Erlitou Cultural Site Museum, Open for 6 Years, Continues to Unravel the Mystery of the Xia Dynasty
The Erlitou Xia Capital Relics Museum, open for over six years, continues excavations to solve the mystery of the Xia Dynasty. While Chinese authorities actively seek evidence of the Xia, the international academic community remains divided on its validity. Museum Director Li Wenchu proposes Chinese civilization standards, while Academia Sinica researcher Huang Mingchong holds a skeptical view. The recent discovery of the Guchengcun site is expected to expand the Erlitou cultural area to over 10 million square meters.
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Whether Chinese civilization truly has a 5,000-year history involves archaeology, academic research, and narratives of national identity, with the key being evidence of the Xia Dynasty's existence. The Erlitou Xia Capital Relics Museum in Luoyang, Henan Province, has been open for over six years and continues to conduct excavations and surveys, hoping to uncover more mysteries of the Xia Dynasty.
Oracle bone script proves the existence of the Shang Dynasty, but no written materials from the Xia Dynasty (approximately 2070 BC to 1600 BC) have been found to date. Whether the Xia Dynasty was a real civilization affects the validity of the claim of a "5,000-year Chinese civilization."
Chinese authorities are actively engaged in the "search for Xia." In May 2018, a press conference on the "Project to Trace the Origins of Chinese Civilization" stated that "the Erlitou culture, represented by the Erlitou site, is the core and leader of the overall process of Chinese civilization, initiating the three dynasties of Xia, Shang, and Zhou." In October 2019, a museum focusing on the archaeological findings of the Erlitou site opened, with the name including the words "Xia Capital."
A CNA reporter participated in a cross-strait joint press tour organized by China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office and the All-China Journalists Association, visiting Henan Province from May 27 to June 2, which included a visit to the Erlitou Xia Capital Relics Museum.
When asked by the CNA reporter whether the evidence for the Xia Dynasty is not universally recognized by the international academic community, museum director Li Wenchu stated that the Western tradition identifies civilization based on three elements: cities, writing, and metallurgy. However, he argued this does not apply to all civilizations worldwide, citing the Maya civilization (no metallurgy) and the Inca civilization (no writing) as examples that are nonetheless considered highly developed civilizations by global standards.
He said that regarding Chinese civilization, Chinese archaeologists and historians are gradually establishing their own standards, which can be summarized in three aspects: first, social development, including population growth and the emergence of cities; second, the division of labor leading to social stratification and the formation of classes; and third, the emergence of kingship and the state.
Li Wenchu stated that the Erlitou culture meets these criteria, and these three points are sufficient to demonstrate that a society and culture have reached a fairly advanced stage of civilization.
He said that after more than 60 years of archaeological excavation since 1959, it can be verified that the Erlitou site was the capital of the most important wide-area kingship state in China and even East Asia at that time, which coincides with the Xia Dynasty recorded in historical texts in terms of time and space.
However, some scholars hold different views. According to an article titled "Xia Dynasty, Flood, and Erlitou Culture" by Huang Mingchong, a researcher at the Institute of History and Philology of Academia Sinica, he remains cautious about whether the Xia culture is the Erlitou culture, mainly because while the Erlitou culture has some carved symbols on pottery shards, there are no written materials.
He said there are many questions to be investigated, such as whether the so-called "Xia Dynasty" corresponds only to the Erlitou culture, and whether the Xia culture was a continuous entity under a single family rule as some texts suggest, or an integration of different regional polities by historical records.
The Erlitou site has been confirmed through archaeological surveys to cover an area of 3 million square meters, with a cumulative excavation area exceeding 50,000 square meters. It is clear that our understanding of it is only the tip of the iceberg.
Li Wenchu said that the recently discovered Guchengcun site will expand the area of the Erlitou culture to over 10 million square meters. This is a major discovery, but it requires further exploration and verification. (Editor: Yang Shengru) 1150602
Oracle bone script proves the existence of the Shang Dynasty, but no written materials from the Xia Dynasty (approximately 2070 BC to 1600 BC) have been found to date. Whether the Xia Dynasty was a real civilization affects the validity of the claim of a "5,000-year Chinese civilization."
Chinese authorities are actively engaged in the "search for Xia." In May 2018, a press conference on the "Project to Trace the Origins of Chinese Civilization" stated that "the Erlitou culture, represented by the Erlitou site, is the core and leader of the overall process of Chinese civilization, initiating the three dynasties of Xia, Shang, and Zhou." In October 2019, a museum focusing on the archaeological findings of the Erlitou site opened, with the name including the words "Xia Capital."
A CNA reporter participated in a cross-strait joint press tour organized by China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office and the All-China Journalists Association, visiting Henan Province from May 27 to June 2, which included a visit to the Erlitou Xia Capital Relics Museum.
When asked by the CNA reporter whether the evidence for the Xia Dynasty is not universally recognized by the international academic community, museum director Li Wenchu stated that the Western tradition identifies civilization based on three elements: cities, writing, and metallurgy. However, he argued this does not apply to all civilizations worldwide, citing the Maya civilization (no metallurgy) and the Inca civilization (no writing) as examples that are nonetheless considered highly developed civilizations by global standards.
He said that regarding Chinese civilization, Chinese archaeologists and historians are gradually establishing their own standards, which can be summarized in three aspects: first, social development, including population growth and the emergence of cities; second, the division of labor leading to social stratification and the formation of classes; and third, the emergence of kingship and the state.
Li Wenchu stated that the Erlitou culture meets these criteria, and these three points are sufficient to demonstrate that a society and culture have reached a fairly advanced stage of civilization.
He said that after more than 60 years of archaeological excavation since 1959, it can be verified that the Erlitou site was the capital of the most important wide-area kingship state in China and even East Asia at that time, which coincides with the Xia Dynasty recorded in historical texts in terms of time and space.
However, some scholars hold different views. According to an article titled "Xia Dynasty, Flood, and Erlitou Culture" by Huang Mingchong, a researcher at the Institute of History and Philology of Academia Sinica, he remains cautious about whether the Xia culture is the Erlitou culture, mainly because while the Erlitou culture has some carved symbols on pottery shards, there are no written materials.
He said there are many questions to be investigated, such as whether the so-called "Xia Dynasty" corresponds only to the Erlitou culture, and whether the Xia culture was a continuous entity under a single family rule as some texts suggest, or an integration of different regional polities by historical records.
The Erlitou site has been confirmed through archaeological surveys to cover an area of 3 million square meters, with a cumulative excavation area exceeding 50,000 square meters. It is clear that our understanding of it is only the tip of the iceberg.
Li Wenchu said that the recently discovered Guchengcun site will expand the area of the Erlitou culture to over 10 million square meters. This is a major discovery, but it requires further exploration and verification. (Editor: Yang Shengru) 1150602
FAQ
Where is the Erlitou Xia Capital Relics Museum located?
It is located in Luoyang, Henan Province, China.
Have any written materials been found at the Erlitou site?
No definitive written materials from the Xia Dynasty have been found to date.
Is the Erlitou culture related to the Xia Dynasty?
Many Chinese archaeologists argue for a connection, but the international academic community remains divided.