T'ANG

flourished 18th century BC Pinyin Tang, also called (Wade-Giles romanization) Ch'eng-t'ang, or Ta-i, or T'ien-i Chinese emperor who overthrew the Hsia dynasty and founded the Shang dynasty (traditionally dated 17661122 BC; some modern scholars believe it lasted from the mid-16th to the mid-11th century BC). As a historical figure, T'ang was apparently a scion of a noble family. According to legend, he was a descendant of the mythical sage-king the Yellow Emperor (Huang Ti). T'ang is also said to have revolted against the evil last ruler of the Hsia dynasty after reading on the shell of a tortoise a prophecy that he would do so. Revered as a humane and generous ruler, T'ang is said to have offered himself as a sacrifice to Heaven during a drought. Rain fell before the ceremony ended, however, and he was spared. He is usually represented as a nine-foot-tall, white-faced, whiskered man with a pointed head, six-jointed arms, and a body markedly larger on one side than on the other.