Pan Geng, born Zi Xun, was the 20th King of Shang Dynasty. Pan Geng ruled during the Shang Dynasty for 28 years (1300-1277BC) according to “Bamboo Annals” and “Shiji” (“Historical Records”) by Sima Qian, a great historian in the period of Emperor Wu of Western Han Dynasty. He was succeeded by his younger brother Xiao Xin. Pan Geng is best known for having moved the capital of the Shang Dynasty from Bo (today’s Shangqiu City, Hennan Province) to Yin (today’s Xiaotun in Anyang County, Henan Province), renamed from Beimeng in the 3rd year of his reign. This is why the Shang Dynasty is also called the Yin Dynasty. Since then, the capital of Shang Dynasty was settled and never moved again. |