Tsinghua Chu Slips
Encyclopedia
The Tsinghua Bamboo Slips (Chinese: 清华简, pinyin: Qīnghuá jiăn) refers to a collection of Chinese texts dating to the Warring States period
and written in ink on strips of bamboo
, that were acquired in 2008 by Tsinghua University
(清华大学), China. The texts originated through illegal excavation, probably of a tomb in the area of Hubei
(湖北) or Hunan
(湖南), and were donated to the university by an alumnus soon after. The very large size of the collection and the significance of the texts for scholarship make it one of the most important discoveries of early Chinese texts ever.
Similarities with previous discoveries, such as the manuscripts from the Guodian tomb
, indicate that the TBS came from a mid-to-late Warring States period (480BC-221BC) tomb in the region of China culturally dominated at that time by the Chu
(楚) state. A single radiocarbon date (305±30BC) and the style of ornament on the accompanying box are in keeping with this conclusion. By the time they had reached the university, the slips were badly afflicted with mold. Conservation work on the slips was carried out, and a Center for Excavated Texts Research and Preservation (出土文献研究与保护中心) was formally established at Tsinghua on April 25, 2009. There are 2388 slips altogether in the collection, including a number of fragments.
A series of articles discussing the TBS, intended for an educated but non-specialist Chinese audience, appeared in the Guangming Daily during late 2008 and 2009. The first volume of texts (photographic reproductions, transcriptions, and commentary) was published by the Tsinghua team in 2010.
An annalistic history (编年体的史书) recording events from the beginning of the Western Zhou
(mid 11th c. BC) through to the early Warring States period (mid 5th c.) is said to be similar in form and content to the received Bamboo Annals
.
Another text running across 14 slips recounts a celebratory gathering of the Zhou elite in the 8th year of the reign of the Zhou king Wu Wang (武王), prior to their conquest of the Shang dynasty
. The gathering takes place in the ancestral temple to Wen Wang (文王), Wu Wang's father, and incorporates beer drinking and the recitation of hymns in the style of the received Shi Jing
诗经.
The content of the king's speech revolves around a concept of The Middle (Zhong 中) which seems to refer to an avoidance of extremes and an ability to consider diverse points of view. The king narrates a story of the sage-king Shun (舜) acquiring The Middle by living a modest, thoughtful life, and a more puzzling second tale which describes the Shang
(商) ancestor Wei (微) "borrowing The Middle from the River."
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
and written in ink on strips of bamboo
Bamboo and wooden slips (writing material)
Bamboo and wooden slips were one of the main media for literacy in early China. The long, narrow strips of wood or bamboo typically carry a single column of brush-written text each, with space for several tens of Chinese characters. For longer texts, many slips may be bound together in sequence...
, that were acquired in 2008 by Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
(清华大学), China. The texts originated through illegal excavation, probably of a tomb in the area of Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
(湖北) or Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
(湖南), and were donated to the university by an alumnus soon after. The very large size of the collection and the significance of the texts for scholarship make it one of the most important discoveries of early Chinese texts ever.
Discovery, conservation and publication
The Tsinghua Bamboo Slips (TBS), were deposited at Tsinghua University in July 2008 by a donor, an alumnus of the university. The precise location(s) and date(s) of the illicit excavation that yielded the slips remain unknown. An article in the Guangming Daily named the donor as Zhao Weiguo (赵伟国), stating that the texts were bought at "a foreign auction", but without naming either an auction house, a location or a sum. The director of the conservation and research project, Prof. Li Xueqin, has stated that the wishes of the alumnus to conceal his identity will be respected.Similarities with previous discoveries, such as the manuscripts from the Guodian tomb
Guodian Chu Slips
The Guodian Chu Slips were unearthed in 1993 in Tomb no. 1 of the Guodian tombs in Jingmen, Hubei. The archeological team suggested the tomb should be dated to the latter half of the Warring States period...
, indicate that the TBS came from a mid-to-late Warring States period (480BC-221BC) tomb in the region of China culturally dominated at that time by the Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
(楚) state. A single radiocarbon date (305±30BC) and the style of ornament on the accompanying box are in keeping with this conclusion. By the time they had reached the university, the slips were badly afflicted with mold. Conservation work on the slips was carried out, and a Center for Excavated Texts Research and Preservation (出土文献研究与保护中心) was formally established at Tsinghua on April 25, 2009. There are 2388 slips altogether in the collection, including a number of fragments.
