Zeng state cemetery at Zaoshulin during the Spring and Autumn period, Suizhou, Hubei

The Zaoshulin cemetery includes five large tombs with an entry ramp leading to a central chamber on one side, 19 medium tombs, and 62 small tombs. According to the inscriptions on the bronze vessels, the layout of the tombs, and the grave assemblages, this cemetery was the burial place for the high-ranking noblemen of the Zeng state. Three hierarchies of tombs from large to small in size correspond to the social ranks of marquises, high-ranking noblemen, and low-ranking noblemen. Amongst these tombs, the occupants of five large burials in three groups are identified as Lord Qiu of Zeng and his wife Yu, Marquis Bao of Zeng and his wife Mi Jia, and Marquis De of Zeng. The Zaoshulin cemetery, along with the sites and cemeteries at Yejiashan, Wenfengta, Guojiamiao, Sujialong, presents a clear and complete archaeological sequence of the culture of Zeng. It also establishes a reference point for Bronze Age archaeological culture in South China.

Global Perspectives on Smart-Power Strategy in International Arena: Critical Discovery into Philosophy of Clausewitz and Sun Tzu from Strategic Implications

Within the military discipline, the doctrine from Carl von Clausewitz and Sun Tzu can be framed as the ones among the most influential strategy-based philosophical domains. Carl von Clausewitz’s theoretical framework of consolidation of all powers and strategic obliteration of all forces of the opponents and rivals seems not uncommon in analysing the scenarios of international power competition and contest. On the contrary, Sun Tzu (around 545B.C.-470B.C.), the ancestral Chinese military strategist during the Spring and Autumn Period, put forward the complete distinctive strategic conception of optimum winning without engaging in any fight, which meanwhile plays a more epistemologically productive, thought-provoking role in utilising smart power strategy in a complex, evolving international arena where hard power alone has been of no avail to keep a dominantly advantageous position. Sequentially, it is indispensable for strategists to conduct in-depth exploration into the role of smart power through abstractly inheriting the consequential philosophical implications from Sun Tzu and Clausewitz as a distinctive strategy-building element and eclectically and rationally combine, enliven and hierarchise their implicit ties with an authentic world matrix that it is hard to empirically theorise and accurately quantify. Through deductive-analysis approaches and case studies of the US (a dominant power in relative terms over the long run), China (the second-largest economic power thus far) and India (a rising power in BRICS), the primary purpose of this paper seeks to dialectically explore an implicit dyadic nexus between 1) the philosophical implications for Sun Tzu and those for Clausewitz and 2) the nature and implementation of smart power strategy ranging from the perspectives of historical origin and international context. It can be argued that the philosophical standpoint of smart power strategy bears historical merits that the principal arguments from Clausewitz and Sun Tzu somehow generated. This paper-based on existential research findings meanwhile prognosticates that the strategic implementation of smart-power strategy, which tends to be highlighted worldwide in the foreseeable future, will advance in a world of multipolarisation instead of bipolarity and strategic co-opetition (i.e. cooperation and competition combined) will grow as an alternative widespread international phenomenon and trajectory that complicates the magnetism, flexibility and unpredictability of how a broad definition of national strength would influence the international structure and international standing.

Provenance of Zhou Dynasty bronze vessels unearthed from Zongyang County, Anhui Province, China: determined by lead isotopes and trace elements

Thirteen Zhou Dynasty bronze vessels and two slags from Zongyang County along the north bank of the Yangtze River in Anhui were analyzed by LA-MC-ICP-MS and EDXRF. The results of lead isotope analysis showed that there were two kinds of lead materials in the Zongyang bronzes. Vessels in Class I, thought to have originated from the Wannan region were primarily used during the Western Zhou and the following Spring and Autumn period; while those in Class II, possibly from the local mines in Zongyang County, were mainly present during the Warring States period. Such a shift in the ore material sources is also revealed by the trace element analysis of the Zongyang bronzes. With reference to the relevant historical documents, we suggest that the transformation of the bronze material sources might have been associated with the changes of the political situation during the Zhou Dynasty.

