At this time, the Shang Dynasty, the country's territory continued to expand, the territory reached the largest, and the political, economic, cultural and military development was greatly developed.
During this period, the capital of the Shang Dynasty was also moved from Pangeng City to Yinxu near present-day Anyang, Henan Province. Important events of the Wang Ji dynasty included the accession of Taijia and Taikang to the throne, and the absurdity of King Shang.
The Wang Sang Dynasty was the last dynasty of the Shang Dynasty and the period of decline of the Shang Dynasty. During this period, the rulers of the Shang Dynasty had lost the trust and support of the people, social unrest, and a large number of internal contradictions and external threats led to the demise of the Shang Dynasty. Important events of the Wang Sang dynasty include the discovery of Shiguwen and the felling of merchants by King Wu of Zhou.
To sum up, the rise and fall of the Shang dynasties and historical events reflect the evolution of ancient Chinese society from tribal alliances to centralized power, and also reveal the political, economic, cultural and military development of ancient Chinese society.
With the succession and evolution of the various dynasties of the Shang Dynasty, the Shang Dynasty gradually declined. In 1046 BC, King Wu of Zhou of the Zhou Dynasty led an army to attack the last monarch of the Shang Dynasty, King Jun, marking the overthrow of the Shang Dynasty and the official demise of the Shang Dynasty. The decline of the Shang Dynasty had many causes, including political corruption, internal conflicts, foreign incursions, and so on.
Whether it is the rise or development of the Shang Dynasty, it is a history that cannot be ignored for Chinese civilization, and its political, economic, cultural and social achievements are also an incomparably splendid stroke in Chinese history.
Cultural relics such as bronze, bronze rituals and jade from the Shang Dynasty, as well as writings and myths and legends from the Shang Dynasty, are an indispensable and important part of China's cultural heritage.
The succession system and succession of the throne in the Shang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty's succession system and method of succession to the throne were an important part of the ancient Chinese political system. The succession system of the throne during the Shang Dynasty had certain regularity and fixation, and was also affected by factors such as the background of the times and political atmosphere.
The succession system of the Shang dynasty was based on the ideological basis of family succession and ancestor worship. During the Shang Dynasty, the right to inherit the throne was decided by the monarch himself, usually by the crown prince or the monarch's own son, but there were some exceptions.
For example, in the late Shang Dynasty, some monarchs would pass the throne to their younger brothers or nephews, which also reflected the political instability and relative weakness of royal power at that time.
In the succession of the imperial throne of the Shang Dynasty, ancestor worship and royal sacrifice also played an important role. During the Shang Dynasty, monarchs were generally considered representatives of the heavenly gods, and ancestors were relatives of the heavenly gods. Therefore, the will and wishes of the ancestors are also important considerations in the process of passing on the throne.
During the Shang Dynasty, monarchs held regular sacrifices to honor their ancestors and pray for their blessings and guidance. In the transmission of the throne, the ancestral deities are often also seen as an important role in expressing opinions.
In addition to the above traditional methods, the Shang Dynasty also had some unusual ways of succession to the throne. For example, in the early Shang Dynasty, Shang Tang overthrew the Xia Dynasty and became the first monarch of the Shang Dynasty. After Shang Tang, there were some changes in the way the Shang Dynasty royal family passed on the throne.
In the middle of the Shang Dynasty, the Shang Dynasty royal family was divided and contested internally, resulting in continuous changes in the succession of the throne, and in the late Shang Dynasty, due to the influence of internal and external factors, the political, economic and social aspects of the Shang Dynasty began to have crises, and the power of the monarch was gradually weakened.
In general, the succession system and the way of succession to the throne of the Shang Dynasty have certain regularity and fixation, but they are also affected by factors such as the background of the times and political atmosphere. Through the study of the succession system and the way of succession to the throne in the Shang Dynasty, we can better understand the political revolution in ancient China.
The succession system and throne inheritance of the Shang Dynasty also underwent certain evolution and changes in its history.
In the early Shang dynasty, succession to the throne was carried out according to patrilineal blood. The monarchs of the Shang Dynasty mainly relied on the support and recommendation of the patriarchs, and there were frequent seizures and contests for the throne, so that the patriarchs of some tribes and local tycoons also had the opportunity to become kings. Shang Tang, the first monarch of the Shang Dynasty, became the King of Shang at the recommendation of his clansmen.
By the middle of the Shang Dynasty, the succession to the throne gradually formed a certain rule, and the eldest son succeeded to the throne. The social system of the Shang Dynasty gradually developed, the royal power was gradually strengthened, the power of the monarch was further consolidated, and the principle of succession within the royal family also tended to be stable. For example, the second monarch of the Shang Dynasty, King Shang Shizu, became King of Shang according to this principle.
However, in the late Shang Dynasty, the system of succession to the throne began to change. During the Zhou and Yin Wars at the end of the Shang Dynasty, King Wu of Zhou defeated the last monarch of the Shang Dynasty, King Shang and established the Zhou Dynasty. At the beginning of its establishment, the Zhou Dynasty adopted a feudal system, consolidating and controlling the power of princes through rewards, and the relationship between monarchs and subjects became more stable.
The principle of succession to the throne in the Zhou Dynasty also changed, adopting a combination of the "primogeniture system" and the "division system" to maintain imperial power through the reward of the princely states.
In short, the succession system and throne inheritance of the Shang Dynasty went through an evolution from irregularity, blood supremacy, to primogeniture, and then to the system of divided seals. These institutional changes not only reflected the changes in the political system of the Shang Dynasty, but also were inseparable from the development of social productive forces, changes in social relations, and the evolution of political and economic forms.
Bibliography:
The Shang Dynasty: The First Dynasty in Chinese History
"Shang Dynasty"