Royal lineage and reign chronology of Shang kings (traditional and archaeological) (c. 1600–1046 BCE)

1. Traditional Shang royal line begins with Tang

   Jan 1, 1600 BCELabels: Tang, Shang Dynasty

   • Britannica
   • Shiji

2. Early reigns recorded only in transmitted lists

   Jan 1, 1550 BCELabels: Shiji, Transmitted Lists

   • Britannica
   • LateShang

3. Pan Geng associated with move to Yin

   Jan 1, 1300 BCELabels: Pan Geng, Yin capital

   • Britannica
   • PanGeng
   • XSZ

4. Yinxu recognized as late Shang royal center

   Jan 1, 1250 BCELabels: Yinxu, Anyang

   • Britannica
   • Yinxu

5. Oracle-bone inscriptions anchor last nine kings

   Jan 1, 1250 BCELabels: Oracle Bones, Last Nine

   • OracleBone
   • Britannica

6. Wu Ding accession (archaeologically anchored)

   Jan 1, 1250 BCELabels: Wu Ding, Oracle Bones

   • XSZ
   • Britannica
   • OracleBone

7. Zu Geng succeeds Wu Ding

   Jan 1, 1191 BCELabels: Zu Geng, Anyang

   • XSZ
   • OracleBone

8. Zu Jia follows in late Shang king sequence

   Jan 1, 1177 BCELabels: Zu Jia, Late Shang

   • XSZ
   • OracleBone
   • ZuJia

9. Lin Xin placed after Zu Jia

   Jan 1, 1157 BCELabels: Lin Xin, Late Shang

   • XSZ
   • OracleBone

10. Kang Ding (Geng Ding) follows Lin Xin

    Jan 1, 1148 BCELabels: Kang Ding, Geng Ding

    • XSZ
    • OracleBone
    • GengDing

11. Wu Yi reign placed in late Shang sequence

    Jan 1, 1147 BCELabels: Wu Yi, Late Shang

    • XSZ
    • OracleBone

12. Wen Ding succeeds Wu Yi

    Jan 1, 1112 BCELabels: Wen Ding, Late Shang

    • XSZ
    • WenDing
    • OracleBone

13. Di Yi accession before dynasty’s final crisis

    Jan 1, 1101 BCELabels: Di Yi, Late Shang

    • XSZ
    • OracleBone

14. Di Xin (King Zhou of Shang) becomes last king

    Jan 1, 1075 BCELabels: Di Xin, King Zhou

    • XSZ
    • OracleBone
    • Britannica

15. Zhou conquest ends Shang rule

    Jan 1, 1046 BCELabels: Zhou Conquest, Western Zhou

    • Britannica
    • XSZ
    • OracleBone