Sources of Western Zhou History: Inscribed Bronze VesselsThe thousands of ritual bronze vessels discovered by China's archaeologists serve as the major documentary source for the Western Zhou dynasty (1045-771 B.C.). These vessels contain long inscriptions full of detail on subjects as diverse as the military history of the period, the bureaucratic structure of the royal court, and lawsuits among the gentry. Moreover, being cast in bronze, the inscriptions preserve exactly the contemporary script and language. Shaughnessy has written a meticulous and detailed work on the historiography and interpretation of these objects. By demonstrating how the inscriptions are read and interpreted, Shaughnessy makes accessible in English some of the most important evidence about life in ancient China. |
Contents
| 1 | |
CHAPTER 1 A BRIEF HISTORY OF BRONZE INSCRIPTION STUDIES | 5 |
CHAPTER 2 THE CASTING OF AN INSCRIBED BRONZE VESSEL WITH REMARKS ON THE QUESTION OF AUTHENTICITY | 35 |
CHAPTER 3 HOW TO READ A WESTERN ZHOU BRONZE INSCRIPTION | 63 |
CHAPTER 4 THE PERIODIZATION OF INSCRIBED WESTERN ZHOU BRONZE VESSELS | 106 |
CHAPTER 5 FURTHER HISTORIOGRAPHICAL QUESTIONS REGARDING INSCRIBED WESTERN ZHOU BRONZE VESSELS | 156 |
APPENDIX 1 Textual Notes to the Translation of the Inscription on the Shi Qiang Pan | 183 |
APPENDIX 2 The Ling Yi and the Question of the Kang Gong | 193 |
APPENDIX 3 The Absolute Chronology of the Western Zhou Dynasty | 217 |
Major Catalogs of Inscribed Western Zhou Bronze Vessels | 289 |
Works Cited | 293 |
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Other editions - View all
Sources of Western Zhou History: Inscribed Bronze Vessels Edward L. Shaughnessy No preview available - 1991 |
Common terms and phrases
ancestors appears archeological Bamboo Annals Barnard caldron campaign chapter Chen Mengjia China Chinese Bronzes Chou chronology Di Xin discussion Dong Duke of Zhou Eastern Edited evidence graph Guo Moruo historical inscribed bronze vessels interpretation Jing Jingbo Kaogu King Cheng King Gong King Kang King Li's King Mu King Wu King Xuan King Yih King Zhao late Western Zhou Li gui Ling yi mentioned month Nivison notation oracle-bone inscriptions period Qiang Qiu Wei ding Ran fangding record reference regnal calendar reign of King scholars Shaanxi Shang dynasty Shaughnessy Shi Chen ding Shi Hu Shi Qiang pan Shi Shi Shi Shi gui Shiji Shirakawa Shuo Sima studies suggest Tang Lan tion tongqi traditional Wang Wang Guowei Western Zhou bronze Xi-Zhou Xing yanjiu Zhang zhong Zhou bronze inscriptions Zhou conquest Zhushu jinian Zuo zhuan Zuoce