Chapter 4 Chapter 1 The Birth of Huaxia Culture in the Central Plains The Beginning of Chinese History Yuxia Era

Ancient history is the starting point of all history, and a clear understanding should be sought. However, human history can always be traced back to a place that no one can say, so the exploration of ancient times will inevitably become a relatively reasonable conjecture. . The exploration of ancient history in modern times can be described in two ways: 1. The excavation of prehistoric relics.2. Review of legends and myths.The excavation of prehistoric relics can be divided into three parts: This incident began in the ninth year of the Republic of China, and it was the first time in Qingyang, Gansu.Many more have been discovered since then.

(1) Early Paleolithic Age In the 18th year of the Republic of China, a complete skull of an ancient ape-man was discovered in Zhoukoudian, Fangshan, Hebei. Archaeologists called it "Peking Man".Its date is about 500,000 years ago, and the Chinese nation should be its direct descendants. At that time, Beijingers were known to use fire, which was more than 300,000 years earlier than Europeans.Other relics have also been found in abundance in Zhoukoudian.Later, in Chenjiawo, Lantian, Shaanxi, ape-man in Lantian was found, which was the same as that of the Peking Man, and there were thirteen other places in Shanxi, including Ruicheng River and Xihoudu Village.Among them, the two sites in Ruicheng were earlier, and later the "Maba people" were discovered in Maba Village, Qujiang, Guangdong, and the age was later than the "Peking people" and "Lantian people".It was in ancient times that the ancestors of our Chinese nation had almost spread all over South and North China.

(2), Middle Paleolithic Age Those found in North China are mostly in Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu Plateaus.From the Fenshui River Basin to Hetao in the north, and the Hengshan Mountains in the south.The discovery in Qingyang, Gansu also belongs to this period.In South China, there are "Changyang people" unearthed in Changyang, Hubei. (3) Late Paleolithic Age This period is only about 10,000 years old.Sites have been found throughout the north and south, but such sites have not been found in the lower reaches of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. (1) Middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River

One was discovered in the newspaper of Yangshao Village, Mianchi County, Henan Province in the 10th year of the Republic of China, and it was called "Painted Pottery Culture".Its distribution area is centered in the west of Henan, south of Shanxi and the lower reaches of the Wei River, the upper reaches of the Wei River in the west, the middle of Henan in the east, the upper reaches of the Han River in the south, and the Hetao in the north.Most of the ruins are found on the terraces on both sides of the river, and the distribution is extremely dense, and more than a thousand places have been discovered.Among them, the earliest ruins of Banpo in Xi'an, according to determination, can be as old as 6,000 years ago.The early site of Miaodigou in Shan County is more than 5000 years ago.At that time, it was primitive hoeing and farming, and it was also engaged in fishing and hunting.

The second is Longshan "black gray pottery culture".The distribution area is wider than that of "Yangshao Culture".From Shaanxi in the west, to the coast in the east, to the Liaodong Peninsula in the northeast, and to Jiangsu in the southeast, more than 300 ruins have been discovered.This period of culture came from the development and progress of Yangshao culture.It can be divided into two periods: the earlier "formation period" and the later "typical period".For example, Miaodigou in Shanxian County, Henan Province, is in the upper layer of Yangshao Culture.Anyang Hougang is at the lower level of Yin Ruins.This layer belongs to the early formation period of "Longshan Culture".For example, Chengziya, Longshan Town, Licheng, Shandong, and Xicheng Town, Rizhao, are the later typical periods of Longshan culture.In the culture of this period, hoeing and agriculture have been very advanced.The pottery began to be made in wheels, and was characterized by refined black light thin eggshell pottery.There are also castle buildings, and the shoulder blades of cattle, sheep, and pigs are used as divination.

(2) Middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River It was discovered in Qujialing, Beijingshan County, Hubei.Its distribution range is the Jianghan area surrounded by the Yangtze River and Wudang Mountains, Tongbai Mountains, and Dabie Mountains.Its period is later than Yangshao, but earlier than Longshan.Among them, such as the Xichuan site, it is estimated that it can be as old as 4,000 to 5,000 years ago.The culture of this area has developed rice planting, hunting, and weaving, as well as rich and colorful painting arts. (3) Other For example, in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, in the southwestern regions of Sichuan and Yunnan, along the southeastern coast, in the Saibei grasslands and in the northeast, in the northwest plateau, and in various parts of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, Neolithic sites have been found, which are not covered here.

