Ancient Chinese Civilisation
- Course Code:
- 15PARC026
- Unit value:
- 1 unit
This course covers the Neolithic period and Bronze Age in China. Students are expected to study the major neolitihic cultures, their settlements, pottery technology and relevant issues such as the origins of agriculture, religious activities and art. The second part of the course will look at the the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age and the archaeology of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, considering the importance of oracle bone inscriptions and ritual bronzes. Other bronze cultures in the south and north, for instance the Ordos and Dian bronzes, will also be studied. This course will explore Chinese archaeology in depth and provide guidance to the methodology of archaeological research. Chinese language is an advantage, but not a prerequisite.
Method of assessment
3 essays of 3,000 words each = 75%/slide test =25%Required reading
- Keightley, D., ed., 1983, The Origins of Chinese Civilisation, Berkeley.
- Allan S., 1991, The Shape of the Turtle: Myth, Art and Cosmos in Early China, Albany.
- Chang K. C., 1986, The Archaeology of Ancient China, 4th Edition, New Haven/London.
- Whitfield R. ed., 1992, The Problem of Meaning in Early Chinese Bronze Art (London)
- Whitfield R. and Wang Tao, eds., 1999, Exploring China's Past: New Discoveries and Studies in Archaeology and Art, London.
- Loewe, M. and Shaughnessy, E., eds., 1999, The Cambridge History of Ancient China, Cambridge.
- Graham, A.C., 1989, Disputers of the Tao, La Salle, Illinois.
