Introduction
The emperors of the Shang Dynasty ruled ancient China for over 600 years. On this page we list these Shang Dynasty emperors and some interesting facts about some of them. Historians obtained information about the Shang Emperors from oracle bones and from records of the Grand Historian completed in approximately 109 BC by Sima Qian. It should be noted that historians disagree on the order in which some of these emperors ruled and the length of some of their reigns; therefor there are discrepancies in this list including some overlapping reigns. This information is written for both kids and adults.Click here for a great selection of Amazon.com books about Chinese emperors.
Shang Dynasty Emperors List
- Cheng Tang (also called Da Yi), 1675 BC - 1646 BC
- Wai Bing, 1646 BC - 1644 BC
- Zhong Ren, 1644 BC - 1640 BC
- Tai Jia, 1535 BC - 1523 BC
- Wo Ding, 1523 BC - 1504 BC
- Tai Geng, 1504 BC - 1479 BC
- Xiao Jia, 1479 BC - 1462 BC
- Yong Ji, 1462 BC - 1450 BC
- Tai Wu, 1450 BC - 1375 BC
- Zhong Ding, 1375 BC - 1364 BC
- Wai Ren, 1364 BC - 1349 BC
- He Dan Jia (also called Jian Jia), 1349 BC - 1340 BC
- Zu Yi, 1340 BC - 1321 BC
- Zu Xin, 1321 BC - 1305 BC
- Wo Jia, 1305 BC - 1280 BC
- Zu Ding, 1368 BC - 1336 BC
- Nan Geng, 1336 BC - 1307 BC
- Yang Jia, 1307 BC - 1290 BC
- Pan Geng, 1290 BC - 1262 BC
- Xiao Xin, 1262 BC - 1259 BC
- Xiao Yi, 1259 BC - 1250 BC
- Wu Ding, 1250 BC - 1192 BC
- Zu Geng, 1192 BC - 1165 BC
- Zu Jia, 1165 BC - 1138 BC
- Lin Xin, 1138 BC - 1134 BC
- Kang Ding, dates and length of reign are unknown
- Wu Yi, 1147 BC - 1112 BC
- Wen Ding, 1112 BC - 1102 BC
- Di Yi, 1101 BC - 1076 BC
- Di Xin (also called King Zhou), 1075 BC - 1046 BC
Shang Dynasty Emperor Facts
- During the Xia Dynasty the Shang were simply one of the many states making up the Xia Dynasty. Cheng Tang who ruled the Shang became determined to overthrow the Xia Dynasty emperor Jie. Jie was a tyrant who due to his cruelety and mistreatment of his people had gained many enemies. Cheng Tang had gathered support from numerous tribes and around 1675 BC the Shang Dynasty was ushered in when Cheng Tang defeated Jie at the Battle of Mingtiao.
- Shang emperors were buried with great riches meant to be used in the afterlife. They were also buried with numerous slaves and servants who it was believed would serve the emperor in the afterlife.
- In 1046 BC, at the Battle of Muye, the Shang were defeated by an army commanded by a famous military leader named Jiang Ziya. Upon being defeated the Shang Emperor Di Xin committed suicide. This defeat ended the Shang Dynasty and ushered in the Zhou Dynasty.