Many Worlds Under One Heaven - Material Culture, Identity, and Power in the Northern Frontiers of the Western Zhou, 1045-771 BCE (Hardcover)

In the mid-eleventh century BCE, the Zhou overthrew the Shang, a dynastic power that had dominated much of northern and central China. Over the next three centuries, they would extend the borders of their political control significantly beyond those of the Shang. The Zhou introduced a political ideology centered on the Mandate of Heaven to justify their victory over the Shang and their territorial expansion, portraying the Zhou king as ruling the frontier from the center of civilization. Present-day scholarship often still adheres to this core-periphery perspective, emphasizing cultural assimilation and political integration during Zhou rule. However, recent archaeological findings present a more complex picture. Many Worlds Under One Heaven analyzes a wide range of newly excavated materials to offer a new perspective on political and cultural change under the Western Zhou. Examining tombs, bronze inscriptions, and other artifacts, Yan Sun challenges the Zhou-centered view with a frontier-focused perspective that highlights the roles of multiple actors. She reveals the complexity of identity construction and power relations in the northern frontiers of the Western Zhou, arguing that the border regions should be seen as a land of negotiation that witnessed cultural hybridization and experimentation. Rethinking a critical period for the formation of Chinese civilization, Many Worlds Under One Heaven unsettles the core-periphery model to reveal the diversity and flexibility of identity in early China.

General

Imprint:	Columbia University Press
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	Tang Center Series in Early China
Release date:	July 2021
First published:	2021
Authors:	Yan Sun (Professor of Art History)
Dimensions:	235 x 156 x 30mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover - Trade binding
Pages:	336
ISBN-13:	978-0-231-19842-4
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > General Books > History > General
LSN:	0-231-19842-6
Barcode:	9780231198424

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!