warfare

=**Warfare During the Shang Dynasty** = By Ricki Wolf = = = = = =

** The Beginning **


 The Shang Dynasty was the second of the three ancient Chinese dynasties. Rising in 1600 B.C.E. and falling sometime in 1046 B.C.E., it lasted for about 554 years before collapsing. In ancient China, expanding territory and access to resources were major priorities (Yoffee 2005). From uncovered Shang inscriptions, some archaeologists have stated that the Shang Dynasty may be the beginning of warfare in China. (Schneider 1952). In 1046 B.C.E the Shang Dynasty was overrun by the military of King Zhòu and the Zhòu Dynasty began in 1045 B.C.E with the death of Zhòu Xin (Chang 1968). The Shang Dynasty was a society that thrived on warfare and had a mission to overthrow the Near East.  ** The Line of Militaristic Kings ** For the people of Shang China, the kings that ruled their lands were close with the High God (Ti) and ancestral worship was a big part of their lives. By means of rituals, sacrifices, and divination, kings are able to contact ancestral spirits for guidance (Bendix 1980). This guidance combined with oracle predictions helped with their plans for future wars. The role of a king in the Shang Dynasty was to oversee the government, economy, religion, and military (Chang 1968). Kings in ancient China were not only rulers but war leaders as well (Schneider 1952). By means of oracle bones, these leaders were able to read cracks on turtle shells and cattle scapula's to predict the future, to answer questions and guide them in the right direction. Most of these predictions had created war and death between neighboring peoples and other leaders (Bendix 1980). The first king of the Shang Dynasty was King Tang. In the 1600s B.C.E. King Shang Tang began his ruling after 17 years of battle at the end of the Xia dynasty. He was Prince of Shang for 29 years & overlord and King for 11. During his rein, he had established a large wall around the civilization to prevent incoming enemies (Schinz 1996). Since there were neighbors to the civilization, he was protecting his people from losing their land whilst attempting to gain more. The line of Kings in China is usually based on kinship and ancestral lineages, with the exception of warfare. If a king is killed, then the conqueror is the new leader and then takes over, from there it’s based again on lineage. After King Tang there were another 18 kings, including his lineage, until the next historical ruler Pán Gēng. According to the Bamboo Annals, Pán Gēng had moved the capital of the Shang Dynasty to Yin. In some sources, the Shang Dynasty is also referred to as the Yin Dynasty (Keightley 1978). Proceeding Pán Gēng, Wǔ Dīng took the throne. Wǔ Dīng is the first ruler that written documents from the Bamboo Annals and oracle bones give proof to his years in the throne (Keightley 1978).  Oracle bones and vessels dated to the time of Wǔ Dīng ’s rein state that during his reign alone he was involved in nearly 20 wars (Yuzhou 1989). Dīng had conquered Guifang, Dapeng, Tunwei and many others during his time as king. The last ruler of the Shang Dynasty was Shāng Zhòu also known as Zhòu Xin. Xin ruled for 52 years before being defeated by the Zhòu Dynasty’s army. After the defeat, Xin burned himself alive in his Palace with all of his goods (Schinz 1996).

During this time in China, frequent battles were fought over expansion and resources with neighboring city states. According to numerous findings of oracle bones, also known as oracle records, many detailed accounts of the battles were preserved, but not always names of those involved. From one site, some oracles bones found explained wars that had upwards of thirteen thousand troops, prisoners of war and human sacrifices. Based on the translation of these bones, the war was against the Ch’iang territory and up to thirty thousand prisoners were said to have been brought back to “fill the ranks of the lower social classes” (Chang 1968). Large quantities of oracle bones found were located in pit YH 127 at Yinxu (Yuzhou 1989). From pit YH 127, these oracle bones were dated to be during the middle period of Wǔ Dīng ’s reign and involved nearly 20 wars during his reign alone. The first war recorded on these bones was <span class="wiki_link_ext">Wǔ Dīng against the states of Zi, Pei, Fou, and Jifang (Yuzhou 1989). <span class="wiki_link_ext">Dīng had conquered and captured these states and many others until the end of his reign.
 * Battles **



