The Origins of the State and the Formation of Monarchy in Ancient China Part I
Title: The Origins of the State and the Formation
of Monarchy in Ancient China Part I
Author: Wang Zhenzhong
Translated by Lian Zheyu
ISBN: 978-1-84464-672-2
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-84464-673-9
Hardback - 630 pages
February 2022
English
£75 €118 $120
Description:
China has a history of more than 5,000 years of civilization, but when, where, and what kind of process did the splendid Chinese civilization come into being? Many predecessors in academia and masters of Chinese studies have discussed this issue. The author of this book adopts a multi-disciplinary research method, extensively uses the theories of archaeology, history, and anthropology, systematically sorts out and analyzes archaeological discoveries, and analyzes various ancient histories handed down from ancient times. The legend tried to do an integrated interpretation, put forward a series of innovative theoretical viewpoints, and constructed a brand-new ancient history research system.
The topic is an interested issue for scholars and experts to discover the development of Chinese civilization.
The materials, including data, illustrations, are the newest ones, they can help readers and researchers to better understand and research ancient China.
Content:
FOREWORD
Part I From Hamlet to Local Capital State
INTRODUCTION Certain Theoretical Issues in Research on the Origins of the State
I. Concept and Definition of the State
II. Indicators of State Formation
III. Theory of “Three Social Divisions of Labor” and China’s Historical Realities
IV. Merits and Demerits of “Military Democracy” and “Confederacy of Tribes” Theories
V. Contributions and Limitations of Chiefdom Theories
VI. Contributions and Deficiencies of Social Stratification Theories
VII. The “Settlement Evolutionary Trilogy” Theory on the Paths of the Emergence of Civilization and the State
VIII. The “Local State—Kingdom—Empire” Theory
IX. Other Thoughts
CHAPTER ONE Egalitarian Agricultural Sedentary Societies
I. The Early Neolithic Period: The Origins of Agriculture and the Emergence of Agricultural Settlements
II. Egalitarianism and Inclusiveness in Agricultural Settlements in the Mid-Late Neolithic Period
CHAPTER TWO Inegalitarian Central Settlements, Lineage Towns and Chiefdom Societies
I. Embryonic Central Settlements and Initial Social Inequality
II. Social Phenomena after the Rise of Central Settlements
III. Palatial Complexes and Lineage-based Partitioned Houses after the Rise of Central Settlements
IV. Social Form of the Moated Yuchisi Settlement in Mengcheng
V. Walled Sites after the Rise of Central Settlements: Chengtoushan in Lixian and Xishan in Zhengzhou
VI. Primitive Religious Sacred Places after the Rise of Central Settlements: Temples and Grand-scale Atlas
VII. General Characteristics of Central Settlements, Primitive Lineage Towns
and Chiefdom Society
CHAPTER THREE Three Paths of Class Formation
I. The Patriarchal Clan – The Broad Basis and Primary Path of State Formation
II. A Slave Class Resulting from War Captives
III. A Ruling Class Arising from Social Functions
CHAPTER FOUR Transformation of the Prehistoric Power System
I. The Spatiality of Power and the Sociality of Religion
II. Contribution of Warfare to the Growth of Prehistoric Power
III. Centrality of Power and Social Functions
CHAPTER FIVE Early States in China – Local Capital States in the Longshan Period
I. Capital Cities and States in the Longshan Period
II. Taosi Capital Settlement and Local State: Case Study 1
III. Guchengzhai Capital Settlement and Local State: Case Study 2
IV. Mojiaoshan Capital Settlement and Features of Liangzhu Civilization: Case Study 3
CHAPTER SIX From Buzu State to Nation State and the Formation of the Huaxia Nation
I. Concepts of Nation and Buzu and Self-Consciousness of the Huaxia ation
II. Buzu States and Confederation of Local States in the Five-Thearchs Era.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Author:
Wang Zhenzhong is a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, deputy director of the History Department, and a researcher at the Institute of Ancient History of the Chinese Academy of History. His academic expertise is pre-Qin history, ancient Chinese civilization history, and archaeology. Representative works include "A Comparative Study of the Origin of Chinese Civilization" and so on.
The Origins of the State and the Formation of Monarchy in Ancient China Part I
The Origins of the State and the Formation of Monarchy in Ancient China Part II