Xi Zhong (Chinese: 奚仲) was a legendary Xia dynasty minister claimed to have served Yu the Great[1] credited in traditional Chinese sources with the invention of the chariot during the 2nd millennium BC.[2][3][4] Modern archaeological evidence has not found support for that, however, and suggests instead a date closer to 1200 BC for the introduction of small-scale use of chariots.[5]
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edit- ^ 《滕县志·古迹》:“薛城,在薛河北,县南四十里,周二十八里,古奚仲所封国。”
- ^ Xu Shen, Shuowen Jiezi "Radical 車". quote: "車:輿輪之緫名。夏后時奚仲所造。"
- ^ Shiben· "Chapter on Inventions (作篇) - Xia (夏)". quote: "奚仲作車。"
- ^ Guyi congshu 11, Yupian, vol. 1, Chariot Section (車部). quote: "世本奚仲作車宋忠曰夏禹時人也". p. 132 of 157 scanned and transcribed by Chinese Text Project
- ^ Ebrey, Patricia. East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History, p. 14. Houghton Mifflin Co (Boston), 2006. ISBN 978-0-618-13384-0.