[2][better source needed] According to legend,[3] as the last leader of the Predynastic Shang he overthrew Jie, the last king of the Xia dynasty.

According to legend, in one speech, Tang said that creating chaos was not something he wanted, but given the terror of Jie, he had to follow the Mandate of Heaven and use this opportunity to overthrow Xia.

The Shang forces under their general Wuzi pursued Jie to Cheng, captured him at Jiaomen, and deposed him, bringing the Xia dynasty to an end.

[5] Jie would eventually die of illness[4] and Tang succeeded him as paramount King, inaugurating the Shang dynasty.

Tang ordered golden coins to be made and distributed to poor families who had been forced to sell their children because of the drought.

According to the Bamboo Annals, in the 9th year of his reign, he moved the Nine Tripod Cauldrons, made by Yu the Great, to the Shang Palace.

[1] He is often drawn as being "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.