Archaeological culture, document texts, and the construction of early Wu Yue history
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Lianggao Xu
Abstract
The current study first systematically traces the archaeological cultures of southeast China (the Wu Yue region) during the Western Zhou, from the perspective of material culture remains, sources, regional variants, and social conditions revealed from the archaeological evidence. It then analyzes the plurality of interpretations of bronze inscriptions and the nature of documentary records concerning the emergence of the Wu and Yue states and their early history. The author points out that a regional archaeological culture with unique characteristics, showing great cultural affinity with the Wu Yue culture during the late Eastern Zhou period (771–475 BCE) had existed in southeast China during Western Zhou (1045–771 BCE). However, the emergence of Wu and Yue states and their early history recorded in historical texts have not been confirmed by any archaeological discoveries in the form of material cultures, bronze inscriptions, or documentary texts. Assertions of direct connections between related archaeological cultures and early Wu and Yue states lack persuasiveness. Considering this, the author proposes new insights into the textuality of documentary records, the relation between archaeology and historical texts, as well as the essence of historiography.
Postscript
The original paper 考古学文化、文献文本与吴越早期历史的构建was published in Kaogu 考古 (Archaeology) 2020.9:81–92 with one illustration and 72 notes. The abbreviated English version, translated by Xiaojia Tang 唐小佳, has removed the notes and added further readings.
Further Readings
Wang, Mingke 王明珂. 2006. Huaxia bianyuan—Lishi jiyi yu zuqun rentong 华夏边缘——历史记忆与族群认同 (The margin of central China: historical memory and ethnic identity). Beijing: Shehui kexue wenxian chubanshe.Search in Google Scholar
Xu, Lianggao 徐良高. 2019. 文化理论视野下的考古学文化及其阐释 (Archaeological culture and explanation in the perspective of cultural theory). Nanfang wenwu 南方文物 (Southern cultural relics) 2:1–12; 3:1–16.10.36012/lcs.v2i1.1452Search in Google Scholar
Zhang, Min 张敏. 2018. Wu Yue wenhua bijiao yanjiu 吴越文化比较研究 (A comparative study of Wu Yue cultures). Nanjing: Nanjing chubanshe.Search in Google Scholar
© 2022 Walter De Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- New archaeological discoveries
- The Excavation of a Neolithic site at Jingtoushan in Yuyao, Zhejiang
- The Neolithic Shuanghuaishu site in Gongyi, Henan
- The Shang dynasty remains at the Guoyuanzui site in Lutai Mountain, Huangpi District, Wuhan
- The Western Zhou Yaoheyuan site in Pengyang County, Ningxia
- Tang remains from the Keyak Khduk Beacon site in Yuli County, Xinjiang
- The excavation of the 2018 Xuewei tomb No. 1 in Reshui cemetery, Dulan County, Qinghai
- Reports
- The 2016–2017 excavation of the bronze foundry zone at the Guanzhuang site, Xingyang, Henan
- The excavation of tomb M12 at Hujiacaochang cemetery in Jingzhou, Hubei
- The excavation of Liao dynasty tomb of Han Derang in Beizhen, Liaoning
- Research
- Research on prehistoric 凸-shaped house remains on the Loess Plateau
- The rise and fall of the Liangzhu society in the perspective of subsistence economy
- Boot-shaped antler artifacts and prehistoric leather production
- Archaeological culture, document texts, and the construction of early Wu Yue history
- Portable lodge from the fifth century BCE: a study of the tent of the Marquis Yi of Zeng
- Additional niches and architecture added in the Tang dynasty to the Vairocana niche in the Fengxian Temple at Longmen
- Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of human and animal skeletal remains unearthed at Zengpiyan and Dayan sites in Guilin
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- New archaeological discoveries
- The Excavation of a Neolithic site at Jingtoushan in Yuyao, Zhejiang
- The Neolithic Shuanghuaishu site in Gongyi, Henan
- The Shang dynasty remains at the Guoyuanzui site in Lutai Mountain, Huangpi District, Wuhan
- The Western Zhou Yaoheyuan site in Pengyang County, Ningxia
- Tang remains from the Keyak Khduk Beacon site in Yuli County, Xinjiang
- The excavation of the 2018 Xuewei tomb No. 1 in Reshui cemetery, Dulan County, Qinghai
- Reports
- The 2016–2017 excavation of the bronze foundry zone at the Guanzhuang site, Xingyang, Henan
- The excavation of tomb M12 at Hujiacaochang cemetery in Jingzhou, Hubei
- The excavation of Liao dynasty tomb of Han Derang in Beizhen, Liaoning
- Research
- Research on prehistoric 凸-shaped house remains on the Loess Plateau
- The rise and fall of the Liangzhu society in the perspective of subsistence economy
- Boot-shaped antler artifacts and prehistoric leather production
- Archaeological culture, document texts, and the construction of early Wu Yue history
- Portable lodge from the fifth century BCE: a study of the tent of the Marquis Yi of Zeng
- Additional niches and architecture added in the Tang dynasty to the Vairocana niche in the Fengxian Temple at Longmen
- Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of human and animal skeletal remains unearthed at Zengpiyan and Dayan sites in Guilin
