Editor's note: Almost every Chinese knows that a lengthy five thousand years of Chinese civilization, but in fact, we are only 4,000 years after the Shang civilization archaeological proof. If there are no archaeological remains found no when the world's literature, only recorded in later writings is the With a long history of how the origin of Chinese civilization? How it went through the course of development? To answer these questions, 2000, Origin of Chinese civilization project started.
present, the Origin project is about to start the third phase, after years of work in a large number of archaeological findings, based on China is a little bit first opened her mystery.
Speaker: Wang Wei
Speaker Biography: Director of the Institute of Archaeology, the National long. Commitment to the Chinese ancient civilization and the origin and formation process of environmental change and the evolution of human lifestyles and civilized relationship.
Origin: confirmation of civilization
Historical records in ancient China during the Yandi and Huangdi as the onset of Chinese history, the Xia Dynasty as China's first dynasty. Chinese civilization is considered to have five thousand years of history. However, the ancient literature of the Yellow Emperor, Emperor Yao, Shun and even the account of the period are areas of ancient history, recorded history of the Xia Dynasty is also extremely simple, based solely on the literature of these later records, it is difficult to study full time in history, but also can not determine the social form. The basis of modern Western archaeological point of view, if no archaeological remains found no when the world's literature, only recorded in later writings is the For this reason, many academic circles at home and abroad on whether China has five thousand years of civilization skeptical, some foreign scholars even doubt whether the Xia dynasty really existed. The face of these challenging, we are here for a long time before to remove a no compelling evidence to answer.
the 20th century, 20 years, Chinese archaeologists have emerged. After 80 years of exploration research, new archaeological materials on the history of the Western Zhou Dynasty before the summer and even had a profile of the record. Also, people recognized that, 20 years ago, Xia Nai raised to study the origin of civilization, and there have been researchers to explore the origin of Chinese civilization. However, to eliminate the existing community and academia that skepticism, the existing literature is difficult to achieve, must be the work of archaeologists, so that the latest archaeological research to speak out. Past 20 years, a large number of important archaeological discoveries in China for us sort out the early history of Chinese civilization traces the development history of Chinese civilization argument provides an important basis. However, to demonstrate the long history of Chinese civilization, must be fully and systematically answer the following questions: has a long history of Chinese civilization is how to begin? How it went through the course of development? Why go through such a course of development? The origin and development of Chinese civilization What are the characteristics? Why the formation of these features? To promote the origin of civilization and development and what? As the main material of Chinese civilization of science and technology content creation and the spirit of invention and cultural development of the specific situation? The relationship between the origin and development of Chinese civilization and a series of important issues so far the lack of a more comprehensive study of the system, further comparison did not reach the same understanding. As one of the world's four ancient civilizations, Chinese scholars, on the above fundamental problems of Chinese civilization to take a more systematic view not to say that this is a shameful thing. For this situation, completed in 2000,
Practice: The archaeological discovery and data
Here I would like to talk with some of the archaeological information on the origin of Chinese civilization.
prehistoric origins of agriculture in China: first look at the basis of the origin of Chinese civilization - the emergence and development of agriculture. Without the emergence of agriculture, there can be the origin of civilization, origin of agriculture is in the first foundation of civilization. According to the present archaeological discoveries in the land of China, the emergence of agriculture should be about 12,000 years ago, for example, in the south of Jiangxi, Hunan and other places have been found with about 1 million years the remains of cultivated rice; Fairy Cave County in Jiangxi years found the ruins of pottery dating back 10,000 years ago, and phytolith knife; Yu Chan Rock County, Hunan Road, the site and found pottery and rice particles. But at the time, the general characteristics of all living in the cave, so the small number of cultivated rice, it should be the stage of agricultural origin.
