Collected Essays on the Western Zhou Civilization

Author: Zhu Liang, edited by Song Zhenhao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-02-01
Features: The Western Zhou Civilization Collection is a highly recommended book for readers interested in the history and culture of ancient China. In this book, numerous scholars and experts conduct in-depth studies on the significant historical period of the Western Zhou from the perspectives of history, archaeology, paleography, chronology, and other disciplines. They discuss a series of cutting-edge academic issues, providing readers with valuable insights and inspiration. The Eastern Zhou period marked the peak of ancient Chinese civilization, where traditional rites and music systems, as well as academic and cultural traditions, were firmly established. Thus, Confucius said: "How splendid and rich are the cultural traditions of Zhou! I follow the ways of Zhou." The height of ancient civilization emerged during the Eastern Zhou, the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, but everything about the Eastern Zhou can be traced back to the Western Zhou. Without understanding the Western Zhou, one's comprehension of the Eastern Zhou would inevitably remain superficial. Moreover, while the culture of the Eastern Zhou was indeed brilliant, its political landscape was a result of the decline and fragmentation of the Western Zhou. As a result, many wise men of the time dedicated themselves to restoring the Western Zhou order. To understand why the Eastern Zhou saw the collapse of rites and music, one must trace the origins back to the Western Zhou. As I often say, studying the ancient world is like observing space—the farther back one goes, the less information is available, and the more blurred the image becomes. Today, people's understanding of the ancient world comes through two main channels: written records and archaeological work. Generally, periods with abundant written records are considered historical periods, while those without are classified as prehistoric periods. Many are aware that some foreign scholars recently refer to the era between prehistoric and historical periods, where insufficient written records require extensive archaeological supplementation, as the "proto-history" period. Applying this concept to ancient China raises the question of when this proto-history period should begin and end. A simple approach would be to classify the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties all under this period. However, the Eastern Zhou has abundant written records, such as the Spring and Autumn Annals, which provide detailed accounts and include solar eclipse records that serve as reliable evidence—rare in foreign proto-history periods. The situation with the Western Zhou is different. Although there are texts such as the Book of Songs, Book of Documents, and Book of Changes, there are still gaps in historical records, making it appropriate to consider the Western Zhou as a developed stage of the proto-history period. Therefore, to explore the mysteries of ancient historical and cultural heritage, it is best to start with the Western Zhou. The Western Zhou connects with the Eastern Zhou, so researchers can begin with the materials from the Eastern Zhou, especially the Spring and Autumn period, and trace them back to the Western Zhou, thus avoiding the pitfalls of speculative conjecture. Take calendars as an example. The Book of Documents and bronze inscriptions preserve many Western Zhou calendar entries, covering issues such as lunar phases—specifically, terms like initial auspiciousness, after the new moon, after the full moon, and after the dark moon—which have long been contentious. However, terms like initial auspiciousness still appear in the Spring and Autumn period, suggesting that the calendars of both periods must share certain commonalities. By understanding the Spring and Autumn calendar, one can avoid significant misunderstandings about the Western Zhou, especially its late period. This method of tracing back can be further extended. After gaining a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural heritage of the Western Zhou and its archaeological and paleographic achievements, one establishes a reliable foundation for tracing back to the Shang Dynasty. Since the discovery and identification of oracle bone inscriptions in 1868, the study of the Shang Dynasty has attracted a wide circle of scholars, resulting in numerous scholarly works. Among these, the similarities and differences between Shang and Zhou cultures have long been a topic of academic interest. Regardless of one's perspective, to delve deeply into the historical and cultural heritage of the Shang Dynasty, research on the Western Zhou is indispensable. Particularly noteworthy is that recent studies across various fields suggest that the commonalities between Shang and Zhou cultures may outweigh their differences—meaning that continuity has been greater than change. If this view is correct, the study of the Western Zhou would provide even greater support for research on the Shang Dynasty. The importance of studying the historical and cultural heritage of the Western Zhou is evident throughout many articles in The Western Zhou Civilization Collection. Some essays provide comprehensive discussions on Western Zhou social systems or cultural development, while others focus on specific states, ethnic groups, or even specialized topics in history, archaeology, artifacts, and paleography. However, most place the broader context of ancient historical and cultural heritage in focus, extending from the Xia and Shang dynasties to the Eastern Zhou. The inclusion of several essays on the Shang Dynasty at the end of the collection is also understandable. Recently, research on the history and archaeology of the Western Zhou has made significant progress. The discovery of Western Zhou bronze artifacts in the Yangjia Village of Mei County, Shaanxi Province, earlier this year, confirmed the entire lineage of the Western Zhou dynasty through bronze inscriptions, reigniting greater interest in the Western Zhou. It is believed that the study of Western Zhou historical and cultural heritage will see even more notable advancements in the near future.