16. Kong Jia’s Chaos and Jie’s Tyranny — The Fall of the Xia Dynasty
The revival under Shao Kang was like a powerful injection of life into the dying Xia dynasty, extending its existence for several more centuries. Yet, the very flaw of hereditary monarchy—the unpredictability of heirs—remained like a lurking shadow, never far from the throne. From the height of its restoration, Xia gradually declined. After the relatively steady reigns of Zhu, Huai, Mang, and Xie, the dynasty eventually fell into the hands of two disastrous rulers: Kong Jia, who indulged in superstition, and Jie, remembered as one of China’s most infamous tyrants. Their reigns, marked by absurdity and cruelty, drained the last of Xia’s vitality.
From Prosperity to Decline: Hidden Dangers
Shao Kang’s son, Emperor Zhu, was a capable ruler. He inherited his father’s vision, strengthened the state, and even invented armor and spears, boosting military power. Under his rule, Xia reached its peak. His successors—Emperors Huai, Mang, and Xie—were mostly caretakers of this prosperity. Records about them are sparse, but it seems the dynasty remained stable. During Emperor Xie’s reign, tribes like the Dongyi and Quanyi even came to pay tribute, showing that Xia still held prestige.
But under this surface calm, cracks were forming. When Emperor Buxiang died, his brother, Emperor Jiong, took the throne instead of his son. This unusual transfer hints at instability. Jiong was later succeeded by his own son, Jin, but when Jin died, the throne passed back to Buxiang’s son—Kong Jia. What seemed like a return to the rightful line turned out to be the start of Xia’s downfall.
Kong Jia and His Obsession with Spirits
Once in power, Kong Jia behaved nothing like the hardworking early rulers of Xia. Historian Sima Qian summed him up with two phrases: “fond of spirits and indulgent in debauchery.” Instead of governing through moral virtue and sound policy, he obsessed over rituals, sorcery, and sacrifices, hoping to win favor through superstition.
This marked a betrayal of the ancient tradition of “revering Heaven and protecting the people.” In that era, people believed a ruler’s virtue directly affected nature and society. A virtuous king brought harmony and good harvests; a corrupt one led to chaos and disasters. Kong Jia’s behavior signaled moral decay, and soon the respect for Xia’s royal house crumbled. Sima Qian records: “The feudal lords rose in rebellion against him.”
One story from his reign shows the absurdity of the times: “Heaven sent down two dragons.” A male and female dragon appeared, and Kong Jia had no idea how to care for them. He searched for the descendants of Shun’s dragon-keepers but failed. Then a man named Liu Lei, a descendant of the fallen Tao Tang clan (Yao’s lineage), claimed he had learned dragon-keeping skills. Kong Jia trusted him, made him “Keeper of Dragons,” and even gave him land in Shiwei (modern Henan).
But when the female dragon died, Liu Lei secretly cooked its flesh and served it to Kong Jia, who enjoyed it immensely. When the king asked to see the dragon again, Liu Lei panicked, realizing his trick would be exposed. He fled into hiding, abandoning his title. The tale, though mythical, mirrors the chaos, deception, and decline of authority during Kong Jia’s reign.
After Kong Jia came two short-lived rulers, Gao and Fa. Then the throne passed to Xia Jie—history’s notorious tyrant, who sealed the dynasty’s fate.
Xia Jie’s Tyranny: The People’s Enemy
Xia Jie, whose personal name was Lü Gui, was the seventeenth and final ruler of the Xia dynasty. By the time he came to power, the dynasty was already crumbling. Many lords had broken away. Instead of repairing the damage, Jie drove Xia to its grave with cruelty and arrogance.
His misrule can be summed up in three ways:
- Violence over virtue: Rather than easing tensions with good governance, he brutally suppressed the people and rebellious tribes, deepening resentment.
- Luxury and waste: He built lavish palaces like the Tilted Palace and Jade Terrace, draining the people’s strength and wealth for his pleasure. He adored his concubine Mei Xi, obeying her every whim while ignoring state affairs.
- Arrogance and denial: He compared himself to the sun, boasting: “The people are mine, just as Heaven has its sun. Will the sun ever die? Only if the sun perishes will I perish!” The furious people cursed him: “When will this sun be extinguished? Let us die with it if it must!” Their hatred was clear.
Shang’s Rise and the Battle of Mingtiao
While Xia declined, the Shang state in the east was rising under its wise leader, Tang. Tang ruled with virtue, attracted talented ministers like Yi Yin and Zhong Hui, and won the hearts of the people. Many lords abandoned Xia to side with Shang.
Jie sensed the threat and once imprisoned Tang in Xia’s prison tower. But instead of killing him, Jie foolishly released him. This was, as the saying goes, letting the tiger return to the mountains.
Once freed, Tang pressed forward. He defeated Xia’s allies one by one—Ge, Wei, Gu, Kunwu—until he was ready to strike Xia itself. Around 1600 BCE, the two forces clashed at Mingtiao (near today’s Yuncheng in Shanxi, though some say in Henan).
Before battle, Tang gave the famous Tang’s Oath, denouncing Jie’s crimes and declaring he was following Heaven’s will. Inspired, Shang’s army crushed Xia’s forces. Jie fled south but was eventually captured and died in exile at Nan Chao (around today’s Chaohu in Anhui). Before his death, he lamented: “If only I had killed Tang in the tower, I would not be here today!” But regrets came too late.
Aftermath: Lessons from Xia’s Fall
After Xia’s fall, Tang did not wipe out its royal line. Instead, he enfeoffed descendants of Xia in the state of Qi (in modern Henan), ensuring the old dynasty’s sacrifices continued. This act reflected the ancient ideal: “Revive extinguished states, continue broken lineages.”
From Yu the Great to Jie, Xia lasted for about 470 years, spanning 14 generations and 17 rulers. Its fall left a lasting warning: “The fall of Xia is a nearby mirror for all to see.” Jie’s tyranny became the ultimate example of misrule, while Tang’s victory marked the first armed revolution in Chinese history. One dynasty collapsed in corruption, while another rose from its ruins—beginning the cycle of history that would repeat again and again.