in international academic circles, there is a long debate, the Chinese or the problem of the origin of the world's rice. To the 70s of last century, a number of people engaged in agriculture that rice originated in India; there are some people that Yunnan is the origin of rice, because there are still a lot of Yunnan wild rice species. Two views of the same premise that should be cultivated rice originated in the origin of wild rice. People began to understand and use wild rice, wild rice was gradually developed by the management for the cultivation of rice, which should be very logical. However, we found in the archaeological age of Yunnan rice than late, probably dating back 4500 years ago, there was found no earlier. And we in the 70s of last century, in the Yangtze River, Zhejiang Yuyao Hemudu site about 7,000 years found in cultivated rice, nearly 20 years, also found in the Yangtze River region of 1 million years ago
of cultivated rice . Therefore, this raised a question to archaeological discoveries of view, about 1 million years ago, the Yangtze River has already begun the cultivation of rice, 8,500 years ago, after the north or to spread around. A growing number of scholars believe that the cultivation of rice in the Yangtze River is likely to be the first start, but does not rule out the possibility of upstream and downstream, as archaeological findings like this, so far found only on the basis to make inferences.
ancient Yangtze River region - Liangzhu cultural society changes: In Jiangsu, Zhejiang region, that is, the coastal areas of Lake Taihu, a large number of distribution sites and cemeteries Liangzhu culture, dating back 5200 years to 4200. Liangzhu culture period, the origin of civilization is a very important local time, the first is the development of agriculture here so far the earliest stone plow, farming technology and efficiency that has been greatly improved. Another is the stone sickle,mac brushes, which is related with the farming implements, can be seen at the lower reaches of the Yangtze River have left combination shovel and sickle. Liangzhu culture, handicraft production has also made significant progress, some pottery making very fine, some still characterize the surface patterns or symbols.
Liangzhu culture is also characterized by the emergence of the altar - plane for the square, surrounded by stone walls Lei Qi, often at the altar tombs have Liangzhu culture. These graves dug on the altar are mostly relatively large number of high-grade jade excavated the tomb, but also with a lot of sacrifice on the jade. We believe that the person buried in the altar before his death is probably the auspices of worship the priests, their status is relatively high, presided over worship here during his lifetime,mac makeup wholesale, after death they were buried one after another on the altar, as descendants of the object of worship. Found in the burial lot of jade, the most unique features is Jade, the outside is a square, which is a round hole. Another round of Bi is, some buried in a large tomb for more than 20 pieces of Bi. Cong, there are several jade jade is unique to the Yangtze River downstream of high-grade burial tomb, but also a manifestation of the identity of the tomb.
In recent years, the central area of Zhejiang Liangzhu Liangzhu Town, Yuhang area, found the area of 300 square meters of a giant city sites. Walls of the base of 40-60 meters in width. This marsh area built in the walls of the city was the base cushion layer of stones as a basis on which the wall built into the clay. Stones and clay are moving elsewhere over. Required for building this city in huge quantities, it is amazing. According to preliminary estimates, the deployment of 10,000 workers, needs 4 years to build. It is obvious that in the social pyramid with the top elite class in the mobilization, organization and management of a large, complex structure, clear differentiation of society.
of origin of Chinese civilization, I think it is important to the emergence and development of power. Found that they were equal, then there are some people how to master the power to master what power, or where this power come from? We feel that a religion - the worship of God,vibram 5 fingers, if a representative of the individual as a collective, can communicate with God, some of his will to the will of the gods can be released through the medium of the people around unconditionally obey. The second is the military the right to tribal leaders to fight with the outside must be unity, and have absolute command. The military command authority gradually increased, internal power has gradually implemented the rule. So, theocratic and military power is an important source of royal power.
