The Inscribed Bronzes from Yangjiacun: New Evidence on Social Structure and Historical Consciousness in Late Western Zhou China (c.800 bc)

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
LOTHAR VON FALKENHAUSEN
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Historical Consciousness ◽  
Shared Identity ◽  
Bronze Vessels ◽  
Imperial China ◽  
Western Zhou ◽  
New Evidence

This chapter discusses the twenty-seven inscribed ritual bronze vessels, which were uncovered in Yangjiacun, Mei Xian. The place where these vessels were discovered may have been near the seat of the powerful Shan lineage — several names of Shan family members are inscribed on the vessels. The chapter reveals that the inscriptions on the bronze vessels provide new insights into the structure and internal organisation of lineages in the Late Western Zhou-period China. These inscriptions also convey a feeling of shared identity among the members of the Shan lineage, particularly the male members. It is also shown that they illuminate the contexts in which a sense of history was beginning to form during the final half-millennium of pre-Imperial China.

Scribes, Cooks, and Artisans: Breaking Zhou Tradition

Early China ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 241-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance A. Cook
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
The Other ◽  
Political Control ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Bronze Vessels ◽  
Western Zhou ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Bronze Inscriptions ◽  
Eastern Zhou

Bronze Inscriptions of the Western Zhou period show how ritualists were once dedicated to maintaining the ritual apparatus supporting the divine authority of the royal Zhou lineage. Bronze and bamboo texts of the Eastern Zhou period reveal, on the other hand, that ritualists able to manipulate local rulers reliant on their knowledge subsequently subverted power into their own hands. Ritualists such as scribes, cooks, and artisans were involved in the transmission of Zhou “power” through the creation and use of inscribed bronze vessels during feasts. The expansion and bureaucratization of their roles in the Chu state provided economic and ultimately political control of the state. This was particularly the case as the Chu, like the Zhou before them, fled east to escape western invaders.

scholarly journals Symbolism of decorative design of ancient Chinese bronzes

2021 ◽  
pp. 215-223
Author(s):  
Светлана Николаевна Шаповалова
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Art ◽  
Semiotic Analysis ◽  
Religious Worldview ◽  
Art Objects ◽  
Bronze Vessels ◽  
Western Zhou ◽  
Decorative Design

Статья является продолжением семиотического анализа декоративно - орнаментальных элементов, украшающих древнекитайские предметы искусства. Личина Тао-те (Tao-tie (饕餮) и входящие в ее состав фигуры дракона Куй до сих пор не имеет научного определения, так как ни в одном письменном источнике нет упоминания об изображенном иконостилистическом персонаже. Исследование опирается на анализ пиктографических изображений (иероглифических надписей) на бронзовых сосудах эпохи Шан, раскрывающих семантику некоторых специально подчеркнутых деталей узора. В результате исследования объясняется значение изображенных элементов: символа гуй (возвращение) и знака «уха» (эр) , подтверждающих принадлежность образа Тао-те к описанию божественного первопредка и способствующих в осмыслении религиозного мировоззрения государств Ся (2017 -1765 г. до н.э.), Шан-Инь (1554 - 1046 г. до н.э.) и Западное Чжоу (1045 - 770 г. до н.э.). The paper is a continuation of the semiotic analysis of ornamental elements decorating ancient Chinese art objects. The mask of Tao-tie (饕餮), including the figures of the dragon Kui making it up, still has no scientific definition, since there is no mention of the depicted, iconostylistic character in any written source. The study is based on the analysis of pictographic images (hieroglyphic inscriptions) on bronze vessels of the Shang Era, revealing the semantics of some specially emphasized details of the pattern. As a result of the study, the significance of the depicted elements is explained: the hui symbol (return) and the "ear" sign (er), confirming the belonging of the image of Tao-tie to the description of the divine primacy and contributing to the understanding of the religious worldview of the dynasties of Xia (2017 -1765 BC), Shang-Yin (1554 - 1046 BC) and Western Zhou (1045 - 770 BC).

THEORY FROM CHAOS

Episteme ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Dickson
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Scientific Theory ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
The Face ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Range Of Values

AbstractI explore an agent-based model of the development and dissemination of scientific theory that makes very little use of any pre-defined “social structure” (such as partnerships or collaborations). In these models, under a broad range of values of the parameters, widespread (but not universal) “agreement” about scientific theory emerges. Moreover, the residual disagreement turns out to be important to developing new theories in the face of new evidence.

Bronzes, mortuary practice and political strategies of the Yan during the early Western Zhou period

Antiquity ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (298) ◽  
pp. 761-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Sun
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Political Strategies ◽  
Mortuary Practice ◽  
Bronze Vessels ◽  
Western Zhou

The relations between the emergent Yan state, local groups and the power blocks of the Shang and Zhou are vividly chronicled by bronze vessels, weapons and burials rites in Bronze Age northern China.

Bronze Vessels: Style, Assemblages, and Innovations of the Western Zhou Period

2020 ◽  
pp. 450-470
Author(s):  
Yan Sun
Keyword(s):  
Local Communities ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Bronze Vessel ◽  
Bronze Vessels ◽  
Western Zhou ◽  
Military Posts ◽  
Wei River ◽  
Ritual Practices ◽  
Three Phases

This chapter, by employing securely dated vessels, discusses stylistic characteristics of three phases of Western Zhou bronzes in the Zhou metropolitan centers in the Wei River Valley in Central Shaanxi and Luoyang area in Henan. The assemblage of bronze vessels in tombs and caches is also discussed in order to understand Zhou ancestral sacrifices and ritual practices and their changes from the Early to Middle and Late Western Zhou periods. The Zhou interaction with local communities through regional states and military posts beyond the center also stimulated the rise of exotic bronze vessel types inspired by local ceramic traditions.

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