A series of articles discussing the TBS, intended for an educated but non-specialist Chinese audience, appeared in the Guangming Daily during late 2008 and 2009. The first volume of texts (photographic reproductions, transcriptions, and commentary) was published by the Tsinghua team in 2010.
The texts
Several of the TBS texts are similar to the received Shang Shu (尚书), a diverse miscellany of documents from various dates in the first millennium BC that were transmitted as a canonical collection since the Han period. In some cases a TBS text can be found in the received Shang Shu, with only variations in wording, title or orthography. Such examples include versions of the "Jin Teng" (金滕), "Kang Gao" (康诰) and "Gu Ming" (顾命) chapters of the Shang Shu. The majority of Shang Shu-style TBS texts, however, are not found in the received Shang Shu, either having been "lost" in the process of transmission, or else never having been incorporated into the canonical collection.An annalistic history (编年体的史书) recording events from the beginning of the Western Zhou
Western Zhou
The Western Zhōu period was the first half of the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China. It began when King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty at the Battle of Muye. C.H...
(mid 11th c. BC) through to the early Warring States period (mid 5th c.) is said to be similar in form and content to the received Bamboo Annals
Bamboo Annals
The Bamboo Annals is a chronicle of ancient China. It begins at the earliest legendary times and extends to the Warring States Period , particularly the history of the Wei state...
.
Another text running across 14 slips recounts a celebratory gathering of the Zhou elite in the 8th year of the reign of the Zhou king Wu Wang (武王), prior to their conquest of the Shang dynasty
Shang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty or Yin Dynasty was, according to traditional sources, the second Chinese dynasty, after the Xia. They ruled in the northeastern regions of the area known as "China proper" in the Yellow River valley...
. The gathering takes place in the ancestral temple to Wen Wang (文王), Wu Wang's father, and incorporates beer drinking and the recitation of hymns in the style of the received Shi Jing
Shi Jing
The Classic of Poetry , translated variously as the Book of Songs, the Book of Odes, and often known simply as its original name The Odes, is the earliest existing collection of Chinese poems and songs. It comprises 305 poems and songs, with many range from the 10th to the 7th centuries BC...
诗经.
The Admonition of Protection
Among the TBS texts in the style of the received Shang Shu, is one that has been titled "The Admonition of Protection" ("Bao Xun" 保训). This was the first text for which anything approaching a complete description and transcription was published. The text purports to be a record of a deathbed admonition by the Zhou king Wen Wang to his son and heir, Wu Wang. Although the team working on the text refers to it as "The Admonition of Protection" (or "Protector's Admonition", 保训), their transcription of the text refers to a "Precious Admonition" (Bao Xun 宝训) and that may be the more appropriate editorial title.The content of the king's speech revolves around a concept of The Middle (Zhong 中) which seems to refer to an avoidance of extremes and an ability to consider diverse points of view. The king narrates a story of the sage-king Shun (舜) acquiring The Middle by living a modest, thoughtful life, and a more puzzling second tale which describes the Shang
Shang
The shang is a flat ritual upturned handbell employed by Bönpo and Asian shamans. The sizes of the shang range from approximately 3 to 20 inches in diameter. It is traditionally held to have originated in Zhangzhung and is symbolically similar to the tantric dril-bhu. Shang are traditionally...
(商) ancestor Wei (微) "borrowing The Middle from the River."
See also
- Guodian Chu SlipsGuodian Chu SlipsThe Guodian Chu Slips were unearthed in 1993 in Tomb no. 1 of the Guodian tombs in Jingmen, Hubei. The archeological team suggested the tomb should be dated to the latter half of the Warring States period...
- ShuangguduiShuangguduiShuanggudui is an archeological site located near Fuyang in China's Anhui province. Shuanggudui grave no. 1, which belongs to Xiahou Zao , the second marquis of Ruyin , was sealed in 165 BCE in the early Han Dynasty and excavated in 1977...
- Yinqueshan Han SlipsYinqueshan Han SlipsThe Yinqueshan Han Slips are ancient Chinese writing tablets, made of bamboo strips and were discovered in 1972. The tablets contain many important writings that were not previously known, and important copies of existing work....
- Zhangjiashan Han bamboo textsZhangjiashan Han bamboo textsThe Zhangjiashan Han bamboo texts are ancient Han Dynasty Chinese written works dated 196–186 BCE. They were discovered in 1983 by archaeologists excavating tomb no. 247 at Mount Zhangjia of Jiangling County, Hubei Province . The tomb was built for an early Western Han era official who had...