Research on the Family Structure of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties ((Second Edition, Revised and Expanded Edition))

Author: Zhu Fenghan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The book Studies on the Family Forms of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, both in content and language, is quite profound and difficult for the average reader to understand. However, since its first publication, it has been widely reviewed and cited by both experts and laypeople. In today's increasingly specialized academic fields, this is a relatively rare phenomenon. Nevertheless, it also reveals the academic influence of the book. Recently, Tianjin Ancient Books Publishing House reprinted the book in an enlarged and revised edition, a truly beneficial act for scholars and highly commendable. Compared to the first edition, the enlarged and revised edition has made significant improvements in both content and layout, giving it a fresh and revitalized appearance. First, it adds a section on "Zhou Dynasty Family Forms," making the structure more complete and ensuring that the name matches the reality, filling the gaps left by the first edition. Second, it includes newly written texts by the author based on newly discovered materials, making some of the specific arguments and points in the first edition more solid and credible. Third, it accompanies over a hundred illustrations, which not only saves readers the trouble of checking original materials but also enhances the aesthetic appeal of the book's design. Of course, many errors in the first edition, both in terms of language and other aspects, have been corrected, and the format has also undergone significant changes. It is believed that the book will likely be reprinted again in the future.
The book Studies on the Family Forms of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties has been in print for fifteen years since its first edition. The content described in the book is now very familiar to academia, and the pros and cons of its viewpoints have long been debated. Further criticism may seem unnecessary. However, the book's significance in academic history and the specific research methods employed by the author are worth discussing. Before the 1970s, the study of pre-Qin ancient history was relatively narrow, primarily focusing on traditional political institutions and political thought. While some scholars conducted research on social forms, their attention was mostly on the social nature of the pre-Qin period, the division between slave and feudal societies, and issues of productivity and production methods. In short, it was dominated by political and economic history, often stages of using arguments to replace history or annotating classic works, with a rigid and dogmatic understanding of historical materialism that failed to approach historical materials objectively and thoroughly explore the unique development patterns of ancient Chinese society.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the liberation of thought and the strong advocacy of seeking truth from facts, the research trends in Chinese ancient history began to shift. Many new-generation scholars at the time worked to open up new research fields, and Zhu Fenghan, the author of this book, was one of the key representatives. Since the late 1970s, Professor Zhu has focused his academic efforts on the study of pre-Qin social history, with family forms becoming the breakthrough point for his research. This undoubtedly grasped the essential characteristics of ancient Chinese society and civilization. Over the following two decades, the author's research and exploration in history largely revolved around pre-Qin family issues. Professor Zhu's choice at the time had a positive impact on expanding the new landscape of Chinese ancient history research and establishing a new academic style of seeking truth from facts and conducting in-depth, solid research.
The second distinctive feature of the book Studies on the Family Forms of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties lies in its research methods for pre-Qin history. As is well known, pre-Qin ancient history is notoriously difficult to study. The reasons are twofold: first, the relative scarcity of literature, and second, the diverse research methods required. In reality, these are two aspects of the same problem. Due to the scarcity of materials, researchers must rely not only on traditional historical sources but also on new materials such as archaeological remains, requiring them to possess solid foundational knowledge in multiple fields, such as archaeology, paleography, objectology, and historical literature. Of course, they must also have theoretical training in cultural anthropology, ethnology, sociology, and even natural sciences, and must be able to integrate and apply this knowledge comprehensively—what is known as the "threefold evidence method," "multiple evidence method," or "interdisciplinary research method."
Regarding the methodology of pre-Qin history research, Professor Wang Guowei explicitly proposed as early as 1925 that paper materials should be corroborated with underground materials, which is now widely known as the "double evidence method." This historical research method had a profound impact on Chinese academia. However, long-term social turmoil led to a disconnect between new-generation scholars and this method, with few able to practice it freely in the specific study of pre-Qin history. As a result, there was a disconnect between theoretical methods and practical application. However, the book Studies on the Family Forms of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties differs significantly from many contemporary works in its research methods, employing a more comprehensive and flexible interdisciplinary approach that integrates ancient literature, paleography, archaeology, and ethnology. As a result, the arguments presented are well-founded and logically coherent, filling many gaps in previous research, particularly in the late Shang and Western Zhou periods. Moreover, the author's advocacy of this "interdisciplinary research method" has greatly influenced young pre-Qin historians today. The new generation of scholars no longer debates whether disciplines should be combined but focuses on how to find points of intersection and how to integrate them better. This progress in awareness is perhaps one of the most important academic impacts reflected in the book.
