History of Xia and Shang Social Life (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Song Zhenhao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-10-01
Features: The History of Social Life in Ancient China is a national social science fund project supported by the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, for the year 1987. The entire series consists of ten volumes covering the Xia, Shang, Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn Period, Warring States Period, Qin and Han, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui and Tang, Song, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The Social Life of the Xia and Shang Dynasties is the volume. This book is part of the Series on the History of Social Life in Ancient China and is one of the key research projects on the history of social life in ancient China by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Grounded in new developments in literature, ancient script research, and archaeological discoveries, it provides an in-depth and systematic examination of all aspects of social life during the Xia and Shang periods. The content is detailed, covering the environment, housing, settlements, population, marriage, transportation, diet, clothing, healthcare, religious beliefs, and more. The historical materials are rich, the perspective is broad, the themes are diverse, the methods are cautious, and the insights are novel, making it a scholarly work of high academic value. This book is the opening volume of the Series on the History of Social Life in Ancient China. Except for a few documents, the author primarily utilizes field archaeological "new materials" and interpretations of oracle bone script, while also tracing prehistoric society, aiming to perceive and capture the operational system of social life during the historical process of the Xia and Shang dynasties. It provides a comprehensive, systematic, and in-depth revelation of aspects such as housing, population, marriage, transportation, diet, clothing, agricultural rituals, life customs, medical treatment of illnesses, religious beliefs, and writing and styles. The goal is to restore the true appearance of prehistoric and the "Three Dynasties" in terms of depth, breadth, volume, level, artistic conception, and perspective. The book is richly illustrated.