Dynasties of ChinaShang dynastyShang dynasty lineage
Reign —
Yang Jia's younger brother, against all odds, moved the capital to Yin, ending the "Ninth Dynasty Rebellion". Yin became the capital of Shang Dynasty for more than 200 years.
Pan Geng is the son of Zu Ding and the younger brother of Yang Jia. When he came to the throne, Shang Dynasty had just experienced the "Ninth Generation Rebellion", the capital was moved repeatedly, and the princes were not in power. Around 1300 BC, Pan Geng decided to move the capital to Yin (now Anyang, Henan). The nobles and people were content in their old residences and were unwilling to move. Pan Geng repeatedly informed his subjects of the benefits and even threatened them with severe punishment, and finally completed the move of the capital. His words of advice to his subjects are preserved in three chapters of "Shang Shu·Pan Geng".
After moving to Yin, Pan Geng "implemented the rule of Tang", the people were peaceful, "Yin Dao was revived", and the princes came to court again. According to the "Chronicles of the Bamboo Book", from the time Pan Geng moved to Yin to the fall of Shang, "it never moved the capital", Yin became the capital of Shang Dynasty in the later period, so Shang Dynasty was also called "Yin" or "Yin Shang". After Pan Geng died, his younger brother Xiao Xin came to the throne.
Pan Geng's move to Yin was a turning point in the history of Shang Dynasty. He used strong tactics to promote the relocation of the capital, ending the throne disputes and repeated capital moves since Zhong Ding, allowing Shang Dynasty to settle down in Yin. In the following two hundred years, the Yin capital accumulated rich material and cultural relics, including oracle bone inscriptions and a large number of bronzes unearthed here. However, the threats and coercion against the subjects in "Pan Geng" also show the arbitrary side of the royal power of the Shang Dynasty.
PoliticsStepbrother ascends the throne
After the death of Yang Jia, his younger brother Pan Geng succeeded to the throne. According to the "Bamboo Book Annals", the Shang capital was in jeopardy at that time, the royal families were fighting for the throne, and the princes were not in power. Pan Geng was faced with a declining dynasty.
PoliticsMoved the capital to Yin
Pan Geng led his troops to move the capital to Yin. "Bamboo Chronicles" says that he "moved to Northern Mongolia since his death, and he was called Yin"; "Historical Records" says that he moved south across the river and returned to his old capital in Tang Dynasty. The two theories are different. Nowadays, Anyang Yin Ruins is generally regarded as Pan Geng's subsequent capital.
Lasting legacyThe Yin Ruins are located in present-day Anyang, Henan, and were included in the World Heritage List in 2006; Anyang was therefore listed as one of the eight ancient capitals in China.
Culture"Pan Geng" three articles
Three chapters of "Shangshu·Pan Geng" record Pan Geng's words to the nobles and common people before and after he moved the capital, some of which were persuasion and some of intimidation. It is an important document for studying the politics of the Shang Dynasty. It was probably written and polished by the Zhou people.
Lasting legacyThe idiom "in an orderly manner" comes from "Pan Geng" "If the net is in the outline, it is orderly and orderly".
PoliticsExecution of the Tang Dynasty
After moving to Yin, Pan Geng followed Tang's politics and appeased the people. "Historical Records" stated that "the people moved from Ning, Yin Dao was revived, and the princes came to court." The royal family disputes that had lasted for many years came to an end.
SocietyHuanbei Mall
In 1999, a Shang Dynasty city site with an area of about 4.7 square kilometers was discovered on the north bank of the Huan River in Anyang. The date range is slightly earlier than the Yinxu palace area in Xiaotun. One says it was the capital of Pan Geng when he first moved to Yin, and the other says it was the residence of He Danjia.
PoliticsNot even moving to the capital
According to the "Chronology of the Bamboo Book", "From the time Pan Geng moved to Yin to the destruction of Zhou, it lasted two hundred and seventy-three years, and he never moved to the capital." The political center of Shang Dynasty in the later period was stabilized in Yin, and Shang Dynasty was also called "Yin" or "Yin Shang".
The life of the ancient sage quoted in "Pan Geng" is unknown. Pan Geng quoted him as saying, "People only seek the old, but utensils do not seek the old, but the new." He persuaded the old ministers of the famous family to move the capital with him.
Zu Ding's son, Pan Geng succeeded to the throne after his death. "Historical Records" says that the Yin Dynasty declined again during his reign, and the people commemorated Pan Geng and wrote three chapters of "Pan Geng".