Regarding academic style, it is also worth mentioning. As is well known, every scholar's academic life is limited. The author of the book Studies on the Family Forms of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties devoted over two decades of effort to the study of pre-Qin family forms. Such a scholarly approach may be incomprehensible to many so-called scholars today. Whether it is right or wrong, future generations will judge, and there is no need for me to add my own comments. In his postscript to the first edition, Professor Zhu once mentioned his intention to write a companion book, Studies on the Pre-Qin Family System, to accompany Studies on the Family Forms of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. Fifteen years have passed, and we have indeed seen the author publish many related monographs, but we still hope for a full-length work, which we believe will be outstanding.
Studies on the Family Forms of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties is the first comprehensive and in-depth monograph in the field of history that systematically studies the family forms of the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The family organizations of the Shang and Zhou periods, as the main actors in social life, played a crucial role. The political, economic, and military systems of the state could all be traced back to their origins and backgrounds in the form and institutions of family organizations. A comprehensive and detailed study of the Shang and Zhou family system not only helps understand the reasons and patterns of social transformation during these periods but also clarifies the historical origins of Chinese family society.
The book defines "family forms" as the internal kinship organization and residential patterns within the family, the hierarchical structure of family members, the political and economic forms within the family, and the social activities and functions of the family. The book is divided into three stages: the late Shang, the Western Zhou, and the Spring and Autumn periods, conducting period-by-period studies of these family forms based on class and stratification, and exploring in-depth the evolutionary patterns and trends of family forms. On this basis, the book further discusses the influence of Shang and Zhou family forms on social structures, state systems, and political systems, explaining the internal role of changes in family forms in the development and transformation of these aspects.
In terms of research methods, the book adopts an interdisciplinary approach. In addition to conducting detailed textual research on pre-Qin literature, it fully utilizes paleographic materials such as oracle bone inscriptions, bronze inscriptions, and Houma alliance texts, and extensively employs field archaeological excavation data in the Shang and Western Zhou sections. In classifying and analyzing the internal kinship organization and kinship relationships within the family, it pays attention to drawing on the research achievements and methods of modern anthropology.
Professor Zhang Zhengrang praised the book, stating, "By drawing on the achievements of anthropology, ethnology, and related disciplines, the book has rigorous theory and insightful conclusions, with abundant use of materials. Due to its strong foundation in ancient literature, reading and using it is not a challenge. The author's expertise in paleography is evident in the skillful use of contemporary textual records such as oracle bone inscriptions, bronze inscriptions, and Houma alliance texts, yielding numerous original findings. Additionally, the book uses a considerable amount of archaeological excavation data to explain lineage issues, which also benefits the archaeological community. The writing is rigorous, and the academic style is upright—these are all commendable aspects. The issues discussed in this book have rarely been studied in depth and systematically by previous scholars, and the author's insights surpass those of his predecessors in many aspects. Of course, this does not mean all conclusions are definitive, but it lays a solid foundation for future discussions."
Professor Li Xueqin, in his written evaluation, noted that the book is "the first comprehensive monograph on the family forms of the Shang and Zhou period." The family played a very important role in the social and historical development of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, so studying family forms can be seen as grasping a key issue in understanding Shang and Zhou society. The book's contribution is significant. Under the guidance of correct theory, the author widely adopts modern anthropological and archaeological methods to comprehensively analyze materials, presenting many new insights that previous scholars had not discovered. Each part of the book can stand alone as a high-level academic paper. In recent years, the study of ancient social history in China has become increasingly in-depth, and Professor Zhu Fenghan's book represents a new trend in this field, truly a rich and solid work."
Professor Song Zhenhao, in his book review New Explorations in Ancient Chinese Family (published in Social Sciences in China in January 1992), provided a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the book.
The book Studies on the Family Forms of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties won the First Prize of the Second National Excellent Ancient Books Award in September 1992 and the Second Prize of the Tianjin Philosophy and Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award in October 1993.