Landscape and Power in Early China: The Crisis and Fall of the Western Zhou 1045-771 BC

by Li Feng

The Bronze Age state of the Western Zhou represented a ground-breaking period in Chinese culture and civilization. This book addresses the complex relationship between geography and political power within the context of the crisis and fall of that state between 1045SH771 B.C. Drawing on the latest archaeological discoveries, the book shows how inscribed bronze vessels can be used to reveal changes in the political space of the period, and explores literary and geographical evidence to produce a coherent understanding of the Bronze Age past.

Genres: History, China, Nonfiction

424 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Li Feng (Chinese: 李峰; pinyin: Lǐ Fēng), or Feng Li, is a professor of Early Chinese History and Archaeology at Columbia University, where he is director of graduate studies for the Department of East Asian Languages and Culture.

Reviews

[于连 · Rating 4 out of 5]

　　存在了将近三百年的西周在建国之初选择的行政体制，在当今史学界普遍认为是一种自我凌迟的制度，一开始中央政府占据了物饶水美的渭河平原，其余按照血缘亲疏以西向东依次分封，但是受限于尚处襁褓的官僚制度和民众低下受教育水平，无法向分封国收取税收，反而通过不停割让中央封地奖赏诸侯来维系忠诚。
　　与之相印的是作为西周衣钵继承人的秦帝国采用了中央集权官僚制度，终于首次实现了中央政府对于庞大地区的实质性控制。但有趣的是短命的秦在刘邦攻入咸阳后似乎一夜之间消亡，而当年先天畸形的东周却能延续了五百年，作者把这归因于一个严格和纪律严明的政府模式和对人性的道德价值重视之间的失衡。
　　秦人将所有权力都集中于咸阳的帝国，而一旦中心遭毁灭，这个帝国体系随之瘫痪。而在长达八个世纪的两周，天子的称谓始终属于周王，那些轮番登场的诸侯群雄只能称王来表达对周王现行威权的敬重。西周作为华夏文明的缘起，东周则是现代中国口中国学思想诞生的年代，对后世产生的不可磨灭的影响，此书值得推荐。

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s great. I highly recommend Professor Li’s book. Use solid archaeological evidence, inscriptions, Book of Songs and other materials to infer the historical events of the Western Zhou Dynasty, with solid basic skills and rigorous scholarship. There are some small imaginative inferences, such as the experiences of the emperor's father, etc., which are not rigorous enough, but the flaws are not concealed. Highly recommended! 24-74

[BeingTyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

有理有据，逻辑缜密。从传世文献、金文、地理、考古多种材料中，作者为读者构建出了西周的地缘政治和其内部政治的生态。读完这本书后，脑海中已经有了一个非常立体的西周形象。

[Elijah Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent look at the interaction between early Central Asian powers and the Western Zhou dynasty, with a focus on geographical factors influencing Zhou state development.