explore Yao - Taosi sites found: According to ancient legends center Yao areas in the south of Shanxi Academy of Social Sciences Institute of Archaeology, in recent years, new found Xiangfen Taosi ruins dating back about 4300-4000 in a large city sites, including sites about the city in early 1000 meters, 580 meters wide, covering an area of 58 square meters. In the middle (about 4100 years ago, after), and built a 1,800 meters long, wide and 1,500 meters, an area of 280 square meters of a giant city sites. In the northeast of the city for a high-grade residential area, where found a scale of 1 million square meters of rammed earth construction of large base, so far unearthed the earliest of the ceramic building materials - tiles and exquisite carved plaster. The surface of the pottery in the ruins, Zhu also found the book Also unearthed the ruins of copper-e the bells ring and the copper container and bronze fragments, that had already mastered the smelting operation. Particularly interesting is that in the large tomb was found near a large semi-circular flat special sites. After 1 year of simulated observation that, from the center of the semicircle rammed earth walls by semicircular intended to stay out of the twenty gap looked east, at the vernal equinox, autumnal equinox, summer solstice, the winter solstice when the solar term farming season to the sun can be observed just children from sites east of the mountains rising cap. And astronomers discover that the remains were most likely identified with the spring equinox, autumnal equinox, solstices and other important solar terms astronomical observations related to the activities and worship at the place, which makes scholars feel,
Taosi than the size of the city was the capital of the late summer Erlitou small site of about 100 million square meters, but found all over the country early in the summer than on behalf of the city sites, will have great times and even several times a , quite a sense of disdain for warlords. Taosi the city was not only huge, but the city was functional area. High noble residential area and social isolation of the lower living area, and has appeared exclusively for the upper nobility controlled storage area and the burial and ritual area. Has emerged that the social stratification of the very serious, the city's ruling group has mastered the sacrifice of military command and the right to be above the top of the dominate society has a Task Force believes that, at the latest in the big city dating back 4,000 years ago, the construction and use of Taosi period, has entered the early stages of civilization.
the capital of the late summer - Henan Yanshi Erlitou site: Erlitou site is located east of Luoyang City, Henan Province. 1959 Summer Institute of Archaeology, Mr. Xu Xusheng the Market survey found. 70s of last century, found in digging at the site over the middle of the palace and II Palace One, and later discovered the bronze workshop sites, and some tombs. These findings indicate that the site is large, a very high. Because of its early years a little earlier than the Shang Dynasty, many scholars believe that it is most likely where the capital of Xia Dynasty. However, and the supreme end of the century, the layout of the site know very little about. In the 21st century, with the First found in several widths from 10 to 20 meters, crossing each other well shaped flat
appear before the road network. Later, found in the medial wall of the road, has found that some of the palaces are located in the Miyagi wall around the range, forming a side length of 300 meters, area of 10 square meters of Miyagi. Miyagi II located east of the south of the palace, found the construction time is slightly later than the fourth palaces II, although the time is not the same, but one after the two palaces is in the same direction, symmetrical. 1996 to 1998, I led Erlitou site located 6 km northeast of the Town of Yanshi excavation, we found that the early Shang Dynasty before, during and after the three palace buildings in a central axis, and the palaces are so many symmetrical pattern, that has been extended to the Palace of the Ming and Qing periods before and after a few courtyards that have the same axis,mac makeup, each palace palace within the symmetrical layout can be traced to the early Shang Dynasty. It now appears that in the late summer, the layout of this axis has emerged. But we are inside more than two centuries earlier Taosi sites do not see signs of this layout, so that the layout of the system concept of capital is likely to have in the Xia Dynasty period.
Another important finding is that the two roads around inside the palace area found on the track, which involves the origin of ancient Chinese car. At present, the first carriage is the ancient Yin Ruins in Anyang in Henan found in the late Shang Dynasty, which means that about 3,300 years ago, before that did not find the carriage, which raises the question, the coach is late Shang Dynasty origins, or outside influences? Who engage in the study of ancient animals found in China, the emergence of domestic horse is in the 3300 years, that the two are also in China. There is also a characteristic of our basic nature of China's coach with the West are similar to a class of carriage where the carriage of that area in the Caucasus there early, not later than 2000 BC. So, I have raised a point of view, the emergence of China is likely to be coach of the west by the Eurasian steppe over. S point of view from the side of the carriage, much earlier than we. In 1996, the Town of Yanshi also found this track, the distance between the two rounds of about 1 meter, but this is the summer generation, but this car is very different with the carriage, between two carriages as the Yin Ruins distance (gauge) is 2.4 meters, the only 1 meter, so in any case can not be the coach. However, the track's findings suggest that the history of China, at least use the car can be traced back to the Xia Dynasty, and we think there is the legendary
Conclusion: The continued development of civilization
important symbol of the origin of civilization - social division and differentiation: From now on view, dating back 8,000 years or so, social division and differentiation first emerged, to 6000 years, has been more evident. After dating back to 5,000 years ago, when reaching the first peak, like the kind of hundreds of pieces of funerary objects Liangzhu large tomb that was to polarize to a considerable height, so around 5000 years ago are likely to have occurred when The So, five years of civilization, in this sense is also possible, of course, with the Xia dynasty, dynasty civilization represented by the different stages, it is a early stage of civilization.
