The Ritual Year of Athena: The Agricultural Cycle of the Olive,Girls' Rites of Passage,and Official Ideology

Through the ritual year of ancient Athens, many festivals were dedicated to Athena. The Panathenaia was the most important festival. It has been regarded as a political festival, but the importance of agriculture is also illustrated through the offerings and rituals carried out during this main festival dedicated to the Goddess of the olive crop. All Athena's festivals were related to the olive, the third main crop of the Athenians, and protected by her, as her festivals were celebrated in the crucial period for the olive crop, from the flowering of the olive tree, growing period of the fruit, until the gathering in winter. The summer festivals, particularly, may be related to the importance of securing the dew for the growing fruit. Many rituals during the festivals reflect the daily activities of women, several rituals are also important to the rite of passage undergone by girls at puberty to prepare them for marriage.     

郑国青铜礼乐器祭祀坑相关问题讨论

新郑祭祀遗址出土青铜礼乐器作为祭祀重器,是春秋中期郑国特殊祭祀文化的具体表现.不同遗址出土器物组合的差异,从器物层面体现了当时郑国高等级贵族间的微妙关系,轮流执政的卿大夫已经掌控了包括土地所有权在内的多项国家权力,拥有和国君同等级的礼器、乐器使用权,仅在用鼎数量方面存在着差异.作为祭器的祭祀坑出土青铜礼乐器和同时期墓葬出土器物有着本质上的区别,表明当时祭祀礼仪仍然严格遵循着传统礼制,也正是由于这个原因,不能将遗址出土青铜乐器与"郑卫之声"简单地等同分析.     

经典的没落与章学诚“六经皆史”说的提升

晚清以降,国势衰危,随着西力东侵、西学东渐,经典不再是士大夫发挥政治与文化理想的最高思想资源,"六经皆史"遂成为流行的时代思潮.本文主要联系晚清今古文经学之争与民国新史学家提出的"六经皆史料"的口号,扼要勾勒了章学诚的"六经皆史"说在晚清民国的影响与折变.从"六经皆史",到"夷六艺于古史",再到"六经皆史料",此说之备受关注,深刻地反映了中国近代经学的衰败及其主导地位被史学所取代,而经典自身不能不以"史料"的身份寄身于"史学"的历史命运.经典之权威地位的丧失与"六经皆史"说之提升齐头并进、恰成反悖而有密切的内在关系,尤为深刻地反映了时势的变动.     

清华简《耆夜》中的礼乐实践

新近公布的清华大学藏战国楚简中《耆夜》一篇,讲述了武王八年出师戡耆(黎)大胜之后归周,在"文大室"即文王宗庙进行"饮至"典礼,武王君臣饮酒作歌的情景。本文结合传世文献叙述了简文给我们展示的西周初年庆功典礼"饮至"的内容,正是西周礼乐文明的具体体现。     

The Agote Map of Hainan Island,China: A Case Study for Cultural Dialogue in Eighteenth-Century Cartography

The idea of cartography as an example of Western imposition or process of cultural transfer is one that has long fascinated scholars interested in the margins of empires. This article analyses the maps in the possession of Manuel Agote, a Spanish factor in Canton at the end of the eighteenth century. The focus is on the use made by Agote of a Chinese map of Hainan, together with the European maps available already in China for commercial interests, and the way this reflects the cultural dialogue that was operating among local and foreign cartographers engaged in similar European mapping activities in the region.     

试论英国崛起中的尼德兰因素

英国的崛起存在外来因素特别是尼德兰因素的参与和推动。从11世纪到18世纪,尼德兰人移居英国经历了四次高潮,这种移民既有尼德兰人逃离内乱或寻求生存和发展新环境的动机,也有英国方面的主观因素,即政府和民众的欢迎态度。对英国崛起有决定意义的重大经济现象,如呢绒工业的发展,乡村毛纺业的兴起,棉纺业的起步,农业革命的进行,工业革命的资金准备,都与尼德兰移民和资本的到来有密切关系。