Because of these discoveries, the concept of Chinese people has gradually moved away from the old legends of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors, and shifted to the research and search of things that can be documented. Over the past 60 years, Chinese people have conducted excavation and archaeological work, and as materials have been discovered successively, the inferences derived from them have also changed successively.For example, Yangshao and Zailongshan cultures were considered to have developed independently in the past, but they have been unanimously denied today.Western scholars have long speculated that the Chinese nation and Chinese culture have come from the West.In the 10th year of the Republic of China, geometric patterns painted on Yangshao painted pottery were discovered. Western scholars still believe that it has a relationship with Central Asia and southern Europe, but no one believes it today.According to the general opinion of archaeologists recently, combining the discoveries of Paleolithic and Neolithic sites, it is generally believed that the earliest Chinese culture should start in the Loess Plateau in the mountains and Shaanxi areas.It reaches the Taihang Mountains in the east, the Qinling Mountains in the south, the mountains in northwest Henan in the southeast, and the Hetao area in the northwest.Since then, it has gradually developed to the southeast.In the Neolithic Age, Dangzhuan centered on the Weishui Basin and the Yellow River Plain, and developed from the Yangshao painted pottery culture to the east, forming the Longshan Culture.Spread westward, even the upper reaches of the Yellow River to the Northwest Plateau.In the 60 years of discovery, there is still no Paleolithic site in the northwest region, so the theory of Chinese culture coming from the West can be broken without attack.

As far back as the end of the Qing Dynasty, some people have excavated the tortoise shell divination characters used in the Yin Dynasty in Anyang, Henan Province, and found that the site is the ancient Yin Ruins. The age of this site is far behind the history of written records.The artifacts obtained at this site are far behind the Stone Age, and represent a very advanced Bronze Age.Among them, there are some relics, which can prove that they are directly inherited from the Longshan culture, such as oracle bones and black pottery.On the hill behind the Yin Ruins, there is white pottery on the upper layer, which is called "Xiaotun Culture" today.Middle layer black pottery represents "Longshan Culture".The painted pottery of the lower layer represents the "Yangshao Culture".It is the place where there is continuous pottery culture.

So far, the results of archaeological excavations can be roughly described. The review and approval of legends and myths is especially appreciated by people around us. However, the Chinese nation is a historical nation, and the ancient Chinese history has already been compiled with excellence, prudence and reasonableness through the continuous efforts of the ancients. The most authored is "Spring and Autumn" by Confucius, and "Historical Records" by Sima Qian.Zi does not talk about strange powers, "Spring and Autumn" "its writings are history, and its affairs are Qi Heng and Jin Wen". .

Sima Qian wrote "Historical Records", saying: "Scholars have written extensive books, but they still believe in the six arts", and he prided himself on following "Spring and Autumn" with "Historical Records".The Yellow Emperor is the first of the five emperors, and the legend of the Three Emperors has not been included for a long time.As far as the lineage of the five emperors recorded in "Historical Records", later generations have also refuted them.Therefore, the old legend of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors has not been strictly adhered to in the history of Chinese historians.

