Haidai Culture and Qilu Civilization

Author: Gao Guangren/Shao Wangping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: This book combines archaeological findings with written historical records to elaborate on the basic historical facts of the cultural and historical development of the "Haidai Region" (marked by the seas [Yellow Sea, Bohai Sea], Mount Tai, and the Huai River [lower course]) in ten chapters: from the Stone Age to the Neolithic Age; passing through the Beixin Culture and Dawenkou Culture, reaching the peak of the barbaric era; entering the civilized era during the Longshan Culture phase of the Haidai region, where the first ancient states emerged; subsequently experiencing the Yueshi Culture phase of the Eastern Yi states during the Xia Dynasty; by the Shang Dynasty, influenced by the Shang Dynasty's conquests and rituals, the Haidai region saw a "flowering" distribution of the Yi and Shang ethnic groups, forming a dual-origin Shang Dynasty Eastern Earth State civilization and beginning the historical path of Yi-Xia integration; during the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Zhou Dynasty's civilizing policies accelerated the convergence and integration of the Yi and Xia civilizations in the Haidai region; in the Spring and Autumn Period, with the collapse of rituals and music, the State of Qi pioneered hegemony, and the states of Haidai also seized opportunities for development, forming a prosperous Qilu cultural circle; during the Warring States Period, the State of Qi made comprehensive preparations to unify the world; the establishment of the Qin Empire brought together all streams into the sea, and Haidai culture finally merged into the great flow of Qin and Han civilization. The author narrates the era-specific characteristics and changes in economy, society, cultural customs, and ideological consciousness in each historical stage; explores the driving forces behind the origin, formation, and early development of Haidai civilization, as well as the roles of monarchy, governance policies, and the intellectual class in the development of civilization. From this perspective, it illustrates the multi-origin, unified path of ancient Chinese civilization, its characteristics, and the historical laws of progress in the contradiction between civilization and barbarism.