This book presents an archeological interpretation of the history of Chinese civilization. Tracing back from recent history to the distant past, it explores the breadth of Chinese civilization. Using archeological remains and cultural relics as starting points and approaching the cultural dimension from material perspectives, it presents a panoramic view of Chinäs civilizational continuity, together with its ideological and cultural characteristics. Featuring a wealth of illustrations (including photos of cultural relics and sites, archeological surveys, etc.) and texts written in easy-to-understand language, it offers an engaging read without sacrificing academic quality. The main components of ¿civilization¿ are addressed: capital archeology, mausoleum archeology, ritual wares and architecture archeology, as well as written language. The book offers a unique resource for archeology scholars and majors, as well as general readers who are interested in Chinese archeology and history.

Qingzhu Liu, professor, doctoral supervisor, and archeologist, graduated from the Department of History of Peking University in 1967 with a major in Archeology and is currently a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; member of the Academic Advisory Committee of the Chinese Academy of History; member of the National Advisory Committee of Experts in Philosophy and Social Sciences of China; the director of the Academic Committee of the Chinese Yanhuang Culture Research Association; the dean of the School of History at Zhengzhou University; the dean of the Research Institute of Central Plains History and Culture; and a corresponding member of the German Archeological Institute. He has authored books such as Archaeological Studies of Ancient Capitals and Emperors' Mausoleums, The Eleven Tombs of the Western Han Dynasty, History of Chang'an, etc., and academic theses such as "The History of China's Territory in the View of a Unified Multi-Ethnic Country," etc. His work The Weiyang-gong palace site in Han Chang'an City was honored by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Chapter 1

Introduction: Interpreting "China's Un-fractured Civilization of 5000 Years"

I. Interpretation of "wen ming"

II. Interpretation of "the starting point"

1. Historical Documentation

1. Archaeological discovery

III. Interpretation of the "un-fractured" nature of Chinese civilization

1. Genetic continuity

2. The evolvement of Chinese family names

3. Sacrifice to the Yellow Emperor

4. The mainstream social culture and national culture

5. The continuity of the Chinese language

IV. Interpretation of Material Representations

1. Capital city

2. Mausoleum

3. Ritual architectures and sacrificial objects

4. Written language-the Chinese character

Chapter 2 

Archaeological Discoveries and Studies on Capital Cities

I. Overview

1. Capital city development amid the civilization 

2. Constituent elements of the capital city

3. Basic development trends of ancient capital cities

II. Tracing from the Forbidden City in Beijing to capitals of the Five Emperors era

1. Beijing in the Ming and Qing Dynasties 

2. Capitals of Yuan Dynasty

3. Capitals of Liao and Jin Dynasties

4. Dongjing City of Song Dynasty

5. Luoyang City of Sui and Tang Dynasties

6. Daxing City of Sui Dynasty and Chang'an City of Tang Dynasty

7. Ye City and Jiankang City of Six Dynasties 

8. Luoyang City of Han and Wei Dynasties

10. Xianyang City of Qin Dynasty

11. Capital cities of the states in East Zhou Dynasty

12. Capital cities of West Zhou Dynasty

13. Capital cities of Shang Dynasty

14. Capital cities of Xia Dynasty

15. Capitals of the Five Emperors era 

III. The core philosophy: materialized manifestation of "zhong" and "he"

1. The concept of "zhong" 

2. The concept of "he" 

Chapter 3 

Archaeological Discoveries and Studies on Emperors' Mausoleums

I.  Overview

1. "Mausoleum as capital" solution

2. Mausoleum as the underground civilization 

3. location selection, distribution and layout of mausoleums

4. Constituent elements of emperors' mausoleums

II. Archaeological discoveries of Emperors' Mausoleums

1. Qing Dynasty mausoleums

2. Ming Dynasty mausoleums

3. Emperor mausoleums of Liao, Jin and Xixia Dynasties

4. Song Dynasty mausoleums 

6. Mausoleums of the Wei, Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties

7. Eastern Han Dynasty mausoleums

8. Western Han Dynasty mausoleums

9. The mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

10. Emperor's tombs of Eastern Zhou Dynasty (Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period) 

11. Western Zhou Dynasty mausoleums

12. Emperor's tombs at Ruins of Yin

Chapter 4

Ritural Architecture, Sacrificial Objects and the Written Language

I. Development of ceremonial buildings

1. Family Temple and Altar: inheritance and evolution of architectural arrangements

2. Bright Hall, Piyong Palace, Lintai Alter and imperial college (Imperial School and Imperial Academy)

3. Temple of Heaven and Temple of Earth

4. Imperial Temple

II. Sacrificial objects

1. Bronze sacrificial object

2. Jade sacrificial object

III. Written language

1. Written language and the formation of civilization

2. Chinese characters inherited over 5000 years

3. The same line of Chinese historical documents

IV. Chinese characters maintain multi-ethnic unity and sustainable development of China's un-fractured Civilization of 5000 years

Chapter 5

The Concept of "zhong he" and National Identity

I. Materialized carrier of the "zhonghe" concept: capital city and mausoleum

II. Family-country unity and the national identity

1. Family-country unity 

2. National identity

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