Yin Ruins Bronze Ritual Studies,

This paper first summarizes archaeological findings and researches of the bronze ritual vessels from Yin Xu; then analyses and discusses their periodization, chronology, ornamentation, posy and set formation, on the basis of bronze ritual vessels from Yin Xu after Liberation and some materials unearthed during 1928 to 1949. Moreover entirely discusses fountain and flow of them. At last, the bronze ritual vessels of Tin Xu are compared with those from other bronze cultures during Shang Dynasty outside of Yin Xu, and based on these studies above, we estimate status and action of Yin Xu bronze ritual vessels in "the area pattern of bronze culture during Shang Dynasty".Their periodization and chronology is one of our focuses of attention. We have divided bronze vessels into four periods (of them, II and III Periods are sub-divided into early and late phases) using the changed of characteristics of the whole and changed of complex style of bronze ritual vessels as the mam criterions. The vessels of I Period include many styles of Erligang bronze vessels, and its date roughly coincides with the time of Huayuanzhuang on the north of Huanhe River, that is to say, of Pan Geng, Xiao Xin, Xiao Yi and certain period before Pan Geng. The early phase of II Period roughly coincides with the early period of the reign of King Wu Ding, and its late phase can be traced as early as the Wu Ding period (probably towards the late years of his reign) and down to the period not later than Zu Jia's reign. Ill Period corresponds to the era of Lin Xin down to the reign of Wen Ding, which its upper limit likely come up to Zu Jia'last stage, and its lower limit come into Di yi's early reign. The date of IV Period corresponds to the era of Di Yi down to Di Xin's reign.Concerning ornamentation and posy. They are also important basis of periodization of bronze ritual vessek. "Pattern set" and "Pattern direction" of bronze ritual vessels of Yin Xu are two new words about bronze ornamentation, and they are two main questions discussed in this paper.About set formation. It not only shows era trace, but also is an important reflection of ritual system, of Shang Dynasty a huge quantity of bronze ritual vessels was buried in the tombs of nobles. Ritual vessek were used in connection with political and religious activities and testified to the status and class of noblemen. As a result we can distinguish the social position and status of nobles buried in the grave according to the difference in kind and quantity of bronze vessels excavated. By investigation of Xi-qu(西区) family tomb field, we find there is difference between family tomb fields, but at present we don't know how to explain this phenomena. The set formation of bronze ritual vessels show that there was "Disproportion between fortune and status(财富与地位差)" in Late Shang Dynasty which is a new concept put forward in this paper.On the fountain and flow. The style of the Yin bronze ritual vessels rooted in Erligang early Shang culture, and was inherited by early Western Zhou which have been accepted by academic circle. But in this paper we mainly discuss the differences between the bronze ritual vessels of Shang and Western Zhou using a new compare method that we compare these bronze ritual vessek between late Shang and early Western Zhou at the same time that we compare the bronze ritual vessels of II and IE Period of Shang with those of metaphase of Western Zhou. Our conclusion, comparing with former studies, is largely identical but with minor differences, which proves the correction of former investigation.About similarities and differences between the bronze ritual vessek from Yin Xu and periphery. Based on the comparative study of the bronze ritual vessels from Yin Xu and other area,we divides the archaeological cultures of Shang Dynasty into two section: distributing section of Shang culture and influence sections by Shang culture. The former is subdivided into central area and rein region of lord of the same surname and different surname, and the latter may at lea...