Yin Zhou qing tong qi shang ci ming wen yanq iu = Inscribed bronze vessels of Yin and Zhou recording the granting of benefices

Abstract

This thesis comprises the first major survey of an extensive corpus of bronze inscriptions of pre-Han date - the "investiture inscriptions” - which have a significant place in the study of Western Chou institutions. The subject under survey is one that has, of course, been covered in several general works of recent decades cited frequently throughout the thesis but it has not hitherto been reviewed so fully or in such detail as I have attempted here. The approach to the primary documents which involves their sole use and the almost entire shelving of the traditional literature comprises a major application of this long needed discipline in historical research in this field. Research conducted throughout several thousands of individual "documents" has been done directly per medium of the original archaic script and of these a total of 285 "investiture inscriptions” has been assembled. The Tables provided in appropriate sections of the Thesis are the fruits of the time-consuming labour involved and provide the basic data upon the basis of which the entire survey is written. This compilation of data makes its first appearance in this survey. Needless to mention, I am indebted to a large number of earlier scholars whose work in many aspects of this difficult field has paved the way for later students like myself to concentrate upon more extensive areas of investigation. The Chinese language survey is the Thesis proper; the English language summary - an additional requirement — is designed primarily for readers unfamiliar with the field of study and consequently it should not be judged as a scholarly contribution. Unfortunately the Thesis subject is one that cannot be summarised in an entirely satisfactory manner for readers who are unfamiliar with the culture, history, and language of the area and period surveyed. I am indebted to Mr. Danny Kane for assistance in making my English rendering read more naturally than it did in my original drafts. Faulty style and imperfect presentation and any other such shortcomings are, of course, my responsibility. Show more