The new view of ancient history that we seek to create today should also be slightly revised for the extreme skepticism of modern people. From one point of view, if the ancient history is formed by successive generations, but from another perspective, the ancient history is eliminated through the successive loss of descendants.Pseudo-ancient histories that have been created layer upon layer should definitely be destroyed, and true ancient history that has been lost layer upon layer should especially be explored.This one. The earliest history of each nation is always remembered, so it is difficult to break away from the "legend" and the part with "myth".If legends are strictly excluded, there is no way to talk about ancient history.This second. Moreover, myths come after legends, and legends cannot be obliterated by myths.This is the third. Forgery is also different from legends. For example, the entire records and descriptions in later history books may be forged. The scattered phrases in various books are mostly ancient legends, not forged by a person or school of later generations.This is the fourth. To reject a certain legend, evidence contrary to the legend should be presented.Otherwise, this legend cannot be judged to be false or non-existent.There are also those who, at a glance, see that the two legends are exactly opposite and cannot stand side by side, but after some new arrangements and new interpretations, they gain their fresh meaning and status.This is the fifth. However, ancient Chinese historical legends are very rational and close to the facts, which are quite different from those full of mythology that trace the ancient history of other nations in the world.For example, the Chao family represents the nest-dwelling period, the Suiren family represents the cooked food period, the Fuxi family represents the animal husbandry period, and the Shennong family represents the farming period.These titles are not original to the ancients, but belong to the imagination of later generations, and they are consistent with the evolution of human culture.This shows that the ancestors of the Chinese nation, earlier than the evolution of humanities, had their clear views and reasonable ideas. In general, the study of ancient history should have its corresponding limits. When it comes to calendars, characters, systems, academics, etc., it is often difficult to find the truth if you study it in detail. First, because the evolution of ancient culture is still shallow, it is not enough to calculate it year by month.Later generations, such as Liu Xin's three calendars down to Huangfumi Emperor Shiji, Shao Yong Huangji Shijing and other books, no matter whether the calculations are not reliable, that is to say, the calculations are correct, and there is often nothing to test for hundreds of years. History is still in vain. Second, because the evolution of ancient culture is still shallow, and the careers of individual activities of characters are still few, if we study ancient history from the words and deeds of characters, it is still a set of old concepts of the Yellow Emperor, Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, Wu, and Duke Zhou. , can not help but contain the meaning of myths and lessons, and it does not contain the truth of ancient history. The third point is that the evolution of ancient culture is still shallow, and it is not as good as the rise of various political systems and academic ideas in later generations. If you study ancient history from this aspect, you will not escape the scope of the various hypotheses of "Three Dynasties Zhiwenxiangchan" by scholars in the Han Dynasty. The so-called Confucians rely on the ancients to reform the system, and they cannot obtain the truth of ancient history. However, ancient history is not impossible to talk about. To find out from the legends scattered in various ancient books, we can still get a general idea of ​​the activities of an ancient Chinese nation.The situation of this kind of activity is mainly cultural status and geographical area. All the legends in ancient books say that a certain king originated from a certain country, had a certain city in his capital, fought against a certain king of a certain country in a certain place, and a certain clan came from a certain place, etc. These are actually clues for the study of ancient history and geography; Take a closer look at the booking office.For example, the Yellow Emperor said in historical records: "From the east to the sea, to the west to Kongtong, to the south to the river, to ascend Xiongxiang, to the north to chase meat porridge, which fits Busan, and the town is in Zhuolu." Later generations suspected his whereabouts. , almost mythical. I don't know that Kongtong is originally in Henan, but Xiongxiang and Kongtong are in the same province.The person in Busan, who covers Busan, is named Jingshan, which is close to Huatong. The so-called Yellow Emperor "picked the first mountain copper and cast the tripod Jingshan". The Yellow Emperor fought with Shennong again in the field of Banquan. Banquan is located at the upper source of Yanchi, Jiexian County, Shanxi, and there are Chiyou City, Chiyou Village and Zhuoze nearby. It is called Zhuoze, which is Zhuolu.However, the story of the