Jie of Xia

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King Jie (Chinese: 桀; pinyin: Jié; Wade-Giles: Chieh) was the last ruler of the Xia dynasty of China, and is blamed for its fall. He reputedly mistreated his people and became a tyrant. Records from the later Qin dynasty say that during the last year of Jie's reign, ice formed during the summer mornings and frosts occurred through July. Heavy rainfall toppled buildings, hot and cold weather arrived in disorder, and crops failed. Some scientists correlate this event with a volcanic winter, possibly due to the eruption of Thera c. 1628 BC.

Around 1600 BC, King Tang of Shang succeeded in defeating Jie, bringing an end to the Xia dynasty and founding the Shang dynasty.

The historian Sima Qian traces the origin of the Xiongnu people to Chun Wei (淳維; Ch'un Wei), who was possibly a son of Jie. This theory has never been proven or disproven.

The Lienü zhuan biography of Mo Xi (末喜; Mo Hsi), a concubine of King Jie, claims she corrupted the king with her sexual prowess. Mo Xi was beautiful, but completely lacking in virtue. Among other things, she liked to drink, enjoyed music, and also had a penchant for jugglers and sing-song girls. Apparently, she had King Jie order a lake of wine made. Once it was finished, she commanded 3000 men to drink the lake dry, only to laugh when they all drowned.