Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Mythological Approach to Exploring the Origins of Chinese Civilization

  • Book
  • © 2022

Overview

Authors:
  1. Shuxian Ye

    1. Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Is the first book to explore the origin of the Chinese civilization using the quadruple evidence method
  • Includes over 200 photographs of archeological artifacts
  • Offers a provocative interpretation of the ancient Chinese totems such as the bear and the owl

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

Log in via an institution
eBook USD 16.99 USD 84.99
Discount applied Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (22 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Shuxian Ye
    Pages 1-10

  5. Mythological History of the Xia, Shang, Zhou, and Qin Dynasties

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 293-293
      Download chapter PDF

    2. Yu’s Central Bear Flag

      • Shuxian Ye
      Pages 295-313

    3. Erlitou Bronze Bells and Plaques: An Anthropological Perspective of the Origins of Civilization

      • Shuxian Ye
      Pages 315-332

    4. Yu Installing Drums in the Court

      • Shuxian Ye
      Pages 333-349

    5. Jie Waged War on Mount Min: The Sanxingdui Archaeological Site and the Jade Road of Southwest China

      • Shuxian Ye
      Pages 351-368
Back to top

Keywords

About this book

Is the lion the symbol of China? Or should it be the dragon or the phoenix? This book makes a provocative interpretation of the Chinese ancient totems such as the bear and the owl. Taking a mythological approach, it explores the origin of Chinese civilization using the quadruple evidence method, which integrates ancient and unearthed literature, oral transmission, and archeological objects and graphs.


It testifies to the authenticity of unresolved ancient myths and legends from the origins of Chinese Jade Ware (6200BC-5400 BC) to the names of the Yellow Emperor (2698–2598 BC) and the legends from the Xia (2010BC-1600BC), Shang (1600BC-046BC), Zhou (1046BC-771BC), and Qin (221BC-206BC) Dynasties. The book lays the foundation for a reconstruction of Chinese Mythistory.  With well over 200 photographs of historic artifacts, the book appeals to both researchers and general readers.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China

    Shuxian Ye

About the author

YE Shuxian, a Ph.D. holder in Comparative Literature, is a senior professor at Shanghai Jiaotong University, China. He is the chairman of the Chinese Mythology Association and Chinese Comparative Literature Association. He was a visiting professor at the Yale University from 1999 to 2000 and the director of Comparative Literature in the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences from 2004 to 2012. His main areas of research include comparative literature, mythology and literary Anthropology. He has published more than 300 journal articles and over 40 books.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: A Mythological Approach to Exploring the Origins of Chinese Civilization

  • Authors: Shuxian Ye

  • Translated by: Hui Jia, Jing Hua

  • Series Title: Research Series on the Chinese Dream and China’s Development Path

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3096-6

  • Publisher: Springer Singapore

  • eBook Packages: History, History (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Social Sciences Academic Press 2022

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-19-3095-9Published: 27 August 2022

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-981-19-3098-0Published: 28 August 2023

  • eBook ISBN: 978-981-19-3096-6Published: 26 August 2022

  • Series ISSN: 2363-6866

  • Series E-ISSN: 2363-6874

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIII, 511

  • Number of Illustrations: 6 b/w illustrations, 117 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Ancient History, History of China, Cultural History

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top

Search

Navigation