Millennium Learning Case: A Record of the Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project

Author: Yue Nan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-08-01
Features: Chinese history is the glorious part of the entire history. Only by placing it in the context of all humanity can its brilliance become even more vivid. The days when it was confined to an old room for self-admiration are gone. — Li Ji
Among the four ancient civilizations with independent origins, only the Chinese civilization has endured thousands of years of vicissitudes without interruption. However, in traditional historical records, the earliest definite dating of China can only be traced back to 841 BC. Since Sima Qian, countless scholars have attempted to clarify the exact chronology of the ancient Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, but they have never succeeded, leaving it as a timeless academic puzzle. In 1996, the "Project for the Chronology of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties," hailed as one of the greatest academic events of the 20th century in China and a globally anticipated initiative, was launched. Over 200 experts from fields such as history, archaeology, astronomy, and radiocarbon dating worked together for five years to dispel the fog of history and resolve the age-old academic puzzle.
The author of this book followed and interviewed the project for over four years, using a vivid and documentary-style writing to brilliantly describe the multi-disciplinary cross-study process and the spirit of exploration of the scientists. It provides readers with a brand-new multi-angle perspective for understanding the ancient Chinese civilization, making it a rare and outstanding work.