A Legendary Beauty of Daji
Meixi speeded the downfall of the Xia Dynasty. The Shang or Yin Dynasty which succeeded the Xia was also destroyed by a legendary femme fatale, Daji (d. 1122BC). Daji was the daughter of the King of Su. When King Zhou of Yin ( 1154-1122 BC) carried out a punitive expedition on the state of Su, he received Daji as a tribute from her father. A bewitching beauty and a shrewd woman, Daji soon became King Zhou's favourite. According to the Biographies of Eminent Women, King Zhou indulged in merry-making and after Daji's arrival at the court, he seldom let her stray from his side. Her influence became paramount were she to praise a courtier, he would undoubtedly experience a meteoric rise in status and more likely than not, end up being a member of the nobility. On the other hand, those unfortunate enough to receive a word of criticism would be executed on King Zhou's orders. These indiscriminate promotions and executions would be carried out on the spot.

The decadence of the Yin court far exceeded that of the Xia Dynasty under King Jie and Meixi. The palace would resound with music as Daji dazzled the king with dances of erotic abandon. She ordered that a "lake of wine" and a "forest of meat" be built in which men and women were commanded to wander about naked and indulge in amorous pleasures.

As the shameless excesses of the court increase the lives of the common people were plunged further into misery and suffering. The population seethed with discontentment. King Zhou, aware of his subjects dissatisfaction, invented a "roasting torture" in the hope that this would silence dissent. A large copper pole, liberally smeared with grease, was erected in the market place. A fire would be lit at the base of the pole. The unfortunate offender would then have to hung at the top of the pole with all his might to prevent himself from falling into the fire. The criminal's hands, feet and belly would begin to burn and scorch. Finally, drained of strength and unable to endure the pain any longer, the victim would inevitably release his hold and be engulfed by the fire raging below. Daji delighted in the "roasting torture" and would always be present to enjoy the spectacle. When each victim finally gave up and was consumed by the flames, Daji would explode with raucous laughter.

On one occasion, an uncle of the king, named Bigan, reprimanded his nephew, saying:
      "You heed only the words of that woman and you do nothing,
      but damage your reputation as a king.
      Take my words - disaster is bound to strike!"

Daji learned of his complaint and with a smile on her lips, told him:
      "I have heard that the hearts of great sages are remarkable in that they have seven apertures.
      Today I have a mind to find out if that is true!"

Bigan's chest was ripped open there and then. When King Wu of Zhou led his army against Yin, King Zhou's forces refused to fight in his defense. Realizing that the situation was beyond hope, King Zhou threw himself into a fire and burned to death. King Wu captured Daji and decapitated her. Displaying her severed head for all to see, he stuck a white flag in it - which read:
      "The woman who killed King Zhou!".

The dynastic title of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 BC) was changed to Yin around 1400 BC and so it is also known as the Yin Dynasty, King Zhou was the last emperor of Yin.