Tracing the origin of Chinese early white porcelain in the late sixth century—evidence from Xing kiln

As the criterion used by archaeologists for determining early white porcelain is quite ambiguous, the origin of Chinese white porcelain remains a point of disagreement. In this study, we systematically investigate 61 typical Xing porcelains of the late Northern dynasties to the early Sui dynasty (550–600 CE) using spectrophotometer, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and analyze the differences between early white porcelain and celadon of Xing kiln in terms of their whiteness and raw materials characteristic. The results show that early white porcelain is a new type of ware that differs from celadon, which can be distinguished by whiteness, with a whiteness greater than 8% being early white porcelain and a whiteness less than 8% being celadon. It is assumed that the ancient potters created the whiter wares based on celadon by improving the glaze and selecting new raw materials for the body, but the production of this type of ware was short lived and subsequently refined in the Sui dynasty (581–618 CE) owing to the limited improvement in whiteness.     

What do we know about the punctuated equilibrium theory in China? A systematic review and research priorities

The punctuated equilibrium theory (PET) shows that government policy is mostly stable with occasional drastic change, which scholars attribute to institutional friction and limited information processing capacity. Although the existing PET literature predominantly focuses on democracies, scholars have started to apply the theory to authoritarian countries. Autocracies are a fertile testing ground for the theory's underlying mechanisms because they appear to experience less institutional friction but more informational restrictions than democracies. However, PET studies on autocracies are still rare. To deepen our understanding of the PET and the policy process beyond democracies, we conduct a systematic review of 88 Chinese language PET journal articles. We show that Chinese language PET research is increasing. Contrary to the English language PET literature, most Chinese studies are qualitative, while a key similarity is the weak operationalization of PET core concepts. The reviewed studies confirm a punctuated equilibrium pattern of policymaking in China but provide only limited evidence for more intense punctuations compared with democracies. Future PET research on China ought to use long-term data sets and examine institutional friction and information processing by policymakers. We also argue for more international exchange and comparative research to advance our understanding of the policy process in China and other autocracies.     

咸阳市东郊出土东汉镇墓瓶

本文介绍了咸阳市渭城区东乡新发现的3件东汉时期的镇墓瓶,并对镇墓瓶上的朱书文字"天李子解尸注"和"大一六丁解虚星"含义进行了考证和研究,为了解汉代的道教信仰与丧葬习俗提供了资料。     

唐徐恽及夫人姚氏墓志考述

１９９８年在伊川县彭婆镇许营村出土的唐徐恽及夫人姚氏墓志,详述了徐恽的生平事迹,也为徐恽神道碑的所在提供了确切位置。本文就两方墓志的有关问题进行了考证。     

生境的选择与楚文化的兴起

本文借助生态学理论,对楚人的南迁过程进行了梳理,并对其迁徙原因进行了剖析。认为自楚先季连族始,开始了南迁。商代前期,其活动地域在丹江流域;商代后期,其活动地域先在丹江与汉水交汇处,后在汉水中游的方山一带;商末至西周时期,其活动地域在湖北西北的荆山一带;东周以后,其中心地域在长江与汉水之间的宜城平原和江汉平原上。迁徙有自然的原因也有人为的原因,楚文化的孕育、形成与发展则是楚人对于生境选择的结果。     

“玄奘画像”解读——特别关注其密教图像元素

西安兴教寺所存玄奘石刻像与日本现存无名氏画玄奘像,所携带的历史信息超出了图像本身。作者认为,这一源于早期行脚僧图像的出现,是由于玄奘西行求法的成功,刺激了社会民众对行脚僧的认同,加之西来传法僧的大量涌现,于是在唐末、尤其是在宋代,出现了一批行脚僧图像,并由初时的胡僧梵相,变为汉僧模样,进而附会到玄奘的图像创作上。而在日本所存著名的"玄奘画像",事实上可能是一个具密教性质的僧人图像。作者试图通过有关这一图像的文献解读,全面分析该图像所包含的历史信息。     

关于武则天金简的几个问题

１９８２年５月,河南省登封县唐庄乡农民屈西怀在嵩山峻极峰北侧牧羊,于大石缝中捡得一件金器。器呈片状长方形,类笏板,长３６．３厘米,宽８．２厘米,厚约０．１厘米,纯金质,重２４７克。正面镌刻铭文,自右至左坚三行６３字,每字直径约１厘米,双钩楷体,文日：“上言：‘大周　主武■,好乐真道,长生神仙,谨诣中岳嵩高山门,投金简一通,乞三官九府,除武■罪名。’太岁庚子七■甲申朔七■甲寅,小使■胡超稽首再拜谨奏。”此物一经发现,即引起轰动。后经专家鉴定,确属唐代武则天遗物,并命名为武则天金简,被定为国家一级珍…     

认真总结历史经验,努力构建和谐社会

继中共十六大提出和谐社会新概念后,中共十六届六中全会又在党的历史上首次将“和谐”与“富强民主文明”联系起来,提出要“建设富强民主文明和谐的社会主义现代化国家”,并明确指出“构建社会主义和谐社会是一个不断化解社会矛盾的持续过程”(《中共中央关于构建社会主义和谐社会若干重大问题的决定》,人民出版社2006年版,第4页)。构建社会主义和谐社会这一战略目标的提出和对这一目标本质的认识,是我党深入总结历史经验、全面分析     

论"白家庄期"商文化

分布和影响地域广袤的"白家庄期"商文化,因时代接近于商代中期而在商文化中具有承前启后的地位.有关考古新发现显示,"白家庄期"商文化本身可以区分为三个不同的时间段.在其所代表的历史阶段中,郑州商城的衰颓与小双桥商都的兴建形成了鲜明对照.这一现象出现的历史背景是,有关文献所记商王朝此时所面临的内忧外患局面以及仲丁迁隞历史事件的发生.     

五代北宋高邮秦氏家族世系研究——以江苏扬州发现秦咏夫妇墓志为线索

扬州发现两合石质墓志,其主人北宋秦咏及其夫人朱氏,应系北宋著名文士秦观之祖父母。秦氏祖茔江都西山,即今西湖镇蜀岗村吕庄组七仙墩一带。通过对历史文献资料的梳理,可以对秦氏家族世系展开进一步考察,纠正秦氏家族部分成员在古代文献流传过程中出现的错误名讳记载,部分成员应因避讳等原因存在更改名字的现象;还可厘清包括秦咏及孙男秦观在内的秦氏十代家族世系,以及主要成员的生平事迹。