Shao Kang

Si Shao Kang was the sixth ruler of the Xia Dynasty of China. He was the son of and was Succeeded by King Zhu of Xia. His father Xiang was killed in a battle against Han Zhuo's two sons, Han Jiao and Han Yi ; Shao Kang's mother managed to escape and had him after a few months. In 2079 BC Si Shao Kang and his followers engaged in a battle against Han Zhuo, defeated and killed him, and restored the Xia Dynasty.



Shao Kang's restoration of Xia is considered as a significant early Chinese legend/story. Prior to Shao Kang, the Xia royal family had become corrupt, squandered away the family fortune, and lost the good will of the people. Shao Kang's father, Xiang, was on the run, and only held the title of King in name. When Xiang was killed, Shao Kang's mother supposedly escaped by crawling through a hole dug by dogs at the foot of a wall. She escaped to her parents' holding, and secretly gave birth to Shao Kang. Because the world did not know about Shao Kang, most presumed that the last of the Xia family had died.



Under the protection of his maternal grandfather, Shao Kang grew up. From an early age, his mother taught Shao Kang his birthright, the failing of his family in corruption, and the need to restore Xia rule. Under his mother and grandfather's watchful eyes, Shao Kang learned history, literature and the art of war, for the eventual goal of overthrowing Han Zhuo and restoring Xia.



By the time Shao Kang turned 16, the rumor of his existence as the last heir of Xia had reached Han Zhuo. Soon Han Zhuo dispatched his two sons to find and kill Shao Kang and he was forced to flee from his grandfather's estate.



He managed to find safety in the Kingdom of a Northern Tribe. The tribal leader had some past ties to the Xia family, and resented the rule of Han Zhuo and his tyrannical ways. He saw potential in the young exiled prince of Xia. So he decided to grant Shao Kang his daughter's hand in marriage, and 100 sq. "li" of rich farm land as his own county. This gave Shao Kang a base of operation, from which he could learn the art of state management and build his own population center to prepare.







Coincidentally, to the good fortune of Shao Kang in his marriage and his land grant, a former minister of the Xia royal family had hidden away a vast sum of fortune and had been buying arms and building an army in secret preparation for revenge on Han Zhuo. This minister, upon hearing that the heir of Xia had survived, rejoiced and immediately joined his forces with Shao Kang, thus renewing his loyalty to Xia. With his base secure and his army building and training, Shao Kang continued to build his estate under the old banner of Xia, preaching and reminding people of the benevolence of old Xia rule.



Han Zhou, in the mean time, grew increasingly tyrannical and imposed heavy taxes upon the people of the old Xia Kingdom. Many people fled from his rule. When Shao Kang's new Xia Kingdom grew in size and fortune, so spread the rumor of Shao Kang's benevolence. People began to compare Shao Kang to the 1st benevolent kings of Xia. Many fled to settle in Shao Kang's estate. Shao Kang's estate multiplied in people and resources.



Han Zhou became fearful that Xia had survived and now rivaled his power in size and strength. He despatched his 2 sons in the largest expedition force he could muster to destroy Shao Kang. Shao Kang by this time has become a seasoned leader. He gathered up his forces to meet Han Zhuo's army. He won the battle decisively and killed Han Zhuo's 2 sons. Then Shao Kang's army swept to the door step of the old Xia capital, where the Xia people greeted him as a liberator by opening the door to the citadel. Han Zhuo, sensing defeat, committed suicide.



Shao Kang entered the Xia capital, once again as the King of Xia. He ordered his army to protect the people and their possessions, and help them restore peace and allow Xia to prosper.



With Xia's ancestral home secured, Shao Kang, King of Xia, paid homage to his ancestors, and received the homage of surrounding tributary kingdoms.











Annother name for Shao Kang is Ning.



He took the throne in the year of Bingwu. All his vassals came to worship him.



In the second year of his regime, the Fang barbarians send an envoy to Xia.



In the third year of his regime, he began to distribute the land to his vassals, so that the position of vassal could be inherited by their sons. One of his vassals became the Zhou people, later the Zhou Dynasty.



In the 11th year of his regime, he ordered his vassal to manage the river for irrigation and flood control.



In the 18th year of his regime, he moved his capital to Yuan.



He ruled about 21 years according to both the Bamboo Annals and The Record of the Grand Historian.