Xia, Shang and Zhou

Name: Xia, Shang and Zhou
ISBN: 9787520522632

Li NanChina Culture and History Press · ChinaSep 2024

3.0

Word count: 231K words
Chapters: 20
ISBN: 9787520522632

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Summary

This book tells the rich and varied history of China from the beginnings of primitive society to the fall of the Western Zhou in 770 BCE. During this period, the ancestors of the Chinese nation established the Huaxia people on China's broad and fertile land, made the transition from primitive society to slave society, and moved from tribal alliances to state rule.

In the Shang dynasty, the culture of bronze vessels and oracle bone inscriptions is awe-inspiring; the "Reign of Cheng and Kang" in the Western Zhou brought the state to its peak of prosperity. Legends passed down through later ages—Pangu creating the world, Nüwa mending the sky, Yu the Great taming the waters, Jiang Taigong fishing, and the beacon-fire trick that fooled the feudal lords—linger in the mind long after the book is closed.

Editor's review

This book compresses the long sweep of Chinese history from primitive society to the fall of the Western Zhou into a clear timeline. It moves from the formation of the Huaxia people and the transition from tribal alliances to state rule, to the splendid culture of Shang bronze vessels and oracle bone script, and then to the prosperity of the Western Zhou's Cheng-Kang era, with a concise narrative that is vivid and easy to picture. It also intersperses legends such as Pangu creating the world, Yu the Great taming the floods, Jiang Taigong fishing, and the beacon-fire trick on the feudal lords, balancing historical fact and legend for an easy read. It is suitable as an introduction to ancient history, helping readers build a basic framework of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties in a short time.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginning readers who have only scattered impressions of Xia-Shang-Zhou history and want a systematic overview
General readers who enjoy narratives combining myths and legends with early history
Primary and secondary school students who need supplementary background knowledge in ancient history
Readers interested in early culture such as bronze vessels and oracle bone script

Not a good fit for

Professional researchers seeking rigorous archaeological argumentation and cutting-edge academic discussion
Readers who want detailed primary historical sources or in-depth institutional analysis
Readers who prefer modern and contemporary subjects and lack interest in ancient history

Reading tips

Read through the whole book first to establish the timeline of the three dynasties' succession, then return to the sections on Shang and Zhou culture
Mark legends and historical facts separately and consider how legends reflect early historical memory
Read alongside picture materials of bronze vessels and oracle bone script to strengthen intuitive understanding of Shang culture

About the publisher

China Culture and History Press China · Founded in 1980

China Culture and History Press has long devoted itself to modern and contemporary literature and culture-and-history reading matter, with publishing directions centered on classic works, social novels, prose and miscellaneous writings, and Eastern philosophy, alongside culture-and-history periodicals such as Zongheng. Among the more than 1,500 titles in the collection, representative books include Zhang Henshui's Ti Xiao Yin Yuan, Lu Xun's Complete Classic Works (10 volumes) and Wild Grass, and Lao She's Four Generations Under One Roof series and the boxed set of Lao She's Classic Works (10 volumes), while its author resources are concentrated on figures such as Zhang Henshui, Lu Xun, Lao She and Sima Qian. Its publishing character lies in solid editorial work on culture-and-history source texts and in issuing famous authors' works in sets, balancing the readability of individual texts with the systematic presentation of complete collections for focused reading and collecting. Beyond these directions, public information on the press's contemporary original publishing is limited, so it is not elaborated here.

版权信息
前言
第一编远古风云，王朝先声
第一章原始部落的聚合与权力交接
第二章原始部落间的争战与统一
第三章原始文明与社会文化
第四章远古神话与传说
第二编大夏风云，家国天下
第一章权力私有，世袭制取代禅让制
第二章夏王朝的外争与内政
第三章夏朝的社会经济、文化艺术及科技
第三编殷商风云，青铜时代
第一章从兄终弟及到父死子继
第二章商王朝的军事政治及其风云人物
第三章商朝的社会经济与文化科技
第四编两周风云，山雨欲来
第一章大周王朝的兴衰与荣辱
第二章八百年周室风云
第三章奴隶王朝的制度集成
第四章周朝的社会经济与科技文化

FAQ

Do the legends in the book have a historical basis?

The book intersperses legends such as Pangu creating the world, Nüwa mending the sky, and Yu the Great taming the floods. These are early memories transmitted in later ages and cannot be equated with reliable history. When reading, treat them as material for understanding ancient people's conceptions, and distinguish them from archaeological findings and historical narratives.

Can this book help me understand oracle bone script and bronze vessels?

The book touches on bronze vessel and oracle bone script culture when discussing the Shang dynasty, providing basic background and an overall impression suitable as an introduction. To gain deeper knowledge of specific artifacts, character decipherment, or archaeological findings, specialized catalogues and research readings are still needed.

Is it suitable for primary and secondary school students as extracurricular reading?

It is suitable as supplementary extracurricular reading. The language is plain and the thread clear, helping students build a basic framework of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. For the parts involving legend and historical fact, it is advisable to distinguish between them under the guidance of teachers or parents, so as not to mistake myth for established history.

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About the author

Li Nan Author · Chinese

Li Nan graduated from the Department of Chinese at Anhui Normal University in 1998 and has long worked in book editing, planning, and writing. He has taken part in compiling large reference series such as the Encyclopedia of Chinese History, the Encyclopedia of World History, and the Encyclopedia of Chinese Calligraphy, and is the author of popular works including A Complete Guide to the Poetry of Dream of the Red Chamber, A Complete Guide to the Classic of Filial Piety, and the "Dynastic Storms" series, amounting to over a hundred titles spanning history, literature, economics, management, and social sciences. The library holds 78 of his works, covering categories from history and culture to military affairs, finance, politics, and medicine. These range from traditional文史 compilations such as Pre-Qin History (classical-modern bilingual edition) and Zengguang Xianwen to discussions of contemporary issues like The Global Layout of Made in China, as well as specialized works such as War Stories 032 and Research and Application of Aconite. His writing emphasizes clear organization of knowledge and readability for general readers; the breadth and volume of his output make his books accessible introductions to their respective fields. Due to limited public information, details such as his birth and death years remain unknown.