The Shang (ca. 1600–1046 BCE) is the earliest Chinese dynasty that can be documented with written and archaeological evidence. It was centered in the Yellow River valley, the cradle of Chinese civilization. The Shang kings moved their capital many times before finally settling near the modern city of Anyang, where they resided from ca. 1300 BCE until ca. 1050 BCE, when they were overthrown by the Zhou dynasty.

The Shang rulers made frequent sacrifices to ancestors to ensure their goodwill, so that they would continue to protect and bless the royal house and the people. This began the enduring tradition of ancestor worship in Chinese culture. Bronze vessels played an important role in these rituals; they were used to present offerings of wine and food to the ancestral spirits. Jade was also highly valued and was used to create ritual objects, ornaments and figurines. Jade-carving techniques advanced significantly during this period.

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