Battle of Muye
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. By the 13th century, 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.
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.
