Archaeology and the Chinese city

Abstract

Concern with the material culture of past epochs has been a prominent characteristic of Chinese literati virtually throughout their history, and has led numerous among them to investigate both the surviving traces and the literary records of ancient cities. However, controlled excavation of specifically urban sites began only towards the end of the third decade of this century, since when attention has been directed primarily towards the exploration of Shang ceremonial centres, the capitals of Chou princes, and the great cities of the so‐called Middle Ages. Although urban archaeology in China is still in its infancy, the investigations undertaken so far have contributed significantly to our understanding of the genesis and diffusion of urban life in the Sinic culture realm, and have permitted the formulation of some tentative generalizations about the morphology and function of medieval Chinese capitals.

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