Archaeology and the Chinese city

摘要: Abstract Concern with the material culture of past epochs has been a prominent characteristic Chinese literati virtually throughout their history, and led numerous among them to investigate both surviving traces literary records ancient cities. However, controlled excavation specifically urban sites began only towards end third decade this century, since when attention directed primarily exploration Shang ceremonial centres, capitals Chou princes, great cities so‐called Middle Ages. Although archaeology in China is still its infancy, investigations undertaken so far have contributed significantly our understanding genesis diffusion life Sinic realm, permitted formulation some tentative generalizations about morphology function medieval capitals.