Dynamic Interpretation of Early Cities in Ancient China

Description

This book offers an archaeological study on China’s ancient capitals. Using abundant illustrations of ancient capital sites, it verifies the archaeological discoveries with documentary records. The author introduces the dynamical interpretation of each ancient capital to the interpretation of the entire development history of China's ancient capitals. The book points out that for most of the almost 2000 years from the earliest Erlitou (二里头)to the Ye city (邺城), there was an era where ancient capitals didn’t have outer enclosures due to factors such as the strong national power, the military and diplomatic advantage, the complexity of the residents, and the natural conditions. Thus an era of “the huge ancient capitals without guards” lasting for over 1000 years formed. The concept that “China’s ancient capitals don’t have outer enclosures” presented in the book questions the traditional view that “every settlement has walled enclosures”. Combining science with theory, it offers researchers of history a clear understanding of the development process of China’s ancient capitals.  Contents List of Figures 1 Introduction 1.1 Is There no Capital City Without a City Wall? 1.2 The Different Designations and Meanings of the Term “City” 1.2.1 The City and the City Site 1.2.2 The City and the Capital City 1.2.3 The City and the Outer City 1.2.4 The Palace City and the Imperial City 1.3 How Did Everyone Say? 1.3.1 Yu Weichao: The Eastern Zhou and the Two Han Dynasties as One Big Stage 1.3.2 Xu Pingfang: The Epochal Change Brought by the Capitals from the Qin and Han Dynasties 1.3.3 Yang Kuan: The Two Han Dynasty Capitals Without an Outer City 1.3.4 Liu Qingzhu: The Form of the Qin and Han Dynasty Capitals and the Time Lag Theory 1.4 About the Shape of the Outer City 1.5 From the Literature Perspective: Large City Without a City Wall 2 The Time After the Wei and Jin Dynasties—City Wall and Grid Pattern 2.1 The Wei-Jin Period to the Sui and Tang Dynasties 3 The Capital Cities of the Qin and Han Dynasties and Their Environs—The Domineering Empires 3.1 Chang’an in the Western Han Dynasty: The Distinction Between Inner and Outer City 3.1.1 Inner or Outer City 3.1.2 There is no Enclosed Area Outside of the Inner City 3.1.3 The Location of the Eastern and Western Markets 3.1.4 Orientation and Axis 3.1.5 Tracing the Origin of Design Ideas 3.2 The Qin Dynasty Capital Xianyang: With or Without City Wall 3.3 The Eastern Han Dynasty City of Luoyang: The Last Capital Without Fortification 4 Times of Unrest—The City of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty 4.1 The Inner and Outer City of the Spring and Autumn Period 4.1.1 Qufu—Capital of the Lu State 4.1.2 Linzi—Capital of the Qi State 4.1.3 Xinzheng—Capital of the Zheng State 4.2 The Inner and Outer City Standing Side by Side in the Warring States Period 4.2.1 Linze—Capital of the Qi State 4.2.2 Handan—Capital of the Zhao State 4.2.3 Qufu—Capital of the Lu State 4.2.4 Xinzheng—Capital of the Han State 4.2.5 The Lower Capital of the State of Yan 4.2.6 Eastern Zhou Dynasty Wangcheng and Chengzhou 4.2.7 Wangcheng and the Capital of the Duchy of the Western Zhou 4.2.8 Chengzhou and the Capital of the Duchy of the Eastern Zhou 4.2.9 Ji’nan—Capital of the Chu State 4.3 The Qin State Capital City Yong 5 Three Generations of Capitals 5.1 The Remains of Unfortified Cities from the Spring and Autumn Period 5.1.1 Eastern Zhou Dynasty Capital Wangcheng 5.1.2 Xintian—Capital of the Jin State 5.1.3 Ji’nan—Capital of the Chu State 5.1.4 Yong—Capital of the Qin State 5.2 Western Zhou Dynasty: Within the Borders of the Four Foreign Peoples 5.2.1 Zhouyuan 5.2.2 Fenghao 5.2.3 Luoyi 5.2.4 Qufu and Linzi 5.3 Yinxu: The Era of Cities Without Walls 5.3.1 Huanbei City (Square Moat (Fang Hao)) 5.3.2 Huannan Dayi 5.4 Erligang: Two Hundred Years of Royal Inner and Outer City 5.4.1 Zhengzhou City 5.4.2 Xiaoshuangqiao 5.4.3 Yanshi City 5.4.4 Capital Cities in the Periphery 5.5 Erlitou: The Beginning of Unfortified Cities 5.5.1 Erlitou 5.5.2 From a City Wall to Ring Moat 6 Conclusion: The Great Central Axis Postscript