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Towards Civilization⑦|Capital site of Shang Dynasty in Yanshi of Luoyang: A boundary mark between Xia and Shang dynasties
Source：dahe.cn
Published：2022-12-20 17:31
"We should attach more importance to and put more efforts on archaeological research to carry forward the project of tracing the origins of Chinese civilization," stressed Chinese President Xi Jinping during his recent inspection tour to Anyang city, Henan province. Henan, cradle of the Chinese nation and civilization, is not only the birthplace of modern Chinese archaeology, but also the core area for tracing the origins of Chinese civilization. Together with the Development and Reform Commission of Henan Province and the Administration of Cultural Heritage of Henan Province, we are launching the "Towards Civilization" bilingual series featuring 13 key archaeological sites in Henan to help you catch a glimpse of wonderful Henan and brilliant Chinese civilization. Here is the 7th episode of the series: Capital site of Shang Dynasty in Yanshi of Luoyang: A boundary mark between Xia and Shang dynasties.
近日，习近平总书记考察了殷墟遗址，提出考古工作要继续重视和加强，继续深化中华文明探源工程。河南是中华民族和中华文明的重要发祥地，中国现代考古学从河南起步，中华文明探源从河南开始。2022年11月5日起，大河网联合省发展改革委、省文物局推出《追寻文明的足迹》系列报道，一起走进厚重河南。今日推出第七期：《早商都邑 夏商界标——偃师商城遗址》。
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The only well-preserved capital site of the Shang Dynasty (1,600-1,046 BC) is located in Yanshi district of Luoyang city, Henan province, which is divided into three parts (a large city, a small city and an imperial city). Its discovery provides significant evidence to mark the boundary between the dynasties of Xia (2,070-1,600 BC) and Shang. The cultural relics unearthed at the site, including pottery wares, jade articles, tools made of stone, bone or clams, as well as primitive "porcelain" or proto-porcelain, provide valuable materials for restoring the truth of early Chinese history.
偃师商城遗址位于偃师尸乡沟一带，是我国唯一一处保留下来的未遭破坏的商代都城遗址。它有三重城垣，由外到内分别为大城、小城和宫城，它的发现为夏文化和商文化的分界提供了重要的实物证据。遗址内出土了包括陶器、玉器、石器、骨器、蚌器和原始瓷器在内的丰富的文化遗物，为复原中国早期历史提供了宝贵实物资料。
Capital site of the Shang Dynasty in Yanshi district of Luoyang city. [Photo provided to dahe.cn]
Besides, dating back to some 3,600 years ago, it is also the earliest one discovered so far among all the capital sites of the early Shang Dynasty, which is significant to the study of the Shang capitals. The Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project commissioned by China in 1996 to determine with accuracy the location and time frame of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties regards it as the boundary mark between the Xia and Shang dynasties. In 2001, it was listed among China's top 100 archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.
距今3600多年前的偃师商城遗址是迄今为止所发现的我国商代早期城址中年代最早、保存最好、便于全面进行考古科学研究工作的一座帝都。夏商周断代工程将偃师商城遗址作为夏商王朝分界的界标。2001 年偃师商城被评为中国 20 世纪百项考古大发现之一。
Capital site of the Shang Dynasty in Yanshi district of Luoyang city. [Photo provided to dahe.cn]
Most archaeologists believe that this site was Xibo, the first capital of the Shang Dynasty established after Tang (first king of the Shang) destroying the Xia. The capital was carefully planned based on the city construction experience since the late Yangshao Culture period dating back some 4,700 to 7,000 years ago. It was a pioneer in China's capital construction history of over 3,000 years and a link between the past and the future.
偃师商城遗址是商汤灭夏后建立的早商都邑性质的城址，为商王朝建立的界标，对殷商历史研究具有重大意义。多数考古专家认为偃师商城即古文献中所谓的“西亳”。偃师商城周密规划，选址得当、主次分明、布局合理，总结了我国自仰韶文化晚期开始造城的经验，开创了其后三千多年建造都城的先河，在我国都城建设史、建筑史上起着承前启后的作用。
Capital site of the Shang Dynasty in Yanshi district of Luoyang city. [Photo provided to dahe.cn]
It is worth noting that this site presents the entire capital layout, palace and city construction of the early Shang Dynasty. Its imperial city is not only among the earliest ones known so far, but the only one of the Xia, Shang and Zhou (1,046-256 BC) period that has been excavated and can be used, together with the palace buildings, as valuable materials for comprehensive archaeological study of the capitals of the early China, especially the imperial city system and the palace layout.
偃师商城遗址是全面、完整展示早商城市与宫殿型制、古代城市建设技术成就的宝贵实存。偃师商城内的宫城不但是我国迄今所知年代最早的宫城之一，也是我国夏商周三代唯一被考古全面发掘出的可供全面研究的宫城遗址。宫城及其内部的宫殿建筑是研究我国早期帝王都城，尤其是宫城制度、宫殿建筑布局的珍贵实物资料。（编译/赵汉青 播音/杨佳欣 视频/何蒙贺 审校/丁岚）
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Editor：Zhao Hanqing