by Daniel Xiao Wang

Created on: August 01, 2011   Last Updated: August 02, 2011

The Chinese civilization stretches back beyond the limits of human communication . The impression that the Chinese civilization has always existed - since the dawn of time- and will always exist Is hard to ignore. Written records show no 'start'; no point in which cities started being built or people started to settle down, but instead tradition points to the existence of virtually legendary empires existing from the dawn of creation onward.

The first recorded Chinese dynastic state was the Xia. The Xia Dynasty began when the Emperor Shun abdicated his throne to Yu. Prior to this time, it was normal custom that the emperor pass his throne to the person most capable of leadership, not a family member.

Yu was the legendary figure that withstood the great flood by building an irrigation system across the land. This project lasted thirteen years according to legend (the flood had already been upon them for many years before Yu was put in charge of stopping it). Emperor Shun was advancing in years and looking for an appropriate heir and saw fit to make Yu the new emperor.

Rather than pass the title of emperor on to the ablest person, Yu decided to pass rule on to his son. And in that act a tradition of hereditary rule was born and the Xia Dynasty established.

The Xia Dynasty is referred to in various historical Chinese texts, all pointing to different time frames from as early as 2205 BCE to as late as 1558 BCE. In 1996, roughly two hundred experts were commissioned by the Chinese government to determine a likely time frame. Radiocarbon dating placed the Xia Dynasty from 2070BCE to 1600BCE.

Not a great deal is known about the Xia Dynasty apart from mention in a few historical records. Most notable about the Xia was the legendary status of its patriarch, Emperor Yu (for every civilization has a great flood story) and the commonly held belief that the empire descended into misrule under the last ruler, Jie. Because of his corruption, he lost the will of heaven to rule (the mandate of heaven) and the dynasty was overthrown by the Shang.

While skeptics exist claiming that the Xia is only a legend, archeology has uncovered large palaces and structures dating back to the time period of the Xia Dynasty at the site where ancient records claim the capital to have been, substantiating the belief that the Xia did indeed exist. Pottery and other artifacts have been uncovered, although a formal writing system did not exist at the time to provide written records.

The Xia Dynasty was the first state system that existed in China, connecting Chinese civilization to at least the neolithic period of human history. Legends tell of emperors and kings before Yu as well, so maybe just maybe, the impression that Chinese civilization has no beginning; it has always just been; Is not so far from the truth. At the very minimum, what is known for certain from archaeological research is that some culture did exist during the time of the supposed Xia and that Chinese civilization, at minimum, reaches back to the neolithic era.

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