Page 10 - Deydier UNDERSTANDING CHINESE ARCHAIC BRONZES

Chronology

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Xia Dynasty 夏 (circa 21 – 17 /16 centuries B.C.)
• Erlitou culture 二里頭文化 (circa 19 – 17 /16 centuries B.C.)
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Shang Dynasty 商 (circa 17 /16 – 12 /11 centuries B.C.)
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• Erligang 二里岡 period (circa 17 /16 – 14 centuries B.C.)
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• Yinxu 殷墟 period (circa 14 – 12 /11 centuries B.C.)
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Zhou dynasty 周 (circa 12 /11 centuries – 256 B.C.)
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• Western Zhou dynasty 西周 (circa 12 /11 centuries – 770 B.C.)
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• Eastern Zhou dynasty 東周 (circa 770 – 256 B.C.)
◦ Spring and Autumn 春秋 period (circa 770 – 476 B.C.)
◦ Warring States 戰國 period (circa 475 – 221 B.C.)
Western Han dynasty 西漢 (206 B.C. – 9 A.D.)

Note: Regarding the exact dates for the earliest Chinese dynasties, i.e. the Xia, Shang
and Western Zhou, there is still some disagreement among both Chinese and western
scholars. Thus, in the above chronology, I have attempted to provide an all-encompass-
ing range of dates that reflects most of the possible dates proffered by various scholars.

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