China: King Cheng Tang of Shang (ca. 1675 BC-1646 BCE), 1st king of the Shang Dynasty. Hanging scroll painting by Ma Lin (1180-1256), c. 1225-1256. Cheng Tang, personal name Zi Lu and also known as Da Yi, was the first king of the Shang Dynasty. He rose to power during the last days of the Xia Dynasty, when Shang was one of many vassal kingdoms of the Xia Dynasty. He overthrew the cruel Emperor Jie, and founded the Shang Dynasty. His reign was regarded as a good one, with lowered taxes and lesser conscription rates for soldiers.
The Shang Dynasty was according to traditional sources the second Chinese dynasty, after the Xia Dynasty. They ruled in the northeastern regions of the area known as 'China proper' in the Yellow River valley. According to the chronology based upon calculations by Liu Xin, the Shang ruled between 1766 BCE and 1122 BCE, but according to the chronology based upon the Bamboo Annals, they ruled between 1556 BCE and 1046 BCE. Tang's reign is considered a good one by the Chinese. He lowered taxes and the conscription period of soldiers. His influence spread to the Yellow River, and many outlying tribes.
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