Xia dynasty

What Was the Xia Dynasty?

The Xia dynasty was the first dynasty in old Chinese history. Some people think the Xia may be a legend. Most Chinese scientists believe it was real. They connect it with the Erlitou culture, which lived a very long time ago.

The Story of Yu the Great

According to old stories, the Xia was started by Yu the Great. The Yellow River once flooded, and Yu helped stop the water. He worked with many people to dig channels that carried the water away. People believe his hard work helped farming grow. Later, the Xia came before the Shang dynasty in old stories.

Looking for Clues

The Xia did not leave any written records from their own time. The earliest mentions of the Xia are in the Book of Documents, which was written much later. In 1959, a scientist named Xu Xusheng found a large old town called Erlitou, near modern Yanshi. Most Chinese scientists think Erlitou may have been the Xia. Many scientists from the West say this cannot be proven yet.

Still a Mystery

Historians are still not sure about the Xia. In the 1920s, Gu Jiegang was one of the first people in China to question the old stories about early history. People still talk about whether the Xia really existed. Learning more about the past helps us solve this puzzle.