What Makes China China

This book retraces the origins of China. It provides readers with a timeline, and tells the stories that happened in the central plain (the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River) around 2000 B.C. The author presents his opinion about the birth of the Xia Dynasty, which was the first dynasty of China.

Xu Hong Where did the word "China" (Zhongguo, the Central State) come from, and why was this hinterland named "Central State"? This book retraces the origins of China. It provides readers with a timeline, and tells the stories that happened in the central plain (the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River) around 2000 B.C. Through analysis of the rise and fall of Taosi, Songshan Cultures, the rise of Xinzhai Site and so on, which finally leads to the study of Erlitou Site and culture, the author deconstructs the birth of the Xia Dynasty, which was the first dynasty of China, and reconstructs the formation of the prehistoric and protohistoric China.

Autorentext

Professor Xu Hong, one of directors of Chinese Archaeological Society,works at the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. His masterpieces include East Asian Bronze in the Pre-Oracle Period, Dynamic Interpretation of Early Cities in Ancient China, The Earliest China: The Rise of Erlitou Civilization, and so on.

Klappentext

Xu Hong Where did the word "China" (Zhongguö , the Central State) come from, and why was this hinterland named "Central State"? This book retraces the origins of China. It provides readers with a timeline, and tells the stories that happened in the central plain (the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River) around 2000 B.C. Through analysis of the rise and fall of Taosi, Songshan Cultures, the rise of Xinzhai Site and so on, which finally leads to the study of Erlitou Site and culture, the author deconstructs the birth of the Xia Dynasty, which was the first dynasty of China, and reconstructs the formation of the prehistoric and protohistoric China.

Inhalt
List of Figures List of Tables Preface The Rise and Fall of Taosi Material Culture The Rise of Cultures Around Mount Song The Genesis of Xinzhai The Great Capital: Erlitou The Central Plain and China Conclusion.