The Shang Dynasty is the first Chinese imperial dynasty for which we have actual documentary evidence. Although historians love sources, no two agree on the exact order and duration of the Shang emperors’ reigns. Thus, there are gaps and discrepancies in the imperial list below.
Sources for the Shang era include oracle bones, the Bamboo Annals, and the Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian.
China’s Shang Dynasty
- Cheng Tang, 1675 – 1646 BCE
- Wai Bing, 1646 – 1644 BCE
- Zhong Ren, 1644 – 1640 BCE
- Tai Jia, 1535 -1523 BCE
- Wo Ding, 1523 – 1504 BCE
- Tai Geng, 1504 – 1479 BCE
- Xiao Jia, 1479 – 1462 BCE
- Yong Ji, 1462 – 1450 BCE
- Tai Wu, 1450 – 1375 BCE
- Zhong Ding, 1375 – 1364 BCE
- Wai Ren, 1364 – 1349 BCE
- He Dan Jia, 1349 – 1340 BCE
- Zu Yi, 1340 – 1321 BCE
- Zu Xin, 1321 – 1305 BCE
- Wo Jia, 1305 – 1280 BCE
- Zu Ding, 1368 – 1336 BCE
- Nan Geng, 1336 – 1307 BCE
- Yang Jia, 1307 – 1290 BCE
- Pan Geng, 1290 – 1262 BCE
- Xiao Xin, 1262 – 1259 BCE
- Xiao Yi, 1259 – 1250 BCE
- Wu Ding, 1250 – 1192 BCE
- Zu Geng, 1192 – 1165 BCE
- Zu Jia, 1165 – 1138 BCE
- Lin Xin, 1138 – 1134 BCE
- Kang Ding, dates of reign?
- Wu Yi, 1147 – 1112 BCE
- Wen Ding, 1112 – 1102 BCE
- Di Yi, 1101 – 1076 BCE
- Di Xin, 1075 – 1046 BCE
For more information, go to the List of Chinese Dynasties.
