Draft

__** References: **__

Draft:** The rise of the Xia Government through the formation of a political and social structure leading to dynastic China **

Being an early form of eastern Chinese culture, the Xia dynasty of China could have existing sometime around 4,200 to 3,000 BCE until the rise of the Shang Dynasty around 1600 BCE (Lowe 71).


 * Xia Dynasty **


 * [[image:1202425636.jpg width="422" height="276" caption="Xia Dynasty, picture from Xia Dynasty" link="http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/ancient_china/xia.html"]] ||
 * Xia Dynasty, picture from Xia Dynasty ||

The knowledge of the Xia dynasty exists today because of archeological findings that are backed by historical and mythological evidence. For example, to this day the ancient capital of Chang’an (the possible capital of the Xia Dynasty) still exists known today as Xian (Xian, Yin Yu Tang). Furthermore, within modern Xian survives many of the artifacts, architectural achievements, and works, of the ancient civilization which inhabited the area (Ancient, Xian). In other areas of China evidence of the Xia dynasty exists through archeological discovery of artifacts and the remains of what could be ancient settlements according to the research conducted by the Royal Asiatic of Great Britain (Allen). These items uncovered and study through the years tell of a civilization that formulated and progress through time to eventually become modern China. However, disputes still arise as to whether or not this dynasty actually existed, but if it did, as an early form of government with vast potential to grow, and with a similar structure to the Shang dynasty, it asks the question of why or how did this dynasty begin, and what need and purpose did it serve? (Lowe, 71). Perhaps by answering these questions, it will seem more likely that this government existed.

Historically speaking to answer these questions requires looking at both the civilizations that where around during the assumed early beginnings of the Xia dynasty and the one preceding it, known as the Shang Dynasty. Furthermore, early eastern and Chinese culture dated as far back as 7000 BCE and possible existed sometime around 9000 BCE, as evident through various artifacts located on sites around China, including animal bones, and manipulation of areas of land by people (Lowe, 74, 179). According to some records kept by the Shang Dynasty the people before the Xia Dynasty were faced with floods and other natural disasters (Lowe 71, Storrie 1-5). Eventually this required them to built irrigation systems and other land artifacts that help procure the problems faced by these early civilizations. A mythological story of early China tells of a man who managed to stop the floods and become the ruler of a civilization known as Yu the Great. Yu the Great within these records is referred to a descendant of the Yellow Emperor who eventually became the ruler and creator of the Xia Dynasty (Lowe, 72).


 * Yu the Great **
 * [[image:YuTheGreat.jpg caption="Image of "Yu the Great" courtesy of CHINA HERITAGE QUARTERLY" link="http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/ancient_china/xia.html"]] ||
 * Image of "Yu the Great" courtesy of CHINA HERITAGE QUARTERLY ||

The historical evidence of the Xia Dynasty originates from evidence found in the Shang Dynasty records and within the mythological stories that can be backed up by Archeological records. The mythological story of a person who ended the floods and was able to build a civilization through his work can be backed up by findings in areas of China where the land was manipulated by people (Lowe, 42). For example, in some areas of China, early civilizations built irrigation systems possible to curtail flooding. These irrigations systems correspond to the mythological stories and the Shang dynasty records of the possible existence of Yu the Great and that of the Xia Dynasty. According to these records, Yu the Great existed sometime in the early history of Ancient China, he was a descendent of the first emperor of China, the Yellow Emperor, and a man with the ability to tame water (Lowe 71, Storrie 47). Assumingly, Yu the Great achieved this feat through irrigation and by doing so he stopped the flooding that hinder the growth of the civilization there. According to the archeological evidence an ancient civilization within modern China did build irrigation systems, and possibly to stop flooding, and evidence of a civilization growing and residing in the area exists (Lowe 73). Providing more evidence of Yu’s existence and the existence of the Xia Dynasty are his son’s and the emergence of the Shang Dynasty.


