A multidimensional investigation of Qin and Han culture

As the first period of strength in Chinese history, the Qin and Han dynasties were both a period of transformation of Chinese society and a period of integration of Chinese culture.

Xianyang-Xi'an, during the Warring States Qin and Han Dynasties, served as a cultural center of gravity and administrative center, forming a brilliant historical influence. In ancient times, "Xianyang" and "Chang'an" were often used as one place. The Chronicle of History, Volume VIII, "Gao Zu Benji" records: "In February (in the seventh year of Emperor Gao), Gao Zu passed through Zhao and Luoyang from Pingcheng to Chang'an. Changle Palace was formed, and the chancellor had moved to Chang'an. Sima Zhen's "Suo Yin" wrote: "According to the "Notes on Han Yi", Gao Zu was six years old and renamed Xianyang Chang'an. "Three Auxiliary Old Things" Fufeng Weicheng, Ben XianyangDi, Emperor Gao is a new city, seven years belong to Chang'an Ye. Volume 93 of the "Records of History" "The Biography of Han Xin Lu Qilie" also clearly states: "Chang'an, so Xianyang also." In the consciousness of the Han Dynasty, "Xianyang" and "Chang'an" could have been said to be one in terms of their spatial position. In fact, in this place, there is also the cultural accumulation of Zhou people in Fenghao.

The Broken Shadow of Chang'an: Notes on the Cultural History of the Qin and Han Dynasties, by Wang Zi, published by Shanghai People's Publishing House

The book "Broken Shadow of Chang'an" attempts to depict the cultural appearance of Xianyang-Xi'an in the Qin and Han Dynasties from several aspects that people have paid little attention to in the past, hoping to further benefit the overall understanding and comprehensive explanation of the history and culture of the Qin and Han Dynasties. The practice of this desire also has an effort to expand the scope of investigation to the entire Qin and Han society. As far as socio-cultural observations are concerned, there is a concern for high-level politics, and it also involves the common people of society, including the working class.

This book roughly reviews the cultural creation, cultural accumulation and cultural radiation of Xianyang-Chang'an, the political and economic center of gravity of the brilliant era of Qin and Han civilization. Investigations on the themes of Xianyang "Ji Que", "Yan Danzi" and "Bridge of Machine Hair", Qin Gongyuan "Qi'e's Platform", Shi Huang's "Feng Thief Lanchi", Huhai Wangyi Palace "Ancestral Jing", and Chang'an 'Youth' and "Evil Youth" can be seen as a response to the academic trends that have emerged in urban history in recent years. The ancient sayings "Qincheng" and "Han Bed" emphasize the glorious material and cultural relics of The Qin and Han Dynasties and the symbols of political civilization embodied in them. Although our perspective is narrow and shallow, it reveals the excavation of some historical and cultural aspects, and perhaps the significance of academic perspective.

Historical figures who have been expressed in "Xianyang" and "Chang'an", Shang Martin, Meng Yijun, Prince Dan of Yan, Qin Shi Huang, Qin II, Liu Bang, Xiang Yu, Lü Hou, Jia Yi, Sima Qian, Emperor Wu of Han, Empress Chen, etc., "Chang'an Broken Shadow" also involves their words and deeds. Of course, it's just a silhouette of a fragment. However, the deeds of "Qin Ke Gongsun Martingale" on his mission to the Chu State can be said to be a new discovery. A number of characters who have not left their names and surnames have performed in the history of "Xianyang" and "Chang'an", and they also have some hints about relevant historical memories. For example, the "Lanchi" and "thieves" who were accidentally encountered by Qin Shi Huang's "Weixing Xianyang", such as the "Five Tombs" and "Handsome" in history, as well as the "floating", "floating", "juvenile" and "evil teenagers" who became the urban security problems of the Han Dynasty.

This book is included in the article "Treading on the Straight Road of Qin Shi Huang". The original text is the "Author's Saying" of the "Qin Zhidao" Series of Books that I edited. The Qin Shi Huang Straight Road is a traffic avenue from the northern Great Wall defense line to the Ganquan-Xianyang direction of the administrative center of Guanzhong, and the remains of the highest level of engineering can be regarded as a memorial to Qin Zheng.

In this series of books, Zhang Zaiming's research fellow "Ridges and Valleys Without Words - Archaeological Records of Qin Zhidao" was the earliest to submit. Zhang Zaiming edited the "Atlas of Chinese Cultural Relics and Shaanxi Fascicle" and was unanimously praised by the archaeological and cultural relics community for its serious work and high quality. The "Qinzhidao Ruins in Fuxian County, Shaanxi", which he presided over, was rated as "Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries in China" in 2009. Because of his outstanding contribution to the archaeology of Qin Zhidao, Zhang Zaiming became a recognized hero of Qin and Han transportation archaeology.

In addition to visiting the southern section of Qinzhi Road on foot, we have also conducted field investigations of the ruins of Haoluo Road, Wuguan Road and the northern section of Meridian Road in a variety of transportation methods. South and north of qinling, up and down the Han River, between Shaanxi and Gansu, as well as Shaohua Rock Foothills, Hukou Frightening Tao, Yunyang Zhangfei Temple, Longmen Taishi Ancestral Hall... How many times have the dense forests of Daling sweated, cut the lights and whispered at night. A few days ago, He died peacefully due to ineffective medical treatment. The failure to send off Chang'an is deeply saddened! I would like to use this fragment of the text to send a remembrance and to mourn.

(The author is a professor at the National College of Chinese University)