Research On Basic Territorial Organization During The Western Zhou Period

The evolution from bloodline-based to regional-based society is an inevitabletendency in the development of human society, therefore the research on basicterritorial organization is a very important research topic. Firstly, the previous researchon the appearance date and formation process of basic territorial organization needs tobe discussed. Furthermore, our predecessors’ research mainly rely on two type ofsources, transmitted texts and epigraphic materials, but rarely use relatedarchaeological data. Therefore, this dissertation, based on the previous research,includes and synthesizes the three types of available sources: archaeologicaldiscoveries, transmitted texts and excavated inscriptions, in order to get a deeperunderstanding of basic territorial organization during the Western Zhou period.This dissertation is divided into six chapters.The first chapter is an introduction, explaining the reasoning behind this research,defining the main concepts and research themes, summarizing the previous research,and pointing out the key-points which can be developed.In the second chapter, the author analyzes what is commonly believed to be "clanburials", and demonstrates that the archaeologically excavated Shang and Zhou periodcemeteries can not entirely be considered as clan cemeteries, but that there is a need tofully take into consideration the possible existence of regional cemeteries. Elaboratinga case-study of the Western Zhou cemetery of Zhangjiapo, this chapter discusses therelations between human groups and bronze inscriptions of Zhangjiapo cemetery andthe idea of "li" developed in the transmitted historical texts, in order to analyze theregional organization of the inhabitants during the Western Zhou period. The third chapter, carefully synthesize the archaeological discoveries related toChengzhou territory during the Western Zhou period, using it as a foundation todiscuss the settlement patterns inside Chengzhou, distinguishing between the highest,middle and lower aristocracy, the middle and lower classes, and the handicraft men.And using the previous research, the author explains in details that the Height Armiesof Chengzhou corresponds to the establishment of the Western Zhou dynasty royalarmy, and at the same time to the territorial settlement organization.The fourth chapter is a study on the settlement patterns at the Zhouyuan siteduring the Western Zhou period, focusing on the case of the Western Zhou bronzehoards discovered around Qijiacun village in the Fufeng district, discussing in detailsthe situation of clan-based territorial settlement of the members of the Zhouyuanaristocracy during the Western Zhou period.The fifth chapter uses the emblems discovered at Yinxu and the information aboutthe cemeteries to analyze the territorial settlement organization of the late Shangperiod, showing that the "li" territorial settlement organization had already appearedduring the late Shang period.The sixth chapter is the conclusion, the author suggests that during theXia-Shang-Zhou period, human groups from different origins mixed in the largesettlements, thus shaping the preliminary conditions for the formation of a territorialsettlement organization; and that the appearance of a unified administrative authority isa requirement to the formation of the territorial settlement organization.