The Shang army led by Tang defeated the Xia and founded the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC) -the second slave dynasty in Chinese history.
The Shang ruled from the 17th century BC to the 11th century BC, in all about 600 years.
Di Xin was the last king of the Shang Dynasty. He was later given the pejorative nickname “Zhou” meaning “tyrannical and wicked”. King Zhou, like King Jie of the Xia ruled so inhumanely and tyrannically that he brought about the collapse of his dynasty. It is a story well-known in Chinese history.
King Zhou was even more debauched and licentious than King Jie. He spent most of his time completely drunk. A large pool was constructed on the Palace grounds and was filled with alcohol. A small island was constructed in the middle of the pool, where trees were planted, with branches made of roasted meat skewers hanging over the pool. This was called the Wine Pool and Meat Forest. King Zhou ordered groups of naked men and women to chase after each other, frolic and perform a dance called Beili in the Wine Pool and Meat Forest. After eating and drinking his fill, King Zhou would ignore all affairs of state and go hunting with his favourite concubine, Daji.
In order to please Daji, King Zhou had the feet of common people chopped off and even had the bellies of pregnant women cut open. To punish insubordinate ministers, he promoted evil, cruel officials to important positions and, inspired by an idea from Daji, created the “Cannon Burning Punishment”. A hollow pillar was cast with copper. Those who displeased the Emperor were stripped naked, tied to the pillar, the inside of which was filled with burning charcoal. They would suffer an agonizing death.
Because of King Zhou’s terrible cruelties, many decent ministers stepped forward boldly to remonstrate with him, but those who did so were mercilessly persecuted.
Seeing that the downfall of the dynasty was imminent, his uncle Bi Gan, together with another uncle Ji Zi and his brother Wei Zi, remonstrated with him.
Bi Gan said, “My King, you kill people as you please, so you have lost the hearts and minds of the people. If you lose the hearts and minds of the people, you will surrender the Mandate of heaven. My King I beg of you, please correct your mistakes. ”
These words greatly angered King Zhou. He said, “I have heard that the heart of a sage has seven holes. You are a sage yes? Then I would like to see what your heart looks like.”
King Zhou ordered that Bi Gan be killed and had his heart ripped out.
Ji Zi immediately resigned and went back to his own estates to lie low.
After that, no one dared to criticize the King. However, he had no idea he was so utterly isolated. The Shang Dynasty was approaching the end of its days.
At that time, a state named the Zhou was growing in power near the Weishui River. King Wen and his son Wu were slowly but surely building up their strength so they could topple the tyrannical rule of King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty.