Research on the Evolution of “Ren” and “Li” in SikuQuanshu Confucian Classics

Confucian culture has always been the most glorious component of Chinese culture. Governing the mainstream world of China for more than two millennia, it has cast a profound and long-lasting influence on the way of thinking and cultural-psychological formation of the Chinese people. Confucianism emphasizes caring about others with benevolence and governing a state with ethics, reflecting the importance of moral principles for politics. “Ren” and “Li” are important parts of the core values of Confucianism, so analyzing the differences between them and their evolution is of great significance for further understanding Confucian culture. This paper selected 132 classic Confucian works from SikuQuanshu, a large collection of books compiled during the Qianlong’s reign of the Qing Dynasty (1636–1912), to calculate the use of frequency of “Ren” and “Li” in those books by means of big data. Then the data was analyzed to show the development trajectory of “Ren” and “Li” from the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) to the Qing Dynasty, providing a new perspective for the study of Confucian culture. The analysis result shows that from the Spring and Autumn period to the Qing Dynasty, both the frequencies of “Ren” and “Li” record a peak and a bottom: “Ren” has its peak in the Sui and Tang period (581–907) while “Li” reaches its climax in the Wei and Jin period (220–420); both “Ren” and “Li” hit their bottom during the Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368). The average frequency of “Li” is higher than that of “Ren” during most of the time (eight dynasties and periods). In general, “Li” is more frequently referred to in classic Confucian works than “Ren,” especially in those of the pre-Sui and Tang era. The An-Shi Disturbances in the Tang Dynasty may mark an important turning point for the frequencies of “Ren” and “Li” in classic Confucian works.

Introduction

This chapter reviews the rise and fall of Wu and Yue, two rival states located in southeastern China during the late Spring and Autumn period from 771 to 475 BCE. It draws inspiration from several poems, vernacular stories, and dramas that marked influence on Chinese literature. It also contains a mixture of historical accounts and fictional tales focusing on anomalies and supernatural events that are subjects of criticism in the Analects and often celebrate revenge and intrigues. The chapter looks at materials that are unredacted reflections of the thoughts and intellectual interests of the Eastern Han. It explains the dynamic period of the Eastern Han when jinwen, guwen, chenwei, apocryphal doctrines, and other religions and philosophies vied for dominance in the marketplace of ideas.

Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue

This book is the first complete English translation of Wu Yue Chunqiu, a chronicle of two neighboring states during China's Spring and Autumn period. This collection of political history, philosophy, and fictional accounts depicts the rise and fall of Wu and Yue and the rivalry between them, the inspiration for centuries of poetry, vernacular fiction, and drama. Wu Yue Chunqiu makes use of rich sources from the past, carefully adapting and developing them into complex stories. Historical figures are transformed into distinctive characters; simple records of events are fleshed out and made tangible. The result is a nuanced record that is both a compelling narrative and a valuable historical text. As one of the earliest examples of a regional history, Wu Yue Chunqiu is also an important source for the history of what is now Zhejiang and Jiangsu. This engaging translation and the extensive annotations make this significant historical and literary work accessible to an English-speaking audience for the first time.

Current diversity of small mammals of the “Sarykum Barkhans” of Dagestan Reserve

We studied the species diversity and abundance of small terrestrial mammals in the spring and autumn period of 2016-2019 in four groups of habitats of the protected area “Sarykum barkhans” of the Dagestan Nature Reserve: barkhan, floodplain forest, ailant plantations, the territory of the cordon. During the study period, 10 species of terrestrial small mammals were recorded – E. roumanicus, C. suaveolens, C. leucodon, M. musculus, M. macedonicus, A. fulvipectus, C. migratorius, M. socialis, D. sagitta, D. nitedula. Apodemus and Mus mice are the dominant species in the studied area. Mice of Apodemus and M. macedonicus were registered for the first time in the territory of barchans. Indicator species of xerophilic ecosystems – C. migratorius, M. socialis, D. sagitta, were recorded locally, exclusively in the only biotope of barkhan. H. auritus, S. pygmaeus, A. major, M. arvalis, A. terrestris, R. norvegicus, M. tamariscinus, which were previously noted by several authors, were not registered (both traces of vital activity and animals themselves) in the studied area during the whole period of research (2016-2019). Seasonal and annual fluctuations of species diversity and abundance taking into account groups of biotopes and small mammal habitats were revealed.

Introduction: What Goes Wrong in Our Understanding of the Strategy Concept?

The term strategy in Chinese originated from war, and the book The Art of War by Sun wu in the Spring and Autumn Period.

INVESTIGATION OF CHINESE STRATEGIES DURING THE PANDEMICS THROUGH THE LENSES OF MOZI AND GALTUNG

The concept of war is the core of military thought. Johan Galtung established the theoretical paradigm of Peace Studies and was known as the "father of Peace Studies". Mozi was a strategist and thinker with a unique pioneering spirit during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. His idea of "universal love and non-aggression" is a model of ancient Chinese pacifism. Although they lived in different times, both of their views on war have had a significant influence on the world. Their views also share many commonalities. They both believe that the root of war is the struggle and dislike of people. They both oppose war and advocate taking care of people. However, due to being from different times, there are huge differences in their views in regards to being anti-war, the level of taking care of the population, and the means of defense. The purpose of this comparative study is to promote the innovative development of China's traditional culture. It also provides useful inspiration for China's peaceful construction during the current pandemic. Keywords: Galtung, Mozi, viewpoints of war, peace, epidemic situation