A Study On The Southward Expansion Of The Central Plain Cultures From Late Longshan To Erligang Period

Centered on the middle Yangtze River,the Central Plain cultures from the Longshan to Erligang period projected significant influence in south China.This expansive region stretched to Xia River in the west,western Jianghuai Plain on the east,Huai River in the north and the Lake Dongting to the south of the Yangtze River in the south.Though the contact between the Central Plain and south China before the end of Longshan period often led to expansion into the borderland of the latter,south China still by and large retained a relatively independent cultural sequence and development.By the end of Longshan period,however,the arrival of Wangwan Phase III from the Central Plain directly intervened the local Shijiahe culture in south China.This marked the inception of a continuous southward spread of Central Plain cultures through Erlitou to Erligang period.Panlongcheng settlement dated to Erligang period formed the core of a large network of archaeological sites in the middle stretch of the Yangtze River.High level of consistency emerged in the material culture,cultural institutions and ritual systems between Panlongcheng and Erligang,indicating the climax of the Central Plain culture's expansion.This paper proposes to discuss this cultural process and the implied social phenomenon from the perspective of southward cultural spread.The three sections in Part 2 of this paper constructs the temporal framework of archaeological cultures in south China.Part 3 to 5 discuss various cultural configurations in south China and their contact and exchange.Part 6 explores the backgrounds,models and motivations behind the expansion of the Central Plain's cultures in the Longshan,Erlitou and Erligang period.Before the end of Longshan period,the indigenous cultures in the middle Yangtze underwent development from Youziling,Qujialing to Shijiahe.The end of Longshan period saw radical cultural changes.Finely made jades appeared in bulk and urn-burial became popular.Large numbers of Wangwan Phase ? pottery emerged in the regions previously dominated by Shijiahe.Scholars generally believe such a transformation was the direct result of "Yu's military campaign again Three-Miao."Wangwan Phase ? adopted a comprehensive occupation of rather than outpost deployment in south China though no complete settlement hierarchy with clear regional centers was established.Erlitou in south China can be separated into two phases.The first phase is equivalent to from late Erlitou Phase 2 to early Erlitou Phase 4,and be subdivided to Initial Stage,Peak Stage and Recession Stage.The expansion of Erlitou was development in stages;no clear high-status central settlements;everyday pottery formed the main export from the Central Plain to south China.Elites from the Central Plain monopolized the production and distribution of ritual bronze vessels to stain their rulership.The locations of Erlitou sites in south China are closely connected to important resources and water routes,which are indicative of a resource-centered expansion plan.The second phase of Erlitou expansion is at the end of Erlitou period,which witnessed the decline of Erlitou presence in south China.Cultural features of Xiaqihuan appeared in some Erlitou sites.Jianghuai Plain and Lake Dongting region reported a small number of late Erlitou jades and bronzes,possibly suggesting the relocation of Erlitou elites after the transition from Xia to Shang.Erligang in south China consists of two phases.Phase 1 is equivalent to lower Erligang period.On the one hand,this period saw Central Plain culture entering south China in stages,implying the close connections between two regions.On the other hand,this is also a period that different cultural features co-existed.Phase 2,namely upper Erligang period,marks the peak of Central Plain's control in south China.Discrepancies emerged in different cultures and regions,which are indicative of various models that the Central Plain employed to control and influence south China.Centered on Panlongcheng in eastern Jianghan Plain,the Central Plain expanded along the Yangtze River.It is noteworthy that the Central Plain exerted a considerably less influence to western Jianghan Plain in Phase 2 than that in Phase 1.In western Jianghan Plain,the Central Plain's cultures never assumed a dominant position than in eastern Jianghan.Cultural features from the Central Plain intermixed with local cultures,which were likely the outcome of trade outpost.Before upper Erligang period,or Phase 2,the Central Plain was not particularly visible in the local cultural remains in the Jianghuai Plain.We may attribute this phenomenon to the popularity of Yueshi Culture in the region and the poor connection with the Central Plain.In the upper Erligang period,however,typical Erligang pottery emerged in eastern Henan and Jianghuai under the southward expansion strategy of the Shang culture.The center of the Central Plain's culture gradually shifted to the Jianghuai region.The spread of Erligang culture in south China was not only supported by settlements,but also replicated city wall,large architecture,elite burials and ritual bronzes from the Central Plain,suggesting strong export of ceremonial and cultic practice.