Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T13:34:35.675Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

In Search of Danyang I: Historical Geography and Archaeological Sites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 March 2015

Barry B. Blakeley*
Affiliation:
Department of Asian Studies, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ 07079

Abstract

The location of the early Chu capital, Danyang, has never been definitively determined. Since Han times, several hypotheses have been offered. That advocating a southwest Hubei location (Zigui or Zhijiang xian), the standard opinion, has generally governed analyses of early Chu historical and cultural development, particularly of the archaeological data uncovered in the past few decades. Another hypothesis, that advocating a southwest Henan (Xichuan) site for Danyang, however, has recently gained popularity.

The Danyang problem can be approached from a number of angles. This paper attempts first to assess the relative probabilities of all of the hypotheses on the basis of a rather strict evaluation of the evidence provided by historical geography and then to judge the quality of the presently available archaeological evidence given in support of each. From the above perspectives, the author concludes that the relative probabilities favor the southwest Henan hypothesis.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Society for the Study of Early China 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

RECENT WORKS RELATED TO THE DANYANG PROBLEM

Jinhuai, An 1983Shangdai di Chu wenhua yicun ji qi youguan wenti, Chu wenhua yanjiu lunwenji . Zhengzhou, 1983:1022.Google Scholar
Pan, Chen 1962Chudu Danyang kao, Proceedings. International Association of Historians of Asia (1962) (Taibei, 1963):4958.Google Scholar
Yongxuan, Feng 1980Shuo Chudu, JHKG 1980.2:1321.Google Scholar
Yingqin, Gao 1982Shi lun Ju/Zhang he liuyu shi tansuo zaoqi Chu wenhua di zhongxinWW 1982.4:4952.Google Scholar
Yingqin, Gao 1983 (?) “Zai tan Danyang, in CSYJ: 6064.Google Scholar
Yingqin, Gao and Yaoting, Cheng 1980Tan Danyang, JHKG 1980.2:2326.Google Scholar
Tiefu, Gu 1983 (?) “Chu san-yi kao in CSYJ: 1738.Google Scholar
Tiefu, Gu 1984 Chuguo minzu shulue Wuhan: Hubei Renmin, 1984.Google Scholar
Guangyue, He 1981JingChu di laiyuan ji qi qian-yi, Qiusuo 1981.4:154163.Google Scholar
Shengzhang, Huang and Zhongxun, Niu 1979Chu di qiyuan he jiangyu fazhan, Dili zhishi 1979.1:1112.Google Scholar
Binhui, Liu 1980Shilun Chu Danyang he Yingdu di diwdng he niandaiJHKG 1980.1:4557.Google Scholar
Binhui, Liu 1983 (?) “Zai lun Chudu Danyang di dlwang, CSYJ:4659.Google Scholar
Hehui, Liu 1985Chu Danyang kaobian, JHLT 1985.1:5963.Google Scholar
Wentong, Meng 1958 Zhou-Qin shaoshu minzu . Shanghait 1958.Google Scholar
Mingxidng, Pei 1980Chudu Danyang shitan, WW 1980.1:7275.Google Scholar
Mingxidng, Pei 1983 (?) “Zai tan Chudu Danyang di diwang in CSKJ:3945.Google Scholar
Quan, Shi 1979Gu wenxian di ‘jiang’ bushi Changjiang di zhuanchengWenshi 6 (1979.2):8189.Google Scholar
Quan, Shi 1982.1, 2 “Qi/Liang yiqian gu Ju, Zhang yuanliu xintan, Wuhan Daxue xuebao 1982.1:7077; 2:47–61.Google Scholar
Quan, Shi 1984Chudu heshi qian Ying, JHLT 1984.4:7678.Google Scholar
Quan, Shi 1985Chudu Danyang ji gu Jingshan zai Dan, Xi fujin buzheng, JHLT 1985.12:7378.Google Scholar
Quan, Shi and Dekuan, Xu 1982Chudu Danyang diwang xintan, JHLT 1982.3:6776.Google Scholar
Chongen, Sun and Yunfu, Huang 1980 “Chu shidu Danyang kaobian, Zhengzhou daxue xuebao 1980.4:8088.Google Scholar
Bigui, Wen 1982.2 “Chu Yingdu chuyi, JHKG 1982.2:9499.Google Scholar
Bigui, Wen 1982.3 “Zigui Lianyushan yu Chudu Danyang, JHLT 1982.3:7778.Google Scholar
Kuan, Yang 1981Xi Zhou shidai di Chuguo, JHLT 1981.5:101108.Google Scholar
Quanxi, Yang 1980.2 “Dangyang Jijiahu kaogu shijue di zhuyao shouhuo, JHKG 1980.2:8790.Google Scholar
Quanxi, Yang 1980.10 “Dangyang Jijiahu Chucheng yizhi, WW 1980.10:3141.Google Scholar
Quanxi, Yang and Zhenyu, Chen 1987Zigui Lianyushan yu Chudu Danyang, JHKG 1987.3:7178.Google Scholar
Zhengming, Zhang 1982Chudu bian, JHLT 1982.4:6468.Google Scholar
Yachu, Zhang 1985Xichuan Xiasi erhao mu di muzhu, niandai yu yihao mu pianzhong di mingcheng wentiWW 1985.4:5458.Google Scholar
Desheng, Zong 1980Chu Xiong Yi suoju Danyang ying zai Zhijiang shuo, JHKG 80.2:2730.Google Scholar