The Oracle Bone Inscriptions from Huayuanzhuang East

The Oracle Bone Inscriptions from Huayuanzhuang East

Author: Adam C. Schwartz

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2019-11-18

Total Pages: 487

ISBN-13: 1501505297

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Since 1899 more than 73,000 pieces of inscribed divination shell and bone have been found inside the moated enclosure of the Anyang-core at the former capital of the late Shang state. Nearly all of these divinations were done on behalf of the Shang kingsand has led to the apt characterization that oracle bone inscriptions describe their motivations, experiences, and priorities. There are, however, much smaller sets of divination accounts that were done on behalf of members of the Shang elite other than the king.First noticed in the early 1930's, grouped and periodized shortly thereafter, oracle bone inscriptions produced explicitly by or on behalf of "royal familygroups" reveal information about key aspects of daily life in Shang societythat are barely even mentioned in Western scholarship. The newly published Huayuanzhuang East Oracle Bone inscriptions are a spectacular addition to the corpus of texts from Anyang: hundreds of intact or largely intact turtle shells and bovine scapulae densely inscribed with records of the divinations in which they were used. They were produced on the behalf of a mature prince of the royal family whose parents, both alive and still very much active, almost certainly were the twenty-first Shang king Wu Ding (r. c. 1200 B.C.) and his consort Lady Hao (fu Hao). The Huayuanzhuang East corpus is an unusually homogeneous set of more than two thousand five hundred divination records, produced over a short period of time on behalf of a prince of the royal family. There are typically multiple records of divinations regarding the same or similar topics that can be synchronized together, which not only allows for remarkable access into the esoteric world of divination practice, but also produce micro-reconstructions of what is essentially East Asia's earliest and most complete "day and month planner." Because these texts are unusually linguistically transparent and well preserved, homogeneous in orthography and content, and published to an unprecedentedly high standard, they are also ideal material for learning to read and interpret early epigraphic texts. The Huayuanzhuang East oracle bone inscriptions are a tremendously important Shang archive of "material documents" that were produced by a previously unknown divination and scribal organization. They expose us to an entirely fresh set of perspectives and preoccupationscentering ona member of the royal family at the commencement of China's historical period. The completely annotated English translation of the inscriptions is the first of its kind, and is a vibrant new source of Shang history that can be accessedto rewrite and supplement what we know about early Chinese civilization and life in the ancient world. Before the discerning reader are the motives, preoccupations, and experiences of a late Shang prince working simultaneously in service both for his Majesty, his parents, and hisown family.


Book Synopsis The Oracle Bone Inscriptions from Huayuanzhuang East by : Adam C. Schwartz

Download or read book The Oracle Bone Inscriptions from Huayuanzhuang East written by Adam C. Schwartz and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. This book was released on 2019-11-18 with total page 487 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since 1899 more than 73,000 pieces of inscribed divination shell and bone have been found inside the moated enclosure of the Anyang-core at the former capital of the late Shang state. Nearly all of these divinations were done on behalf of the Shang kingsand has led to the apt characterization that oracle bone inscriptions describe their motivations, experiences, and priorities. There are, however, much smaller sets of divination accounts that were done on behalf of members of the Shang elite other than the king.First noticed in the early 1930's, grouped and periodized shortly thereafter, oracle bone inscriptions produced explicitly by or on behalf of "royal familygroups" reveal information about key aspects of daily life in Shang societythat are barely even mentioned in Western scholarship. The newly published Huayuanzhuang East Oracle Bone inscriptions are a spectacular addition to the corpus of texts from Anyang: hundreds of intact or largely intact turtle shells and bovine scapulae densely inscribed with records of the divinations in which they were used. They were produced on the behalf of a mature prince of the royal family whose parents, both alive and still very much active, almost certainly were the twenty-first Shang king Wu Ding (r. c. 1200 B.C.) and his consort Lady Hao (fu Hao). The Huayuanzhuang East corpus is an unusually homogeneous set of more than two thousand five hundred divination records, produced over a short period of time on behalf of a prince of the royal family. There are typically multiple records of divinations regarding the same or similar topics that can be synchronized together, which not only allows for remarkable access into the esoteric world of divination practice, but also produce micro-reconstructions of what is essentially East Asia's earliest and most complete "day and month planner." Because these texts are unusually linguistically transparent and well preserved, homogeneous in orthography and content, and published to an unprecedentedly high standard, they are also ideal material for learning to read and interpret early epigraphic texts. The Huayuanzhuang East oracle bone inscriptions are a tremendously important Shang archive of "material documents" that were produced by a previously unknown divination and scribal organization. They expose us to an entirely fresh set of perspectives and preoccupationscentering ona member of the royal family at the commencement of China's historical period. The completely annotated English translation of the inscriptions is the first of its kind, and is a vibrant new source of Shang history that can be accessedto rewrite and supplement what we know about early Chinese civilization and life in the ancient world. Before the discerning reader are the motives, preoccupations, and experiences of a late Shang prince working simultaneously in service both for his Majesty, his parents, and hisown family.

