Changes Of The Early Capital Of The Xia Dynasty

Xia Dynasty, as the first slavery dynasty in Chinese history, occupies an important position in the development of Chinese civilization. Based on the literature and archaeological discoveries, this thesis expounds the early capitals of Xia Dynasty and the relevant issues. Moreover, it is a preliminary study of the reasons for the changes and moves of these capitals.This thesis holds that Xia ethnic tribe originated around the Song Mountain in the western area of Henan and Xia Dynasty began with Xia Qi rather than Da Yu. Yangcheng was the earliest political center established by Xia people, which lies in the Wangchenggang Site in Dengfeng. Yangdi was the newly built capital after Da Yu nominated as Xia Bo. And it is related to Wadian Site in Yuzhou. Pingyang (Jinyang) was the old capital in Yao and Shun's times. Da Yu built the capitals in Pingyang (Jinyang) and Anyi in order to control the southern region of Shanxi.Xiayi is the general term for the capitals in Xia Dynasty, rather than the specific term for Yangdi. All the capitals in Xia Dynasty can be called Xiayi. The opinion that Xiayi only refers to Yangdi is not correct. Qi lived in Hillock Huangtai, which can also be called Xiayi. Xinzhai Site in Xinmi is corresponding with Hillock Huangtai, which is the capital of Xia Qi.During the period of Tai Kang, the capital of Xia Dynasty moved from the Yingru River basin to Erlitou in Yanshi along the Yiluo River basin. Erlitou Site possesses the features of a capital during all the stages from one to four. It functioned as the capital from Tai Kang until Xie Jie, which was the royal capital during the middle and late period of Xia Dynasty.The move of Xia capital was related to the natural environment and the political and military situations during the early period of Xia Dynasty. At that time, the climate was very abnormal, and the rivers often flooded. The population in the Yingru River basin expanded rapidly. The contradiction between population, resources and environment was so cute that the capital was inevitably moved to the Yiluo River basin with superior natural conditions. And the tense relationship between the Xia nationality and the Yi nationality was another important reason for the capital move. The topography of the eastern opening of the Yingru River basin was just like a dustpan which put Xia Dynasty in a very dangerous situation and was disadvantageous to the defense of Dong Yi. Compared with the Yingru Rriver basin, the Yiluo River basin possessed a very advantageous military defense condition. After the period of Shao Kang, Xia Dynasty built a comprehensive military defense system in the capital and its surrounding areas, which gave full play to the regional advantages of the Yiluo River basin. Since then, Xia Dynasty began to enter the heyday period.