The Shape of the Turtle: Myth, Art, and Cosmos in Early ChinaMany Chinese philosophic concepts derive from an ancient cosmology. This work is the first reconstructions of the mythic thought of the Shang Dynasty (ca. 1700- 1100 B.C.) which laid the foundation for later Chinese patterns of thought. Allan regards the myth, cosmology, divination, sacrificial ritual, and art of the Shang as different manifestations of a common religious system and each is examined in turn, building up a coherent and consistent picture. Although primarily concerned with the Shang, this work also describes the manner in which Shang thought was transformed in the later textual tradition. |
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animal Anyang argued Beijing black bird bronze vessels century B.C. character Chen Mengjia Chuci cosmos cracks ding discussed dragons early Chinese earth east Erlitou excavated fang faxian figure four quadrates Fu Sang Heaven Heji Henan Hollow Mulberry Houjiazhuang Huainanzi Huang Huang Di human identified Jiaguwen K. C. Chang Kaogu Karlgren later Lord Lüshi chunqiu meaning motif mountain Mulberry Tree tradition mythical mythology offerings oracle bone inscriptions period Press qingtongqi reference rulers Ruo Tree sacrifice scholars Shang bronzes Shang dynasty Shang kings Shang ritual Shang shu Shanghai Shanhaijing Shiji Shijing Shun Shuowen spirits square story suggests suns symbol Tang taotie Tian tion tomb transformation turtle underworld Wang Wenwu Western Zhou Xia dynasty Xihe xuan ya-shaped Yaodian Yellow Springs Yi Yin Yinxu Zhengzhou Zhong Zhou Dynasty Zhou texts Zhuan Xu Zhuangzi Zuozhuan