Dynasties of ChinaXia dynastyXia dynasty lineage
Reign —
The last monarch of Xia dynasty was tyrannical and immoral according to history. He was defeated by Ming Tiao by Shang Tang and was exiled to death. He was also called "Jie Zhou" together with Shang Zhou.
Jie, named Lugui, was the son of Fa and the last monarch of Xia dynasty. According to the "Bamboo Book Annals", he lived in Zhenbo. History books say that he "did not act morally but injured the people with force": he conquered the Shi family and captured Mei Xi, and also conquered the Minshan Mountains to capture the two daughters Wan and Yan; he carried out extensive civil engineering work, built Qinggong and Yaotai, and killed Guan Longfeng who had been admonishing him. He also summoned Tang to the court, imprisoned him in Xiatai, and soon released him.
Jie would still ally with the princes, but Min's clan rebelled. Although he attacked and destroyed You Min, he suffered a loss of national power. Shang Tang appointed Yi Yin, who successively eliminated Xia's allies Wei, Gu, and Kunwu, and defeated the Xia army at Mingtiao about 1600 BC. Jie fled and was exiled to death. It is said that he died in Nanchao and Xia Dynasty was destroyed. Many of Jie's evil deeds are very similar to those of Shang Zhou, and they may be compared to others by later generations. However, it is true that the political situation in late Xia was turbulent and the princes were disloyal.
Jie was the first tyrant image created by history books, and he was called "Jie Zhou" together with Shang Zhou. His crimes, such as doting on women, building palaces, and killing remonstrating ministers, are highly consistent with the deeds of King Zhou. It is likely that the Warring States period Qin & Han people followed Zhou's deeds. However, in the late Xia, the princes deserted and merchants rose up to replace the Xia dynasty. This can be traced in documentary records and the replacement of Erlitou culture to Erligang culture. Jie's basic appearance as a subjugated king is generally credible.
PoliticsLiving in pouring wine
According to the "Bamboo Book Annals", Taikang, Hou Yi and Jie all lived in Zhenwei. Many scholars believe that the Erlitou site in Yanshi, Henan is the capital city of the late Xia Dynasty. The main date range of the site is roughly the same as that of the middle and late Xia Dynasty.
Lasting legacyThe earliest known palace city and urban road network in China was discovered at the Erlitou site. In 2019, the Erlitou Summer Capital Ruins Museum was built and opened next to the site.
PeopleMei Xi
According to "Guoyu·Jinyu", Jie attacked the Shi family, and Shi's people offered their daughter Mei Xi for peace, and Mei Xi became favored. Later generations blamed her for Xia's death, which was attached to the "female disaster" historical view.
SocietyBuilding Qing Palace and Yaotai
According to the "Chronicles of the Bamboo Book", Jie built the Qing Palace, decorated the Yaotai, built the Qiong Chamber and the Jade Gate, which cost a lot of people and financial resources. Although such records are exaggerated, they reflect the extravagance of the rulers and the exhaustion of the people in the late summer.
MilitaryMinshan Mountain
According to the "Bamboo Chronicles", Jie conquered Minshan, and the Minshan clan presented two daughters, Wan and Yan. Jie doted on the two of them, carved their names on Tiaohua jade, and abandoned Yuan Fei Mei Xi on the shore of Luoshui.
PoliticsThere will still be a meeting
According to "Zuo Zhuan", Jie would still unite with the princes in You, and You Min's clan rebelled midway. Jie sent troops to attack You Min. "Zuo Zhuan" said that "Jie defeated You Min and lost his country." This incident was regarded as a lesson for the fall of Xia.
PeopleKill Guan Longfeng
According to legend, the minister Guan Longfeng repeatedly advised Jie to cherish the power of the people, but was imprisoned and killed by Jie. Later generations were called "Long Feng and Bi Gan" together, as a typical example of a loyal minister remonstrating with the emperor with death.
PoliticsImprisoned in Xiatai
According to "Historical Records", Jie summoned Tang to the court, imprisoned him in Xiatai, and soon released him. After Tang returned to his country, he practiced moral administration, and the princes joined him one after another, becoming the biggest threat to Xia.
SocietyTime is mourning
According to legend, Jie compared himself to the sun in the sky. The people resented his tyranny and cursed, "The days will be lost, and I will perish with you." This means that when this sun perishes, we would rather die with you. This phrase is found in "Shang Shu·Tang Shi".
MilitaryBattle of Mingtiao
Shang Tang first eliminated Xia's allies Wei, Gu, and Kunwu, and then led his army to attack Jie. The two armies fought at Mingtiao, and the Xia army was defeated and Jie fled. The locations of Mingtiao include Yuncheng in Shanxi and Fengqiu in Henan.
Politicsdie in exile
Jie's army was defeated and fled. The Shang army took advantage of the victory and captured Sanyi. "Historical Records·Xia Benji" says that "Jie walked away and sang the strips, so he was released and died." It is said that he was exiled to Nanchao (today's Chaohu area in Anhui Province) and died, and Xia Dynasty was destroyed.
Also at the end of the year, there was a daughter of the Shi family, who was sacrificed when Jie attacked Shi. According to the "Bamboo Book Annals", she later fell out of favor and was abandoned in Luo. It is also said that she communicated with Yi Yin, "so they stayed in summer".
According to legend, he was a minister of Jie. He repeatedly gave out his advice and advised Jie to cherish the power of the people. He was imprisoned and killed. In later generations, he was known as Bi Gan in the late Shang Dynasty.
According to legend, he was ordered by Tang to go to Xia to investigate the reality. "Sun Tzu" said that "Yin was prosperous, and Yizhi was in Xia." He assisted Shang Tang in exterminating Xia's allies, and finally defeated Jie in Mingtiao.
A descendant of Boyi (Dafei). According to the Basic Annals of Qin in the Records of the Grand Historian, he left Xia under King Jie to serve Shang, drove Tang's chariot and helped defeat Jie at Mingtiao.