THE HOUSE OF HIA, 2205-1766 B. C.
  (17 kings, 2 usurpers)

Unlike most founders of royal houses, who come to the throne through a deluge of blood, Ta-yue, as has been shown in the last chapter, climbed to that eminence [Page 79] through a deluge of water.  Like Noah, the hero of an earlier deluge, he seems to have indulged, for once at least, too freely in the use of wine.  A chapter in the “Book of History,” entitled “A Warning Against Wine,” informs us that one Yiti having made wine presented it to his prince.  Ta-yue was delighted with it, but discontinued its use, saying that in time to come kings would lose their thrones through a fondness for the beverage.  In China “wine” is a common name for all intoxicating drinks.  That referred to in this passage was doubtless a distillation from rice or millet.

In the discharge of his public duties Ta-yue showed himself no less diligent than in contending with the waters.  He hung at his door a bell which the poorest of his subjects might ring and thus obtain immediate attention.  It is said that when taking a bath, if he heard the bell he sometimes rushed out without adjusting his raiment and that while partaking of a meal, if the bell rang he did not allow himself time to swallow his rice.

Prior to laying down his toilsome dignity Ta-yue caused to be cast nine brazen tripods, each bearing an outline map or a description of one of the provinces of the empire.  In later ages these were deemed preeminently the patent of imperial power.  On one occasion a feudal prince asked the question, “How heavy are these tripods?” A minister of state, suspecting an intention to remove them and usurp the power, replied in a long speech, proving the divine commission of his master, and asked in conclusion, “Why then should you inquire the weight of these tripods?”

[Page 80] Of the subsequent reigns nothing worth repetition is recorded except the fall of the dynasty.  This, however, is due more to the meagreness of the language of that day than to the insignificance of the seventeen kings.  Is it not probable that they were occupied in making good their claim to the nine provinces emblazoned on the tripods?

Kie, the last king, is said to have fallen under the fascination of a beautiful woman and to have spent his time in undignified carousals.  He built a mountain of flesh and filled a tank with wine, and to amuse her he caused 3,000 of his courtiers to go on all fours and drink from the tank like so many cows.

  THE SHANG DYNASTY, 1766-1122 B. C.
  (28 kings)

The founder of this dynasty was Shang-tang, or Cheng-tang, who to great valour added the virtues of humanity and justice.  Pitying the oppressions of the people, he came to them as a deliverer; and the frivolous tyrant was compelled to retire into obscurity.  A more remarkable exhibition of public spirit was the offering of himself as a victim to propitiate the wrath of Heaven.  In a prolonged famine, his prayers having failed to bring rain, the soothsayers said that a human victim was required.  “It shall be myself,” he replied; and, stripping off his regal robes, he laid himself on the altar.  A copious shower was the response to this act of devotion.