 * History **

As time went on, due in part to the development of an irrigation system, and a mode of life, ancient civilizations in China managed to come together and prosper. The Shang Dynasty insists on the fact that this came to be because of the works of Yu the Great (Winks, 288-89). Having stopped the problem with the flooding, Yu the Great became a hero in society, and because of this he eventually became emperor, and structured a form of governing body (Storrie 47). The Shang Dynasty is supposedly the preceding dynasty after the Xia dynasty, and those who ruled during these times were descendants of Yu the Great (Lowe 71, Yellow Emperor). Evidence of this could be found within archeological and historical artifacts. These artifacts were of animal bones and remains depicting the history of Ancient Civilizations prior to the Shang Dynasty (Lowe 126). Among the stories of Yu the Great these artifacts known as the Shiji, the Jí zhŏng shū (the Bamboo Annals), and the Zuo Zhuan, tell of the ancient history of China (Lowe 126). The Shiji and the Jí zhŏng shū are important because they tell of the lineage of emperors and the history of Xia Dynasty (Lowe 126). However, each stories authenticity is disputable as archeological evidence prior to the existence of the Xia dynasty becomes dimmer since archeological evidence is hard to come by. However, earlier civilizations existed before the Xia dynasty, and archeological evidence at least has corresponded somewhat with the records within the Shiji, and the Jí zhŏng shū as is evident by the Xia Dynasty. These early civilizations are notable because they might explain how a society of nomadic tribes eventually settled in China to create a more prosperous society.


 * Early Civilizations **


 * [[image:HuangDi.jpg width="179" height="181" caption=""The Yellow Emperor," image www.echinaexpat.com" link="http://www.echinaexpat.com/ArticlesArchive/tabid/63/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9/TCM--Famous-Ancient-Chinese-Physicians.aspx"]] ||
 * "The Yellow Emperor," image www.echinaexpat.com ||

According to the Shiji, and the Jí zhŏng shū, the earliest emperor of China was referred to as the Yellow Emperor (Yellow Emperor). His importance in society derives from his ability to unify a group of nomadic tribes to eventually settle in areas in China (Yellow Emperor). Due in part to his ingenuity and intellectual capabilities the Yellow Emperor was said to have stratified a form of government that later prosper, this having accord sometime before the Xia Dynasty around 2700 BCE to 2600 BCE (Yellow Emperor, Yin Yu Tang). The Yellow emperor is mostly part of Chinese legend, though the early structure of Chinese culture suggests that he might have existed. In addition, there are many sources in early Chinese records that suggest of his existence (Yin Yu Tang, Xian). Although he might have existed as the mythology and historical record describes, his form of government was important because it would have been the beginning of Chinese culture. However, it was not until the Xia government where this culture took off to the point of conquering large areas of land (Lowe, 71). In addition, whether Yu the Great is an actual descendent is also disputable. However, the importance of the Xia Dynasty lies within its ability to prosper and become an important political structure and governing body that expanded for centuries, whereas the importance of the Yellow Emperors Government lies in unifying people and perhaps creating a sedentary way of life that did not necessarily lead to a governing body.

^ # Allen, Sarah. "The Myth of the Xia Dynasty." [|The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland]. [|Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland]. No.2:1984. 242-256. []. >
 * 1)  [|Ancient China Life] __ [] __
 * 1) Chang, K. C. [|Chinese Palaeoanthropology] . [|Annual Review of Anthropology] . Vol. 6, (1977), pp. 137-159 Published by: [|Annual Reviews] . [].
 * 2) Chaves, Jonathan. Artibus Asiae. Vol. 30, No. 1 (1968), pp. 5-27. Artibus Asiae Publishers. [].
 * 3) __Chinese Myths of Deluge__ CHINA HERITAGE QUARTERLY. []
 * 4) Lowe Michael, [|Edward L. Shaughnessy] . __The Cambridge History of Ancient China: From the Origins of Civilization to 221 BC__. Cambridge University Press: 1999.
 * 5) Storrie [|Paul D.], “**Graphic Myths and Legends: Yu the Great Conquering the Flood.”** Graphic Universe: 2008.
 * 6) Winks, Robin W. __Ninth Edition A History of Civilization Volume I__. Prentice Hall: 1996.
 * 7) Xian - City of the Terracotta Warriors. []
 * 8) **Yellow Emperor. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com, 49-50.**
 * 9)  [|Yin Yu Tang: A Chinese Home//] “Explore the historical contents of domestic architecture during the Qing dynasty and its pertinence to Chinese heritage and historical culture.