Yellow Emperor was originally said to be only in the two provinces of Henan and Shanxi, a circle in the west of the Yellow River, and it is not far from the stories of Shun and Yu. Sima Qian looked at him from the perspective of the unification of the Qin and Han Dynasties, as if the Yellow Emperor's footprints were all over the world.This is a new interpretation of the legend of the Yellow Emperor in terms of geography, and its mythological elements are reduced, and more credible meanings are added.In the future, if we can get a connection with the ancient artifacts unearthed in various regions, we can deduce the outline of our nation's ancient cultural activities from now on, which is indeed a more sure direction for exploring ancient history. Now let’s talk about more reliable ancient history, starting from Yu and Xia. The situation in the Tang and Yu dynasties must not be as beautiful and prosperous as recorded in Shangshu and Yaodian. Yao coded the Nine Palaces of the Yu Court, Yu was Sikong, abandoned Houji, Qi Situ, Gao Tao was a scholar, Gonggong was promoted, Yu was in charge, Boyi was Zhizong, Kui Dianyue, Long Nayan, compared with Qin and Han Jiuqing , has far-reaching significance.This right view is the reform of Confucianism.Otherwise, the Chinese political system was already so perfect during the Tang and Yu Dynasties, so why did it go backwards two thousand years later to the Qin and Han Dynasties? Most likely, the abdication of Yao, Shun, and Yu was just an ancient monarchy selection system, which was idealized by later generations. Tang and Yudang are the two tribes in today's southwestern Shanxi. The Tao Tang clan was probably a kiln-making clan in the southwestern part of Shanxi today, and the Youyu clan was a fishing and hunting clan in Shanze, and their residence was slightly similar to that of the Tao Tang clan. The Xia people originated in the central part of Henan Province, which is the so-called Central Plains Huaxia. On the other hand, Gun and Yu belonged to the same clan, and their residence almost started in the Songshan Mountains in Henan.It is said that "there is Chong Bo Gun", and Chong is Song.Shanhaijing "Looking at Chanzhu in the south, transformed by Yu's father", Zenzhu is located in Luhun, Henan.Yu's capital is Yangcheng, and Yangcheng is at the foot of Mount Song.Those who are called Huaxia even, the Songshan Mountains also get the Chinese name. In the national language, "Hua in the front and river in the back, Luo on the left and Ji on the right", Hua is in Luodong, which is now Songshan.There is also Huayang in the historical records, and Sima Biao said: "Huayang, the name of the pavilion, is in Mi County." Zhou Lizhi Fang Yuzhou "Qishan Zhenhua".All evidence. That is, the story of Shun also started in a place close to the Xia clan.Shiben "Shunju Guirui" is located in Xicheng County, Hanzhong.The two daughters of Shun are the gods of Xiang, and Xiang is Xiangshui, which is now Hanshui.Siyue and Santu are called together, and they are all in the Songshan Mountains.Since then, the Xia clan has moved northward, and the three provinces of Henan, Shaanxi, and Shanxi intersect in the western part of the Yellow River. There are a few natural crossings, and it is almost the area where the Yu and Xia clans were active in ancient times.According to the historical records, after Zhuanxu, Yu and Xia are all descendants, it is clear that their blood is similar. At that time, there was no national organization, and each tribe recommended a chief to be the co-lord of all tribes. For example, in Wuheng, Xianbei, Khitan, and Mongolia, their monarchs all gradually changed from election to hereditary. The abdication of the Tang and Yu dynasties can be used in this way. After Yu, there was Qi, and Gai Zhishi began to enter the era of hereditary monarchy, and it seemed to have the scale of a country. After Qi, the establishment of the Xia Dynasty was established because of the establishment of the hereditary monarchy. Shi Ji Xia Benji records the name and lineage of Emperor Xia, but not the number of years. In general, the Xia Dynasty calendar is between four hundred and five hundred years old. Table of Emperors of the Xia Dynasty: Historical records only say: from Yu to Jie, seventeen monarchs, fourteen generations. Liu Xin's three unified calendars are called Xia four hundred and thirty-two years.The bamboo book records the year as the 472nd year of Xia Dynasty, according to today: the emperors of the Shang Dynasty recorded in the Shiji Shangbenji have the Jiawen obtained from the Yin Ruins as evidence, and know that it is true.The emperors of the Shang Dynasty were credible, but the emperors of the Xia Dynasty need not be untrustworthy.If one generation is calculated in 30 years, the 14th generation and 17th monarchs will last for more than 470 years, which is also slightly similar.Mencius said: "From Yao and Shun to Tang, five hundred years old" is true. The most important thing in Yu and Xia is the struggle between Shun, Yu and Miao. When Shun and Yu conquered the three Miao tribes, they often saw Shangshu, Zhanguoce, Mozi, Xunzi, Hanfeizi, Jiazixinshu, Zhunnanzi, Yantielun, and Shuoyuan, which must have been a major event in ancient times. It is said that Sanmiao is the descendant