Abstract
The amicable relationship comparably maintained between Shang and Dongyi in peace changed gradually into conflict and struggle relationship from the conquest of Nanyi(藍夷). The period of the coexistence and symbiosis in the amicable relationship includes the Pre-Shang(先商) culture Era and the Early Shang Era. The long exchange between Shang and Dongyi culturally formed the bilaterally influencing relationship, and politically established the Yi-Shang(夷商) alliance. The conflict and struggle started from the Meddle Shang Era. It can be considered that the cause of the conflict and struggle was due to the results of the East Conquest to occupy the resources in the East. The change of the relationship between Shang and Dongyi was due to the political growth of Shang as a leading nation of the Center Field(中原). In general, the growth as the leading nation is accompanied by plundering of the resource in the neighboring nations or countries. The status of Shang as the leading nation may have played an important role for domination and distribution of the Ritual Bronzes. In addition, domination of salt, which is one of the essentials, may have been one of the main objectives for the status. With respect to the change of the relationship, this paper assumed that the decline of both the Yuanqu-Shangcheng(垣曲商城), supervising copper ore and manufacturing bronze wares, and the Dongxiaping(東下憑) Site, relating with the salt, from the Erligang(二里崗) Upper Period, may not be unrelated with the Shang’s Conquest of the East. There existed the conflict relationship with the East since the Middle Shang Era, however, it is essential to understand that the Shang’s amicable relationship with a number of the East nations or countries was continuously maintained, too.
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