Weapons of the Shang ** The development of bronze weapons was a technological breakthrough for the Shang (Chang 1968). They created elaborate weapons and ritual vessels giving us pieces of their material culture to learn from. Oracle bones also explained that the Shang Dynasty had a large ‘machinery’ of war, involving horse drawn chariots and bronze-tipped weapons (Chang 1968). Other weapons reported to be used were bronze battle axes, spears, bronze swords and arrows (Schneider 1952). Weapon sets were excavated from Tomb 20 and were used by chariot soldiers during this time (National). Large bronze tipped arrows and spears were either used at close range or thrown great distance from the comfort of the chariot seats. Tomb 20 also held a complete set of dagger axes, knives and a whetstone for sharpening. The weapons were also decorated with jade, so not only were they functional and serve their purpose, they were made with great detail and possess qualities of being used by higher status soldiers and/or kings. Inequality played a role in warfare as well since lower status soldiers used only bronze cast weapons without the expensive jade and turquoise inlay. The jade was “a material representing the essence of the heavens and earth” (National). Along with warfare weaponry there was also ceremonial weaponry. Another set was inlay with turquoise for decoration and others decorated with engraved designs of animals and human images (National). Great detail was put into their weapons in later years of the dynasties lifetime. Since war was important to them and their gods, the elaborate work done to these weapons was to increase their ability and bring help from the gods. The Chariots ** Chariots used during the Shang Dynasty were excavated around 1936 in the Shang capital of Yin (National). Scholars from the National Palace Museum have been reconstructing the pieces of this excavation to recreate these horse drawn chariots. <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chariots fixtures of more than a hundred bronze ornaments and jade inlay pieces were used to decorate the chariots. These pieces were that of high status, showing that the chariot was used by high class individuals or the King himself. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The bridal worn by the horses were made from leather straps and bronze fixings. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Not only were these structurally sound and functional they were elaborately decorated as well (National). The chariots were used in war to transport the troops and King to other states for invasion and also to bring back good from trade. The wheels used on the chariot were not well preserved since they are said to have been made from bent wood (National). The use of these chariots benefited the Shang greatly when it came to importing goods, sacrificial victims and captives from other neighboring states. These chariots were not just chariots to them. They spent time and effort to decorate these and make them into detailed works of functional art. I believe war was extremely important to them otherwise they would not have put the labor into making such elaborate pieces.

The Shang Dynasty was the dynasty of war. Beginning with the basics of bronze weaponry and ending with high status inlay of turquoise and jade inlay. The Shang thrived on warfare to command and conquer and establish an inevitable fall of the dynasty. Proceeding the fall, the Shang managed to have decades of wars, thousands of captives and hundreds of thousands of sacrifices and deaths. All of this war and destruction for control of resources and territory expansion. The Shang had no remorse for other neighboring states and warred with each one that the oracle cracks read 'yes' for. Unfortunately for the dynasty, they did not manage to have many allies to help them in their task to rule the Near East. For when the war with the Zhòu dynasty came about, Zhòu Xin was out numbered and ill prepared. When he realized it was the fall of his empire, he committed suicide instead of fighting to the death to defend his territory. Bendix, Reinhard 1980 Kings or People: Power and the Mandate to Rule. California: University of California Press.
 * Conclusion **
 * Works Cited/References **

Chang, Kwang-Chih 1968 Archaeology of Ancient China. Science. 162(3853): 519-526.

Keightley, David, N. 1978 The Bamboo Annals and Shang-Chou Chronology. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies. 38(2): 423-438.

National Palace Museum Charioting in the Shang Dynasty. Electronic document, [], accessed April 12, 2009.

Schinz, Alfred 1996 The Magic Square: Cities in Ancient China. Edition Axel Menges.

Schneider, Joseph 1952 On the Beginnings of Warfare. Social Forces. 31(1): 68-74.

Thorp, Robert L. 1985 The Growth of Early Shang Civilization: New Data from Ritual Vessels. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies. 45(1): 5-75. Yoffee, Norman 2005 Myths of the Archaic State. New York: Cambridge. Yuzhou, Fan 1989 Military Campaign Inscriptions from YH 127. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 52(3): 533-540.