of Jiuli Chiyou's family.It is also said that Sanmiao and Jiuli are all descendants of Zhuanxu.If so, San Miao and Yu Xia will be fighting with each other.According to historical records: Changyi took the daughter of the Shushan family and gave birth to Zhuanxu.Shushan is almost the mountain of Zhuolu, and Zhuolu is also the hometown of Chiyou. However, the struggle between Yu, Xia and Sanmiao, just like the struggle between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou, are all near the north of the western border of Henan and the two banks of the middle reaches of the Yellow River in Shanxi. Wei Ce and Wu Qizhi said: "In the past, the residence of the three Miao people, the waves of Pengli on the left and the water of Dongting on the right, Wenshan Mountain is in the south, and Hengshan Mountain is in the north."However, the positions of Dongting and Pengli are interchangeable, and the ancient Heng Mountain does not refer to Hunan, and it should not be in the north of Sanmiao.The ancient river basin is also known as Pengli.The Hanshui River Basin in the north of the Yangtze River is also famous for Dongting.In the Spring and Autumn Period, there was Mao Rong in Hedong, and there was also the Luhunman clan, also known as Rongmanzi.Du Zhuyun: "In Xincheng County, Henan Province." Miao, Mao, and Man spoke in unison.The territory of the ancient three Miao tribes was largely based on this.It is mixed with Yu and Xia.Shun and Yu forced the Miao people to move westward gradually, and Suo Wei "fleeed the three Miao people in the three dangers in order to change the Xirong".If the three seedlings were in Huxiang, they should not be driven to Gansu.The old saying is also called: three seedlings, different surnames Jiang.Shangshu Lu Xingyan and the Miao people's system of punishment, Lu Kingdom Nanyang, Henan, is the place where the surname Jiang of the four mountains lived in ancient times. There was also the battle between Yu, Qi and Youhu. There are rebels in Qifa, see Shangshu Gan's oath, Lu Lan Xianji's articles.Zheng Xuan thought he was in Wei.The battle was fought in Gan, that is, the prince of the Zuo family took the city.It is located in the southeast of today's Luoyang.Shangshu willingly swears, Mozi quotes as Yu's oath, Zhuangzi also said in the world: "Yu attacked, there are Hus." It has reached Yu Hu.Geographical Chronicles of the Han Dynasty: There was an ancient Hu country in Youfufenghu County.Especially speaking with the same pronunciation, I am afraid it is not as good as Zheng Xuan's belief that those in the East are believed.Since Shun, Yu, and Qi, the Yu and Xia clans expelled the Miao people to consolidate the western frontier, and attacked Youhu to expand the eastern land. Probably the Xia people first started in the Songshan Mountains in Henan, in the upper reaches of Yi and Luo, and their forces gradually migrated along Yi and Luo to the northeast and downstream.One side crosses the Yellow River from the west of Henan Province to the south of present-day Shanxi Province, and reaches to the west at the southern end of the Taihang Mountains in the east. Therefore, its land is called Daxia.According to historical records: "Yu chiseled the dragon gate and opened up the Great Xia." It also said: "Qi Huan Gong conquered the Great Xia." Zuo Zhuan Zhu Tuo said: "Uncle Tang was granted the title of Xia Xu." Zhongtiao Mountain in the south of Shanxi is referred to along the South Yanhe River. On the other hand, it went eastward along the south bank of the river, and gradually reached the current Shandong and Hebei borders, and then came into contact with the ethnic forces in the lower reaches of the Yellow River in the east. This can be said about Hou Yi, Han Yun and Shaokang Zhongxing.Hou Yi was hoeing in his own country, and moved to be a poor scholar in the Xia Dynasty.Because of Taikang's favor in Luobiao, he refused Taikang and moved into Zhenxun.Dai Xia became king, and was destroyed by his minister Han Yun.The name of the cold country is originally in the east.Zhuo replaced Yi and destroyed Xia's pouring.Let the two sons pass by, and the scorpion is at the yi.However, Shaokang, the son of Empress Xia, was in danger of fleeing, and Xiachen Bomi had his own family to kill Hanyun.And Shaokang restored the country by himself.This incident shows that the scale of the Xia Dynasty has expanded considerably.There are relationships such as co-lordship, vassalage, sub-country, enemy country, etc., and should not be treated only as nomads. In the meantime, from the loss of Taikang to the restoration of Shaoxing, it lasted for decades, and the war spread to the north and south sides of the great river, which is a major event in ancient times.There are also negotiations between Xia people and Dongyi.Xia Zhifang Wuguan, exterminating Hanzhuo, and chasing Dongyi all saw the gradual eastward extension of his power. The Shang nation is also in the east. At the beginning, it was under the influence of the Xia people, and then it rose up and revolutionized, so it replaced Xia as the dynasty at that time and was called the Shang Dynasty. If the Yuxia era is the first period of ancient Chinese history, then the Yin and Shang Dynasties can be regarded as the second period of ancient Chinese history.