East Yi West Xia
Encyclopedia
East Yi West Xia is an obsolete theory about the origin of prehistory culture in current China which says that the culture of Shang dynasty was established by two ethnic groups; Western part of Shang
dynasty was developed by Xia ethnic group, and the eastern part of Shang dynasty was developed by Yi ethnic group.
in 1933CE ,. It was further expanded by Liang Siyong who suggested that the, newly discovered, Yangshao culture
was established by the western Xia and the Longshan culture
by the Yi peoples of the east.. For Chinese and Western historians this hypothesis became the prevailing theory to interpret Chinese prehistory and remained so until about 1960.,.
Further archaeological discoveries made the theory obsolete. In 1950s it became clear that the Yinxu
culture was preceded by the Erligang culture
in Zhongyuan. In addition, the gap between the Erligang culture and the Longshan culture was joined by the Erlitou culture
, which was named after the Erlitou site discovered in 1959. Chinese scholars identify the Erligang and Erlitou cultures as the sites of the Shang and Xia Dynaties respectively although the archaeological boundary between the two dynasties was still debatable. In 1983, the ruin of Yanshi Shang City was discovered and identified as the Erligang culture. The ruin very close to the Erlitou site suggests that the Erlitou and Erligang cultures were dominated by people with different cultural background.
In Shandong, the Shandong Longshan culture was replaced by the Yueshi culture around 2000 B.C. The sites of the Yueshi culture show complementary distribution with those of the Erligang culture which expanded eastward from Zhongyuan. It proved that the Shang people did not originated in the east.
Shang
The shang is a flat ritual upturned handbell employed by Bönpo and Asian shamans. The sizes of the shang range from approximately 3 to 20 inches in diameter. It is traditionally held to have originated in Zhangzhung and is symbolically similar to the tantric dril-bhu. Shang are traditionally...
dynasty was developed by Xia ethnic group, and the eastern part of Shang dynasty was developed by Yi ethnic group.
History of the theory
This theory was suggested by Fu SinianFu Sinian
Fù Sīnián , was a famous Chinese educator and linguist, and one of the leaders of the May Fourth Movement in 1919. He studied experimental psychology at University College, London from 1920-23. He was also one of the creators of the Academia Sinica, and was named director of the Institute of...
in 1933CE ,. It was further expanded by Liang Siyong who suggested that the, newly discovered, Yangshao culture
Yangshao culture
The Yangshao culture was a Neolithic culture that existed extensively along the central Yellow River in China. The Yangshao culture is dated from around 5000 BC to 3000 BC. The culture is named after Yangshao, the first excavated representative village of this culture, which was discovered in 1921...
was established by the western Xia and the Longshan culture
Longshan culture
The Longshan culture was a late Neolithic culture in China, centered on the central and lower Yellow River and dated from about 3000 BC to 2000 BC...
by the Yi peoples of the east.. For Chinese and Western historians this hypothesis became the prevailing theory to interpret Chinese prehistory and remained so until about 1960.,.
Further archaeological discoveries made the theory obsolete. In 1950s it became clear that the Yinxu
Yinxu
Yinxu is the ruins of the last capital of China's Shang Dynasty. The capital served 255 years for 12 kings in 8 generations.Rediscovered in 1899, it is one of the oldest and largest archeological sites in China and is one of the historical capitals of China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
culture was preceded by the Erligang culture
Erligang culture
The Erligang culture is the term used by archaeologists to refer to a Bronze Age archaeological culture in China. The primary site was discovered at Erligang, just outside of the modern city of Zhengzhou, Henan, in 1951....
in Zhongyuan. In addition, the gap between the Erligang culture and the Longshan culture was joined by the Erlitou culture
Erlitou culture
The Erlitou culture is a name given by archaeologists to an Early Bronze Age urban society that existed in China from 2000 BCE to 1500 BCE. The culture was named after the site discovered at Erlitou in Yanshi, Henan Province...
, which was named after the Erlitou site discovered in 1959. Chinese scholars identify the Erligang and Erlitou cultures as the sites of the Shang and Xia Dynaties respectively although the archaeological boundary between the two dynasties was still debatable. In 1983, the ruin of Yanshi Shang City was discovered and identified as the Erligang culture. The ruin very close to the Erlitou site suggests that the Erlitou and Erligang cultures were dominated by people with different cultural background.
In Shandong, the Shandong Longshan culture was replaced by the Yueshi culture around 2000 B.C. The sites of the Yueshi culture show complementary distribution with those of the Erligang culture which expanded eastward from Zhongyuan. It proved that the Shang people did not originated in the east.
Implications
Though largely modified by further research, Fu Sinian's theory enterd the history as a landmark in Chinese historiography. It essentially questioned ethnical homogenity sometimes postulated as the rute of Chinese civilization. This contributed to the concept of the dialogical development of cultures.External links
- About the Theory of East Yi West Xia http://www.jxgroup.org/index.php?title=%E5%A4%B7%E5%A4%8F%E4%B8%9C%E8%A5%BF%E8%AF%B4 in Chinese