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.     

明前期“相对宽松”的筑城政策探论——以湖广地区为例

洪武年间,湖广各府级中心城治、西南少数民族等"寇乱"为患地区率皆设立卫所、筑城守御,并辅以巡检司、土司等多重防御力量。在其障护之下,腹里州县安全无虞,实无修固城防之必要。自洪武朝以至宣德朝,湖广地区修筑、维护城池主要限于驻军各地,对于其他众多普通州县并未从严要求,各地不修城的情形相当普遍。正是洪武朝奠定的颇为严密的区域安全防御体系保障了地方安定,为明前期实行这种相对宽松的筑城政策创造了条件。一些学者所谓明代"一贯积极、严厉的"筑城政策似乎并不完全切合明前期的实际。     

清代的清书庶吉士

分派庶吉士学习清书,是清代特有的政治制度之一。其起自顺治,迄于道光,发展过程本身反映了满语在清代政府行政过程中的应用情况和朝廷内部的满汉关系。清书庶吉士设立的初衷,是为了便利满汉之间的交流。初选时,对人员的年龄、体貌有一定的要求。其数量随着朝代更迭发生变化,由于汉语的普遍使用,每科人数由最初的数十员减少至四五员,皇帝对其考查也日益松懈。乾隆之后,清书庶吉士的实际效用日益减少。清书庶吉士与汉书庶吉士在馆选、教习、考试、散馆上均有不同,但出仕后升迁状况并无明显区别。学习满语的汉族庶吉士的满文水平不一,优者足可召对,亦能翻译书籍;劣者往往因此被黜,遂对此政策有所怨言。     

Resettlement in Lao PDR: mobility,resistance and gendered impacts

Villagers in northern Laos have been on the move for generations. Recent changes, however, in the location of their village and their daily mobility patterns differ from what they have experienced before; the government's resettlement programme has changed their livelihoods and made them more socially and economically vulnerable. The ethnic groups we studied have decided to use mobility to resist state control and seek livelihood security for themselves. By using the concept of motility, this article analyses how this household and community choices have a gender-differentiated impact. The mobility patterns of men and women have changed. While men attend to long-term investments, women are forced to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis. Men visit the market and public places more frequently, while women spend more time looking for non-timber forest products and working as hired labour. Although women now support the family and their mobility has increased, their say in the household seems to be on the decline, resulting in weakening women's motility.     

邓之诚的社会生活史研究

邓之诚是近代著名的历史学家,他的著述包含大量关于国计民生、风俗习尚等涉及社会生活史的内容,对历代社会生活进行了多方面的展示。他的这一学术取向,深受近代重视研究社会生活的风尚、"新史学"观念、燕京大学的学术氛围等因素的影响。他从生活方式中寻找时代变迁的轨迹,特别重视从民众的实际生存状况来考察各朝代的盛衰得失。他对社会生活史的编撰,以问题为中心,搜集排比史料,突出所记载的社会事项;他重视考据又不轻视对历史的解读,主张论从史出,不轻下断语,文辞上贵真贵简。他的社会生活史著述,在运用史料、编撰体例和评价史实上都独具一格,为社会生活史研究的继续发展奠定了坚实的基础。     

Fluid mixing induced by hydrothermal activity in the ordovician carbonates in Tarim Basin,China

Permian hydrothermal activity in the Tarim Basin may have been responsible for the invasion of hot brines into Ordovician carbonate reservoirs. Studies have been undertaken to explain the origin and geochemical characteristics of the diagenetic fluid present during this hydrothermal event although there is no consensus on it. We present a genetic model resulting from the study of δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O, δ³⁴S, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope values and fluid inclusions (FIs) from fracture‐ and vug‐filling calcite, saddle dolomite, fluorite, barite, quartz, and anhydrite from Ordovician outcrops in northwest (NW) Tarim Basin and subsurface cores in Central Tarim Basin. The presence of hydrothermal fluid was confirmed by minerals with fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures being >10°C higher than the paleo‐formation burial temperatures both in the NW Tarim and in the Central Tarim areas. The mixing of hot (>200°C), high‐salinity (>24 wt% NaCl), ⁸⁷Sr‐rich (up to 0.7104) hydrothermal fluid with cool (60–100°C), low‐salinity (0 to 3.5 wt% NaCl), also ⁸⁷Sr‐rich (up to 0.7010) meteoric water in the Ordovician unit was supported by the salinity of fluid inclusions, and δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic values of the diagenetic minerals. Up‐migrated hydrothermal fluids from the deeper Cambrian strata may have contributed to the hot brine with high sulfate concentrations which promoted thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) in the Ordovician, resulting in the formation of ¹²C‐rich (δ¹³C as low as ?13.8‰) calcite and ³⁴S‐rich (δ³⁴S values from 21.4‰ to 29.7‰) H₂S, pyrite, and elemental sulfur. Hydrothermal fluid mixing with fresh water in Ordovician strata in Tarim Basin was facilitated by deep‐seated faults and up‐reaching faults due to the pervasive Permian magmatic activity. Collectively, fluid mixing, hydrothermal dolomitization, TSR, and faulting may have locally dissolved the host carbonates and increased the reservoir porosity and permeability, which has significant implications for hydrocarbon exploration.