Traditional / Mythic History of China

THE THREE SOVEREIGNS (San huang)
"Tomb" of Huangdi

  • Fuxi  ("Subduer of Animals"):  29th c. BCE
    • hunting and fishing implements
    • animal sacrifice
    • hexagram divination
  • Shennong  ("Divine Farmer"):  28th c. BCE
    • agriculture
  • Huangdi  ("Yellow Emperor"):  27th c. BCE
    • writing, silk, boats, carts, bow/arrow
      invented under his rule

THE THREE SAGES (San sheng)

  • Yao:    24th c. BCE
    • central government, calendar, rites and music
    • passed over his own son, selected Shun as successor based on merit
  • Shun:  23rd c. BCE
    • filial son of cruel parents
    • selected Yu as successor on basis of merit
  • Yu:   22nd c. BCE
    • controlled the flooding of the Yellow River
    • selected his son Qi as successor because people were attracted to him, thus founding the first dynasty (Xia)

THE THREE DYNASTIES (San dai)

  • Hsia:   22nd - 18th c. BCE
    • virtuous founder: Yu
    • evil last king: Jie
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  • Shang (Yin) :   18th - 12th c. BCE (traditional)
    Oracle bone (tortoise plastron)

          16th - 11th c. BCE (modern estimate)
    • last capital at Yin (Anyang), hence alternative name
    • oracle bones: 12th - 11th c.
    • virtuous founder: Tang
    • evil last king: Zhou (different from name of next dynasty)

  • Zhou:  1122 (or 1050) - 221 BCE
    • Western Zhou:  capital at Chang'an (modern Xian)
      • King Wen:   imprisoned under King Zhou of Shang; 
        wrote hexagram texts of Yijing
      • King Wu:   son of King Wen; overthrew Shang
      • Duke of Zhou:   King Wu's brother; regent for King Wu's son, King Cheng
    • Eastern Chou:  capital at Luoyang
      • 722-481:  "Spring and Autumn" period (Confucius 551-479)
      • 481-222:  "Warring States" period (Mencius, Xunzi, Zhuangzi, etc.)