Battle of Muye

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Muye
Date 1046 BC Location Central Henan - near Yinxu? Result Zhou victory
Combatants
Shang	Zhou
Commanders
Di Xin	Wu
Strength
?	3,800

The Battle of Muye (or Mu) (牧野之戰) was fought in China in 1046 BC. The battle led to the end of the Shang dynasty, and the beginning of the Zhou dynasty. The Zhou dynasty marks the beginning of the feudal phase of Chinese history.

[edit] Background

By the 13th century BC, Shang influence had reach what is now Gansu Province, a region that was occupied by a people known as the Zhou. Wen (Ji Chang), the ruler of the Zhou, who was a Shang vassal, was given the title "Count of the West" by the king Di Xin of Shang. Di Xin used Wen to guard his rear while he was involved in a south-eastern campaign. Shou Xin, fearing Wen's growing power, imprisoned him. Wen's son Wu (Ji Fa) led the Zhou in a revolt.

[edit] Battle

Wu led an army of 3,800 Shang defectors. Di Xin's army was much larger than Wu's. Seeing his army outnumbered, Wu instructed his troops to march in strict formation and advance slowly. The Shang began their attack in the morning, but the front rank was thrown into confusion, disordering those behind them. The Zhou were victorious and showed little mercy to the defeated Shang, shedding enough blood "to float a log". After the battle Di Xin committed suicide in his palace, leaving Wu master of most of the Huang He valley. Wu proclaimed the Zhou dynasty.