Art, myth, and ritual : the path to political authority in ancient China / K.C. Chang.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chang, Kwang-chih.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political science--China--History.

Political science.

China--Civilization--To 221 B.C.

China.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (160 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press, 1983.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

A leading scholar in the United States on Chinese archaeology challenges long-standing conceptions of the rise of political authority in ancient China. Questioning Marx’s concept of an “Asiatic” mode of production, Wittfogel’s “hydraulic hypothesis,” and cultural-materialist theories on the importance of technology, K. C. Chang builds an impressive counterargument, one which ranges widely from recent archaeological discoveries to studies of mythology, ancient Chinese poetry, and the iconography of Shang food vessels.

Contents:

""Contents""; ""Introduction""; ""1. Clans, Towns, and the Political Landscape""; ""2. Moral Authority and Coercive Power""; ""3. Shamanism and Politics""; ""4. Art as the Path to Authority""; ""5. Writing as the Path to Authority""; ""6. Access to the Path""; ""7. The Rise of Political Authority""; ""Appendix: The Kings of the Three Dynasties ""; ""Sources of Illustrations""; ""Index ""

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource.

ISBN:

9780674029408

0674029402

OCLC:

923112553

Publisher Number:

2027/heb03094 hdl