David S. Nivison
Encyclopedia
David Shepherd Nivison (born 1923) is a sinologist
in the United States
. His Chinese name is Ni Dewei (倪德卫).
. Although less known, his first Chinese teachers were Lien-sheng Yang (楊聯陞) and Hong Ye (洪業). Nivison learnt most of the subjects from them during his days at Harvard. He was originally a professor of Chinese at Stanford University
, and later held a joint appointment at Stanford in three departments: Philosophy, Religious Studies and Chinese and Japanese. He is currently a professor emeritus
at Stanford.
In the field of philosophy, his major contribution is the application of the techniques of analytic philosophy
to the study of Chinese thought. In Sinology, one of his most important contributions has been the effort to precisely date the founding of the Zhou Dynasty
, based on archaeoastronomy
. The traditional date was 1122 B.C., but Nivison initially argued that the likely date was 1045, and then later suggested that it was 1040 B.C.
Sinology
Sinology in general use is the study of China and things related to China, but, especially in the American academic context, refers more strictly to the study of classical language and literature, and the philological approach...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. His Chinese name is Ni Dewei (倪德卫).
Biography
Nivison received his Ph.D. in Chinese from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Although less known, his first Chinese teachers were Lien-sheng Yang (楊聯陞) and Hong Ye (洪業). Nivison learnt most of the subjects from them during his days at Harvard. He was originally a professor of Chinese at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, and later held a joint appointment at Stanford in three departments: Philosophy, Religious Studies and Chinese and Japanese. He is currently a professor emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
at Stanford.
In the field of philosophy, his major contribution is the application of the techniques of analytic philosophy
Analytic philosophy
Analytic philosophy is a generic term for a style of philosophy that came to dominate English-speaking countries in the 20th century...
to the study of Chinese thought. In Sinology, one of his most important contributions has been the effort to precisely date the founding of the Zhou Dynasty
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
, based on archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy is the study of how people in the past "have understood the phenomena in the sky how they used phenomena in the sky and what role the sky played in their cultures." Clive Ruggles argues it is misleading to consider archaeoastronomy to be the study of ancient astronomy, as modern...
. The traditional date was 1122 B.C., but Nivison initially argued that the likely date was 1045, and then later suggested that it was 1040 B.C.
Major works
- 竹書紀年解謎 Chu shu chi nien jie mi - The Riddle of the Bamboo Annals, Taipei: Airiti Press, 2009. ISBN 978-9-86-85182-1-6, for the content Click Sanmin.com.tw, Airiti Press, Amazon or ebook, a Summary from Nivison here.
- Key to the Chronology of the Three Dynasties: The "Modern Text" Bamboo AnnalsBamboo AnnalsThe Bamboo Annals is a chronicle of ancient China. It begins at the earliest legendary times and extends to the Warring States Period , particularly the history of the Wei state...
, Philadelphia: Dept. of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of PennsylvaniaThe University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, 1999. ASINAsínAsín is a municipality located in the Cinco Villas comarca of the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, located a few kilometers west of Orés. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 106 inhabitants....
B0006R6NXK - The Ways of Confucianism: Investigations in Chinese Philosophy. Bryan W. Van Norden, ed. ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
: Open Court Press, 1997. ISBN 0-8126-9340-X - The Life and Thought of Chang Hsüeh-ch'engChang Hsüeh-ch'engChang Hsüeh-ch'eng was a Chinese scholar and historian of China's coastal province of Chekiang. His father and his grandfather had been government officials, but, although Chang achieved the highest civil service examination degree in 1778, he never held high office.Chang Hsüeh-ch'eng’s ideas...
. Stanford: Stanford University PressStanford University PressThe Stanford University Press is the publishing house of Stanford University. In 1892, an independent publishing company was established at the university. The first use of the name "Stanford University Press" in a book's imprinting occurred in 1895...
, 1966.
See also
- Chang Hsüeh-ch'engChang Hsüeh-ch'engChang Hsüeh-ch'eng was a Chinese scholar and historian of China's coastal province of Chekiang. His father and his grandfather had been government officials, but, although Chang achieved the highest civil service examination degree in 1778, he never held high office.Chang Hsüeh-ch'eng’s ideas...