Oxford Handbook of Early China

A chronological and interdisciplinary study of early China from the Neolithic through Warring States periods (ca 5000-500BCE).

List of contents

• List of Contributors


• SECTION I INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND


• Introduction and Background to The Oxford Handbook on Early China


• Elizabeth Childs-Johnson, Old Dominion University


• SECTION II NEOLITHIC FARMERS, CERAMICS, AND JADE


• 1. The Neolithic Revolution in the North ca. 7/6000-2000 bce: Xinglongwa, Xinlei, Yangshao, Hongshan, and Related Cultures (Inequality/Social Complexity) in Neolithic Northern China


• Andrew Womack, Yale University


• 2. The Neolithic Revolution in the South, ca. 7/6000-2000 bce, Majiabang, Hemudu, Daxi, and Songze Cultures


• Xiangming Fang, Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology


• 3. The Neolithic Jade Revolution in Northeast China


• Chung Tang, Shandong University, Mana Hayashi Tang, Washington University in St. Louis, Guoxiang Liu, Institute of Archaeology, CASS and Yadi Wen, Southern University of Science and Technology


• 4. The Jade Age Revisited, ca. 3500-2000 bce


• Elizabeth Childs-Johnson, Old Dominion University


• 5. Liangzhu Culture and the Ancient City of Liangzhu


• Bin Liu, Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology


• 6. Longshan Culture Issues: Taosi and Cosmology


• Nu He, Institute of Archaeology, CASS


• SECTION III FIRST DYNASTY OF THE BRONZE AGE: XIA PERIOD


• 7. Introduction to the Xia Period: Definitions, Themes, and Debate


• Hong Xu, Institute of Archaeology, CASS


• 8. Settlements, Buildings, and Society of the Erlitou Culture


• Hong Xu, Institute of Archaeology, CASS, and Xiang Li, University of Pittsburgh


• 9. The Bronze-Casting Revolution and the Ritual Vessel Set


• Hong Xu, Institute of Archaeology, CASS, and Xiang Li, University of Pittsburgh


• 10. The Spread of Erlitou yazhang to South China and the Origin and Dispersal of Early Political States


• Chung Tang, Shandong University and Fang Wang, Jinsha Site Museum


• SECTION IV THE FIRST HEIGHT OF THE BRONZE AGE: THE SHANG PERIOD


• 11. The Cultural and Historical Setting of the Shang


• Jonathan Smith, Christopher Newport University, with Yuzhou Fan, Nanjing University


• 12. Early and Middle Shang Periods


• Guoding Song, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences


• 13. Shang Belief and Art


• Elizabeth Childs-Johnson, Old Dominion University


• 14. Shang Bronze-Casting Technology and Metallurgy Issues


• Changping Zhang, Wuhan University


• 15. Late Shang Ritual and Residential Architecture at Great City Shang, Yinxu in Anyang, Henan


• Elizabeth Childs-Johnson, Old Dominion University


• 16. Late Shang: Fu Zi [Fu Hao] and M5 at Xiaotun


• Dingyun Cao, Institute of Archaeology, CASS


• SECTION V THE SECOND HEIGHT OF THE BRONZE AGE: THE WESTERN ZHOU PERIOD


• 17. Western Zhou Cultural and Historic Setting


• Maria Khayutina, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich


• 18. Western Zhou Government and Society


• Paul Nicholas Vogt, Indiana University


• 19. Western Zhou Rites and Mortuary Practice (Inscriptions and Texts)


• Constance A. Cook, Lehigh University


• 20. Bronze Vessels: Style, Assemblages, and Innovations of the Western Zhou Period


• Yan Sun, Gettysburg College


• 21. Bells and Music in the Zhou


• Scott Cook, Yale-NUS College


• SECTION VI THE THIRD HEIGHT OF THE BRONZE AGE: SPRINGS AND AUTUMNS PERIOD


• 22. Historical Background during the Springs and Autumns Period


• Yuri Pines, Hebrew University of Jerusalem


• 23. Historiography, Thought, and Intellectual Development during the Springs and Autumns Period


• Yuri Pines, Hebrew University of Jerusalem


• 24. Cultures and Styles of Art during the Springs and Autumns Period


• Xiaolong Wu, Hanover College


• SECTION VII THE IRON AGE-WARRING STATES PERIOD


• 25. The Warring States Period: Historical Background


• Yuri Pines, Hebrew University of Jerusalem


• 26. Iron Technology and Its Regional Development during the Eastern Zhou Period


• Wengcheong Lam, Chinese University of Hong Kong


• 27. Institutional Reforms and Reformers during the Warring States Period


• Yuri Pines, Hebrew University of Jerusalem


• 28. Change and Continuity at the Intersection of Received History and the Material Record during the Warring States Period


• Charles Sanft, University of Tennessee


• 29. The Army, Wars, and Military Arts during the Warring States Period


• Albert Galvany, The University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU


• 30. The Shi, Diplomats, and Urban Expansion during the Warring States Period


• Andrew Meyer, Brooklyn College


• 31. Confucius, Mencius, and Their Daoist-Legalist Critics


• Moss Roberts, New York University


• 32. Mozi


• Vincent S. Leung, Lingnan University


• 33. Mohism and the Evolving Notion of Jian Ai


• Carine Defoort, University of Leuven


• 34. Chu Religion and Art


• John S. Major, Independent Scholar, and Elizabeth Childs-Johnson, Old Dominion University


• 35. The Artistic Revolution in the Warring States Period


• Jie Shi, Bryn Mawr College


• Index

About the author

Elizabeth Childs-Johnson works on early Chinese art, archaeology, and paleography. Her major research interests include mapping a Jade Age and Shang Bronze Age in early China.

Summary

A chronological and interdisciplinary study of early China from the Neolithic through Warring States periods (ca 5000-500BCE).

Additional text

Authoritative and multidisciplinary in scope, this landmark volume offers a comprehensive overview of the latest research trends, paradigms, and approaches in the study of early China, from the Neolithic era to the Warring States period.

Product details

• Authors: Elizabeth (Former Research Associa Childs-Johnson
• Assisted by: Elizabeth Childs-Johnson (Editor), Childs-Johnson Elizabeth (Editor)
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 18.01.2025
• EAN: 9780197805534
• ISBN: 978-0-19-780553-4
• No. of pages: 828
• Series: Oxford Handbooks
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; China, HISTORY / Ancient / General, HISTORY / Asia / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Archaeology, Ancient History, Asian History, Archaeology by period / region, Ancient history: to c 500 CE