Author: Robert L. Thorp

Publisher:

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 292

ISBN-13:

The archaeological monuments of major capitals from the Bronze Age (Anyang, Zhou Yuan) and imperial eras (Nanjing, Luoyang, Chang'an) are introduced, as are spectacular tombs (the First Emperor's terra cotta warriors, Suixian, Mawangdui) and rich Buddhist sites (Famen Si, the Mogao caves at Dunhuang) that have done so much to revise our understanding of China's past. These compact entries are divided among six sections that establish an historical and cultural context for the discoveries without assuming any prior knowledge of Chinese studies. Each entry sets the find in its archaeological context, assessing how this material has affected the state of the field. Physical setting, plan and structure, contents, and dating of each discovery are laid out in clear prose with helpful maps, plans, and line art. Related discoveries and sites, including those in other areas, are introduced as well, and recommended readings take interested readers into each topic in greater depth.