The Other Yijing

The Other Yijing

Author: Tze-ki Hon

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2021-11-29

Total Pages: 323

ISBN-13: 9004500030

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This book explains the different ways that the Yijing (Book of Changes) was used in Chinese society. It demonstrates that the Yijing was a living text used by the educated elite and the populace to address their fear and anxiety.


Book Synopsis The Other Yijing by : Tze-ki Hon

Download or read book The Other Yijing written by Tze-ki Hon and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2021-11-29 with total page 323 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explains the different ways that the Yijing (Book of Changes) was used in Chinese society. It demonstrates that the Yijing was a living text used by the educated elite and the populace to address their fear and anxiety.

Animals Through Chinese History

Animals Through Chinese History

Author: Roel Sterckx

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 293

ISBN-13: 1108428150

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This innovative collection opens a door into the rich history of animals in China. This title is also available as Open Access.


Book Synopsis Animals Through Chinese History by : Roel Sterckx

Download or read book Animals Through Chinese History written by Roel Sterckx and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2019 with total page 293 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This innovative collection opens a door into the rich history of animals in China. This title is also available as Open Access.

Chinese Mythology A to Z

Chinese Mythology A to Z

Author: Jeremy Roberts

Publisher:

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13: 9780816048700

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Alphabetical entries cover Buddhist deities, legendary characters, sacred places and shrines, Chinese dynasties and beliefs, and animal legends and themes.


Book Synopsis Chinese Mythology A to Z by : Jeremy Roberts

Download or read book Chinese Mythology A to Z written by Jeremy Roberts and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Alphabetical entries cover Buddhist deities, legendary characters, sacred places and shrines, Chinese dynasties and beliefs, and animal legends and themes.

The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama

The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama

Author: Xiaomei Chen

Publisher: Columbia University Press

Published: 2014-04-01

Total Pages: 656

ISBN-13: 023116503X

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This condensed anthology reproduces close to a dozen plays from Xiaomei ChenÕs well-received original collection, along with her critical introduction to the historical, cultural, and aesthetic evolution of twentieth-century Chinese spoken drama. Comprising representative works from the PeopleÕs Republic of China, the collection encapsulates the revolutionary rethinking of Chinese theater and performance that began in the late Qing dynasty and vividly portrays the uncertainty and anxiety brought on by modernism, socialism, political conflict, and war. Chosen works from 1919 to 1990 also highlight the formation of Chinese national and gender identities during a period of tremendous social, cultural, and political change and the genesis of contemporary attitudes toward the West. PRC theater tracks the rise of communism in China, juxtaposing ideals of Chinese socialism against the sacrifices made for a new society. Post-Mao drama addresses the nationÕs socialist legacy, its attempt to reexamine its cultural roots, and postsocialist reflections on critical issues such as nation, class, gender, and collective memories. An essential, portable guide for easy reference and classroom use, this abridgement provides a concise yet well-rounded survey of China's theatricality and representation of political life. This work has not only established a canon of modern Chinese drama but also made it available for the first time in English in a single volume.