_

__Module 12:__

__http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/asian_perspectives/v041/41.1lee.html__

__This is a journal article describing the early history of Chinese Culture. It describes how the Xia dynasty began and includes information to how it could have possible developed. Little is archeologically known about the Xia Dynasty and how it developed. What is known is that it was the first Dynasty followed by the Shang Dynasty. Emperor Shang became emperor after the death of Emperor Yu who presided over the Xia Dynasty. This article offers important incite as to how and why early Chinese society developed into a dynasty ruled by an emperor. It is possible that more research is needed but it seems likely to have come to fruition due to environmental turmoil, such as flooding, and the need of or want of governmental power.__

_

__[|A Han Painted Tomb at Loyang]__ __Jonathan Chaves__ __[|Artibus Asiae]__ __Vol. 30, No. 1 (1968), pp. 5-27__ __Published by: [|Artibus Asiae Publishers]__ __http://www.jstor.org/stable/3250440__

__[|Confucian Traditions in East Asian Modernity]__ __Tu Wei-ming__ __[|Bulletin of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences]__ __Vol. 50, No. 2 (Nov., 1996), pp. 12-39__

__[|Chinese Palaeoanthropology]__ __K. C. Chang__ __[|Annual Review of Anthropology]__ __Vol. 6, (1977), pp. 137-159__ __Published by: [|Annual Reviews]__ __http://www.jstor.org/stable/2949329__

__[|Anthropology in Japan: Historical Review and Modern Trends]__ __Takao Sofue__ __[|Biennial Review of Anthropology]__ __Vol. 2, (1961), pp. 173-214__ __Published by: [|Bernard Siegal]__ __http://www.jstor.org/stable/2949221__

__[|Ancient China Life]__ __http://www.ancientchinalife.com/ancient-china-architecture.html__

__Module 9:__ __This article refers to the study of early man in China, this is relevant information on the cultures that sprung up in the area that may lead to the societies and cultures that exists there nowadays.__ __[|Chinese Palaeoanthropology]__ __K. C. Chang__ __[|Annual Review of Anthropology]__ __Vol. 6, (1977), pp. 137-159__ __Published by: [|Annual Reviews]__ __http://www.jstor.org/stable/2949329__

__[|Chinese Paleoanthropology Text]__ __[|Additional Information]__

__Extra Credit-__

__Friday’s AIA lecture was on Dr. Deborah Carlson’s excavation of a sunken ship in Kilzilburun. In the wreck, a column, in parts, was discovered which appears to be from the second or first century b.c. The column seems designed for a Doric style temple. Interestingly, this seems to facilitate to the trade and export of items from one location to another at the time. Though it did not get to its destination, the act of transportation suggests that the civilization were becoming closely intertwined, eventually spreading throughout all nearby civilization. These acts of trade might be behind the early forms of communication that attributed to similarities found within cultures. This seems likely since it was between these times that cultures started becoming much more complex eventually leading to the end of the archaic societies ways of life.__

__ Module 8: “Kerma: The Rise of an African Civilization,” Bruce G. Trigger, __The International Journal of African Historical Studies__, Vol. 9, No. 1. (1976), pp. 1-21.

The floodplains along the Nile constitute an important but as yet little utilized series of laboratories for the comparative study of the origins and interaction of ancient civilization.