to the period of Xia Dynasty, from the layout plan of the palace, the production of bronze vessels, jade and ceremonial jade Ge Yu, Yu Zhang unearthed view, should have entered a new stage this stage with the 5000 to 4000 years of civilization should be qualitatively different.
civilization should not only include national or social changes, it should first of all the material aspect of the invention, creativity and progress, then the spiritual progress, including art, knowledge, understanding and the world around understanding of the relative development of religion, and elite control of power began to develop these changes in society, so people now talk about material and spiritual civilization, the system of civilization, in fact, the origin of civilization, our study also included these three areas. If you want to be divided into several stages, then, since 6000 ~ 5000 is a phase of accelerating the origin of civilization, dating from 5000 to 4000 is the formation of the early period of civilization, dating back 4,000 to 221 years of dynastic civilization, the birth and development of period, the Qin Dynasty after the Chinese civilization into the stage of the empire.
formation and development of Chinese civilization on the background of reasons: First is the development of production-based, to a surplus of wealth as a prerequisite, and then appeared powerful, grade of differentiation, there is a change in the environment there is which may play a certain role. In the flood legends, among them, when Yao, Shun flood records, which in archaeological excavations, we did find a relationship with environmental change leads, for example, some signs of flooding, for example, a certain period of climate anomalies, because 4000 years ago before and after the world has a very intense period of climate change in China has begun to respond. Of course, this reaction is not to say that the origin of Chinese civilization and the flood, but flood control has the potential to power the head has been further strengthened, or the relative concentration of a group of people to obey the command.
on the civilization process in all areas: there is a characteristic of the process of evolution of civilization in various regions, called the process of civilization, for example, has its own way Liangzhu, the Central Plains in the original road, are development. Therefore, we feel that the origin of civilization, all regions should focus on the process of civilization, how evolution, which has undergone changes, from the archaeological finds and then see how these changes together result in the formation of the origins of Chinese civilization, in all regions what role to play in this process.
diversity and unity of Chinese civilization on the pattern formation: origin of Chinese civilization, formation and early development of the process can use the That each region has its own diverse origins and early development process, one is the gradual integration into the Central Plains as the representative of the Xia and Shang dynasties among civilizations. Has integrated into the melting pot as the center of the Central Plains were, but into different times, there may also be integrated in different ways, some by military conquest, and some may be through other means, constitute such a theme. Therefore, we now engage in projects of Chinese Origin of Civilization, in fact, trace such a process.
on the formation of Chinese civilization in the process of production process and so are the first to develop the area around and then gradually be absorbed by the Central Plains. The bronze vessel represented the culture and technology is first appeared in the Central Plains, and then gradually expanded.
I once published an article that the origins of Chinese civilization, one of the patterns, you can use the Gathered before the main parts of the Xia dynasty, and cultural factors converged to the Central Plains, the radiation is mainly after the Shang Dynasty and the surrounding highly developed civilization, the expansion, of course, is always mutual, but in the Xia Dynasty and before, especially before the major is the convergence of the process, after the Xia and Shang dynasties mainly into radiation. From this perspective, the interaction of each region should be a very important origin of Chinese civilization, one of the engines. (Source: People's Political Consultative Conference Report)