Book Synopsis The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama by : Xiaomei Chen

Download or read book The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama written by Xiaomei Chen and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 2014-04-01 with total page 656 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This condensed anthology reproduces close to a dozen plays from Xiaomei ChenÕs well-received original collection, along with her critical introduction to the historical, cultural, and aesthetic evolution of twentieth-century Chinese spoken drama. Comprising representative works from the PeopleÕs Republic of China, the collection encapsulates the revolutionary rethinking of Chinese theater and performance that began in the late Qing dynasty and vividly portrays the uncertainty and anxiety brought on by modernism, socialism, political conflict, and war. Chosen works from 1919 to 1990 also highlight the formation of Chinese national and gender identities during a period of tremendous social, cultural, and political change and the genesis of contemporary attitudes toward the West. PRC theater tracks the rise of communism in China, juxtaposing ideals of Chinese socialism against the sacrifices made for a new society. Post-Mao drama addresses the nationÕs socialist legacy, its attempt to reexamine its cultural roots, and postsocialist reflections on critical issues such as nation, class, gender, and collective memories. An essential, portable guide for easy reference and classroom use, this abridgement provides a concise yet well-rounded survey of China's theatricality and representation of political life. This work has not only established a canon of modern Chinese drama but also made it available for the first time in English in a single volume.

Chinese Writing and Calligraphy

Chinese Writing and Calligraphy

Author: Wendan Li

Publisher: University of Hawaii Press

Published: 2010-05-31

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 0824860691

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Suitable for college and high school students and those learning on their own, this fully illustrated coursebook provides comprehensive instruction in the history and practical techniques of Chinese calligraphy. No previous knowledge of the language is required to follow the text or complete the lessons. The work covers three major areas: 1) descriptions of Chinese characters and their components, including stroke types, layout patterns, and indications of sound and meaning; 2) basic brush techniques; and 3) the social, cultural, historical, and philosophical underpinnings of Chinese calligraphy—all of which are crucial to understanding and appreciating this art form. Students practice brush writing as they progress from tracing to copying to free-hand writing. Model characters are marked to indicate meaning and stroke order, and well-known model phrases are shown in various script types, allowing students to practice different calligraphic styles. Beginners will find the author’s advice on how to avoid common pitfalls in writing brush strokes invaluable. Chinese Writing and Calligraphy will be welcomed by both students and instructors in need of an accessible text on learning the fundamentals of the art of writing Chinese characters.


Book Synopsis Chinese Writing and Calligraphy by : Wendan Li

Download or read book Chinese Writing and Calligraphy written by Wendan Li and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 2010-05-31 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Suitable for college and high school students and those learning on their own, this fully illustrated coursebook provides comprehensive instruction in the history and practical techniques of Chinese calligraphy. No previous knowledge of the language is required to follow the text or complete the lessons. The work covers three major areas: 1) descriptions of Chinese characters and their components, including stroke types, layout patterns, and indications of sound and meaning; 2) basic brush techniques; and 3) the social, cultural, historical, and philosophical underpinnings of Chinese calligraphy—all of which are crucial to understanding and appreciating this art form. Students practice brush writing as they progress from tracing to copying to free-hand writing. Model characters are marked to indicate meaning and stroke order, and well-known model phrases are shown in various script types, allowing students to practice different calligraphic styles. Beginners will find the author’s advice on how to avoid common pitfalls in writing brush strokes invaluable. Chinese Writing and Calligraphy will be welcomed by both students and instructors in need of an accessible text on learning the fundamentals of the art of writing Chinese characters.

