History of the Dian State

Author: Huang Yilu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The actual territory of the Dian Kingdom was centered around present-day Chenggong in Kunming, extending north to Dongchuan, west to Chuxiong, southwest to Yuanjiang, south to Mengzi, east covering the entire region of Qujing, and southeast to Qiubei County in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Before the unification of China by the Qin Dynasty, the Dian Kingdom experienced a relocation of its capital. Afterward, the political, economic, and cultural center of the Dian Kingdom was located in present-day Jinning. Bao Tingwang, a specialist in the history of the Baiyue ethnic group, professor at the Central University for Nationalities, and vice president, praised The History of the Dian Kingdom. Huang Yilu, as a "new generation scholar of Dian Kingdom studies, has emerged in researching the origins and developments of the Dian Kingdom. His work holds great significance for studying the political evolution, ethnic differentiation and integration, production development, social changes, and cultural transformations in Yunnan and even Southwest China." Archaeologist Li Kunsheng, a professor at Yunnan University, believes that Huang Yilu is one of the "outstanding scholars of the 21st century studying the Dian Kingdom." His book The History of the Dian Kingdom is well-supported by evidence, well-reasoned, and well-documented, presenting a unique perspective. This book, written by the Zhuang scholar Huang Yilu, integrates research findings from multiple disciplines such as language, ethnicity, history, culture, archaeology, astronomy, and comparative studies. It provides clear and insightful interpretations of long-standing mysteries, such as the era of King Zhuangju's rule in Dian, Zhuangju's ethnic affiliation, the meaning of "Mimo," the dominant ethnic group of the Baiyue in the Dian Kingdom, the number of generations of Dian kings, and the duration of the Dian Kingdom's existence. This book holds profound significance for pioneering and innovating in the study of Dian history. It is currently the first systematic academic monograph in China that discusses the formation, development, and decline of the ancient Dian Kingdom.