뉴스레터

China's bronzeware in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties is by no means inferior in showing the glory of ancient China's Bronze Age culture. Scholars therefore perceive bronzeware as an important element constituting the Zhongyuan (central plains) culture, and often suggest bronzeware as one important metric for judgment when talking about the spread of the Zhongyuan culture. In other words, bronzeware found in areas other than the central plains was the result of advances of the Zhongyuan culture. The same is true of Liaoxi, which this book deals with. Zhongyuan-style bronzeware began to be excavated occasionally in Liaoxi in the 1950s. Some Chinese scholars interpret this phenomenon as being related to the political advances of kingdoms in the central plains.

The book discusses antagonistic relationships involving diverse cultural entities in the region by taking the 15th century to the 5th century B.C. when Zhongyuan-style bronzeware appeared occasionally in Liaoxi as the time scope, and Liaoxi where diverse cultures appeared as the geographical scope. That is, it is trying to validate whether Zhongyuan-style cultural elements could be interpreted as the active advances of Zhongyuan cultures as some Chinese scholars argue.

This book is comprised of six chapters. First, Kim Jeong-yeol's “Development of Bronze Age Culture in Liaoxi – 15th to 5th centuries B.C.” is an introduction of the book in which the author examines the annals, cultural content, and social aspects regarding various types of ancient cultures according to material culture data of the Bronze Age confirmed in Liaoxi then reviews the aspects of social compounding in the region and changes in accordance with the progress of time.

Consequences of indigenous cultures' response to inflow of foreign cultures

Oh Dae-yang's “Correlational Review of Indigenous and Zhongyuan Cultures in Liaoxi in the 14th to 11th Centuries B.C., Focusing on Comparison of Burial Systems” studied how Zhongyuan cultures introduced into the Liaoxi region were accepted selectively by indigenous cultures, focusing on the tombs of the “Weiyingzi Culture” in Liaoxi, and reached the conclusion that Zhongyuan-linked cultural elements identified in the Liaoxi region are indigenous cultures' response to the inflow of foreign cultures rather than the direct advances of the central forces. Choi Ho-hyeon's “Research into Bronzeware of Shang and Zhou Dynasties Excavated in Liaoxi, focusing on Comparison with Midstream of the Yellow River” disclosed that these aspects appear similarly in bronzeware and bronzeware pits as well as in tombs. In his chapter “A Contemplation on the Zu Family Inscription of Late Shang to Early Zhou Discovered in Liaoxi”, Lee You-pyo also pointed out that these aspects appear similarly in bronze inscriptions, including the Zu family's inscription.

Yan's frustration and the southward migration of northern culture

After the inception of the Xuzhou Dynasty, Yan, which had landed in the northeastern front line, strove to establish a solid foothold while clashing with indigenous cultures. In his chapter “Changes of Borders before and after Yan's Formation – Analysis of Bronze Age Inscriptions Excavated East of the Taihang Mountains from Late Shang to Early Xuzhou”, Min Hu-gi compiled and analyzed Zhongyuan-linked archaeological ruins related to Yan and bronze inscriptions of Shang and Zhou discovered in the region and pointed out that Yan had tried to advance into Liaoxi, but to no avail, and had rather retreated geographically. Lee Hu-seok's “Development and Characteristics of North-Linked Bronze Dagger Culture in Hebei and Liaoxi, Focusing on Higher Xiajiadian Culture and Jade Temple Culture” discussed the shrinkage of Zhongyuan-linked cultures after the southward migration of the north-linked Bronze Age culture to Hebei and Liaoxi by associating it with Shanlong, an ancient ethnic group in the northern region, and further clarified that the bronze dagger culture had triggered new aspects that would change the cultural landscape of Hebei and Liaoxi.

Bronze mirror with multiple knobs at Tomb 5, 1998, Xiaoheishigou

Proper perspective on Bronze Age culture in the Liaoxi region

At a time when there is not much credible bibliographic data, there is no other choice but to rely on archeological data to study the ancient Liaoxi region. Archeological data must be studied in value-neutral fashion, but one cannot help floundering in a profound abyss the moment they are combined with such ideology as “Chinese nationalism”, or the moment one succumbs to the sweet temptation of individual or collective egoism. It is no exaggeration to say that this book was also written at the front line of such sweet temptation. It was nonetheless an important achievement for the writers to overcome the temptation, sticking to a value-free attitude.

Liaoxi, the cultural border where Zhongyuan-linked cultures move northward and north-linked cultures move southward, showed unique cultural aspects with interaction of diverse cultures. During the period from the 15th to 5th centuries B.C. when Zhongyuan-linked cultural factors appeared from time to time, we could prove that such cultural elements were merely the local phenomenon displayed while indigenous cultures accepted Zhongyuan cultures independently while northern cultures responded to the advances of Zhongyuan forces, and that they were not the active advances of Zhongyuan cultures as some Chinese scholars have claimed. This is likely the most fruitful result of this book.

For the publication of the book, our writing staff pondered endlessly for nearly two years, repeating modifications and supplementations. I would like to express my respect to them for being the driving force behind the publication of this book with insatiable academic ambition.