Understanding Ancient Chinese Bronzes

Understanding Ancient Chinese Bronzes

Author: Christian Deydier

Publisher:

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 212

ISBN-13: 9782955416006

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Book Synopsis Understanding Ancient Chinese Bronzes by : Christian Deydier

Download or read book Understanding Ancient Chinese Bronzes written by Christian Deydier and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Dual Learning

Dual Learning

Author: Tao Qin

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-11-13

Total Pages: 190

ISBN-13: 9811588848

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Many AI (and machine learning) tasks present in dual forms, e.g., English-to-Chinese translation vs. Chinese-to-English translation, speech recognition vs. speech synthesis,question answering vs. question generation, and image classification vs. image generation. Dual learning is a new learning framework that leverages the primal-dual structure of AI tasks to obtain effective feedback or regularization signals in order to enhance the learning/inference process. Since it was first introduced four years ago, the concept has attracted considerable attention in multiple fields, and been proven effective in numerous applications, such as machine translation, image-to-image translation, speech synthesis and recognition, (visual) question answering and generation, image captioning and generation, and code summarization and generation. Offering a systematic and comprehensive overview of dual learning, this book enables interested researchers (both established and newcomers) and practitioners to gain a better understanding of the state of the art in the field. It also provides suggestions for further reading and tools to help readers advance the area. The book is divided into five parts. The first part gives a brief introduction to machine learning and deep learning. The second part introduces the algorithms based on the dual reconstruction principle using machine translation, image translation, speech processing and other NLP/CV tasks as the demo applications. It covers algorithms, such as dual semi-supervised learning, dual unsupervised learning and multi-agent dual learning. In the context of image translation, it introduces algorithms including CycleGAN, DualGAN, DiscoGAN cdGAN and more recent techniques/applications. The third part presents various work based on the probability principle, including dual supervised learning and dual inference based on the joint-probability principle and dual semi-supervised learning based on the marginal-probability principle. The fourth part reviews various theoretical studies on dual learning and discusses its connections to other learning paradigms. The fifth part provides a summary and suggests future research directions.


Book Synopsis Dual Learning by : Tao Qin

Download or read book Dual Learning written by Tao Qin and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-11-13 with total page 190 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many AI (and machine learning) tasks present in dual forms, e.g., English-to-Chinese translation vs. Chinese-to-English translation, speech recognition vs. speech synthesis,question answering vs. question generation, and image classification vs. image generation. Dual learning is a new learning framework that leverages the primal-dual structure of AI tasks to obtain effective feedback or regularization signals in order to enhance the learning/inference process. Since it was first introduced four years ago, the concept has attracted considerable attention in multiple fields, and been proven effective in numerous applications, such as machine translation, image-to-image translation, speech synthesis and recognition, (visual) question answering and generation, image captioning and generation, and code summarization and generation. Offering a systematic and comprehensive overview of dual learning, this book enables interested researchers (both established and newcomers) and practitioners to gain a better understanding of the state of the art in the field. It also provides suggestions for further reading and tools to help readers advance the area. The book is divided into five parts. The first part gives a brief introduction to machine learning and deep learning. The second part introduces the algorithms based on the dual reconstruction principle using machine translation, image translation, speech processing and other NLP/CV tasks as the demo applications. It covers algorithms, such as dual semi-supervised learning, dual unsupervised learning and multi-agent dual learning. In the context of image translation, it introduces algorithms including CycleGAN, DualGAN, DiscoGAN cdGAN and more recent techniques/applications. The third part presents various work based on the probability principle, including dual supervised learning and dual inference based on the joint-probability principle and dual semi-supervised learning based on the marginal-probability principle. The fourth part reviews various theoretical studies on dual learning and discusses its connections to other learning paradigms. The fifth part provides a summary and suggests future research directions.

The Origins of Chinese Thought

The Origins of Chinese Thought

Author: Zehou Li

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2018-10-22

Total Pages: 301

ISBN-13: 9004379622

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From Shamanism to Ritual Regulations and Humaneness offers an account of the origins and nature of a uniquely Chinese way of thinking that, carried through Confucian tradition, continues to define the character of Chinese culture and society.


