A study of Eastern Zhou history based on the Warring states Chu bamboo manuscripts : from the perspective of cultural memory = 戰國楚簡東周史事 : 從文化記憶角度探討

Abstract

Early research on the Eastern Zhou period heavily relied on transmitted texts, such as the Zuozhuan and Shiji. However, this method encountered substantial limitations in accessing extant records from the pre-Qin period. Fortunately, recent years have witnessed the excavation of a significant quantity of Warring States and Qin-Han bamboo and silk manuscripts. Notable examples include the Shanghai Museum Warring States Bamboo Slips and Tsinghua University Warring States Bamboo Slips. The discovery of these newly unearthed sources has made a substantial contribution to the ongoing scholarly discourse surrounding the study of the Eastern Zhou period. The Warring States Chu bamboo slips, in particular, hold invaluable historical records written during the Warring States period, offering indispensable insights into the history of this era.

The significance of these unearthed materials in historical reconstruction lies in their preservation of authentic historical records that reflect the cultural context of the Eastern Zhou period. These materials comprise a substantial corpus of information that has been lost or corrupted during the transmission of texts. Consequently, contemporary scholars can utilize these newly excavated sources to reconstruct the history of the Eastern Zhou period. This study centers on the theory of Cultural Memory, as posited by German scholars Jan Assmann and Aleida Assmann, and examines how the historical records contained within these newly excavated materials contribute to the construction of ethnic culture and identity during the Eastern Zhou period.

Chapter 1 of this paper provides a brief overview of the purpose and significance of excavated texts in the reconstruction of Eastern Zhou history. It also includes a review of previous research, as well as a justification for the methodology employed in this study.

In Chapter 2, the paper delves into a detailed explanation of the distinction between “Communicative Memory” and “Cultural Memory”. The focus is on the classification of historical records found on Warring States Chu bamboo slips, specifically as either “Communicative Memory” or “Cultural Memory”.

Chapters 3 and 4 examine the nature of Warring States Chu bamboo slips in detail, with a particular focus on their content pertaining to the Zhou vassal states of Jin, Zheng, and Chu. The analysis explores how these bamboo slips contribute to the construction of cultural memory and their correlation with shifts in power dynamics and ethnic identity.

Chapter 6 scrutinizes the loss and restoration of cultural memory of the Eastern Zhou period. The study examines how the restoration process reflects the ethnic characteristics of Jin, Zheng, and Chu, while also exploring the reasons why the cultural memory of the Eastern Zhou period can be rewritten by later generations. The chapter highlights the reconstructive nature of cultural memory.

In summary, this paper consolidates the findings and emphasizes the crucial role that written language played in facilitating the documentation of cultural memory during the Eastern Zhou period. It highlights the way cultural memory served as a strategy for Eastern Zhou intellectuals to engage in political power and its importance in helping individuals in that period understand and define their own ethnic identity amidst the political instability they experienced.