The Use of Weapons as Ritual Objects in the Early Bronze-casting Societies of China (c.1500—c.1045 BC)

Our understanding about China during the early Bronze Age, conventionally known as the Shang period (c.1500—c.1045BC), largely comes from the archaeological finds in Henan in the mid-Yellow River region. Over the last two decades, however, archaeological excavations carried out in the Yangtze provinces revealed substantial numbers of fine bronzes quite different from those in Henan, suggesting that there existed bronze-casting societies other than that of the Shang on the territory now called China. The Yangtze finds provide a significant aspect to renew the study of the early Bronze Age developments. Weapons present important issues for discussion. They are one of the most important types found in both Henan and the Yangtze areas. Each bronze-casting group produced particular types, yet it is striking that they employed similar forms of weapons, namely, blades to serve ritual purposes. Close connections between the Shang and the south must have existed, and they remain unexplained. By studying the weapons and their archaeological contexts at Anyang, Hanzhong, Xin’gan, and Sanxingdui with reference to the concept of materiality, the author aims to 1. challenge the traditional idea about the Shang cultural dominance over the south; 2. find out the ways of contacts between different bronze-casting groups; and 3. establish a renewed understanding about early Bronze Age China in recognition of the contributions from many independent, settled societies; and 4. engage the Chinese materials into the world discourse of archaeological methods and theories.