Book Synopsis The Origins of Chinese Thought by : Zehou Li

Download or read book The Origins of Chinese Thought written by Zehou Li and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2018-10-22 with total page 301 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From Shamanism to Ritual Regulations and Humaneness offers an account of the origins and nature of a uniquely Chinese way of thinking that, carried through Confucian tradition, continues to define the character of Chinese culture and society.

After Confucius

After Confucius

Author: Paul R. Goldin

Publisher: University of Hawaii Press

Published: 2017-04-01

Total Pages: 279

ISBN-13: 0824873998

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After Confucius is a collection of eight studies of Chinese philosophy from the time of Confucius to the formation of the empire in the second and third centuries B.C.E. As detailed in a masterful introduction, each essay serves as a concrete example of “thick description”—an approach invented by philosopher Gilbert Ryle—which aims to reveal the logic that informs an observable exchange among members of a community or society. To grasp the significance of such exchanges, it is necessary to investigate the networks of meaning on which they rely. Paul R. Goldin argues that the character of ancient Chinese philosophy can be appreciated only if we recognize the cultural codes underlying the circulation of ideas in that world. Thick description is the best preliminary method to determine how Chinese thinkers conceived of their own enterprise. Who were the ancient Chinese philosophers? What was their intended audience? What were they arguing about? How did they respond to earlier thinkers, and to each other? Why did those in power wish to hear from them, and what did they claim to offer in return for patronage? Goldin addresses these questions as he looks at several topics, including rhetorical conventions of Chinese philosophical literature; the value of recently excavated manuscripts for the interpretation of the more familiar, received literature; and the duty of translators to convey the world of concerns of the original texts. Each of the cases investigated in this wide-ranging volume exemplifies the central conviction behind Goldin’s plea for thick description: We do not do justice to classical Chinese philosophy unless we engage squarely the complex and ancient culture that engendered it. An electronic version of this book is freely available thanks to the support of libraries working with Knowledge Unlatched, a collaborative initiative designed to make high-quality books open access for the public good. The open-access version of this book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which means that the work may be freely downloaded and shared for non-commercial purposes, provided credit is given to the author. Derivative works and commercial uses require permission from the publisher.


Book Synopsis After Confucius by : Paul R. Goldin

Download or read book After Confucius written by Paul R. Goldin and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 2017-04-01 with total page 279 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After Confucius is a collection of eight studies of Chinese philosophy from the time of Confucius to the formation of the empire in the second and third centuries B.C.E. As detailed in a masterful introduction, each essay serves as a concrete example of “thick description”—an approach invented by philosopher Gilbert Ryle—which aims to reveal the logic that informs an observable exchange among members of a community or society. To grasp the significance of such exchanges, it is necessary to investigate the networks of meaning on which they rely. Paul R. Goldin argues that the character of ancient Chinese philosophy can be appreciated only if we recognize the cultural codes underlying the circulation of ideas in that world. Thick description is the best preliminary method to determine how Chinese thinkers conceived of their own enterprise. Who were the ancient Chinese philosophers? What was their intended audience? What were they arguing about? How did they respond to earlier thinkers, and to each other? Why did those in power wish to hear from them, and what did they claim to offer in return for patronage? Goldin addresses these questions as he looks at several topics, including rhetorical conventions of Chinese philosophical literature; the value of recently excavated manuscripts for the interpretation of the more familiar, received literature; and the duty of translators to convey the world of concerns of the original texts. Each of the cases investigated in this wide-ranging volume exemplifies the central conviction behind Goldin’s plea for thick description: We do not do justice to classical Chinese philosophy unless we engage squarely the complex and ancient culture that engendered it. An electronic version of this book is freely available thanks to the support of libraries working with Knowledge Unlatched, a collaborative initiative designed to make high-quality books open access for the public good. The open-access version of this book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which means that the work may be freely downloaded and shared for non-commercial purposes, provided credit is given to the author. Derivative works and commercial uses require permission from the publisher.