Our lecture series aims to explore the common features and differences in early history-writing practices of ancient China and Mesopotamia. This event is open to everyone.
早期中国和两河流域是人类历史书写的发祥地,而这次讲座系列的目的是通过自由交谈研究这两个地区历史书写的共同点和区别。这次讲座系列将在线上举行,所有的人可以报名参加。
Through a study of a chapter from the Shang shu 尚书 (Venerated Scriptures) as well as two texts from the recently discovered Tsinghua manuscripts, this talks aims to highlight how history-writing served to promote the interests of different groups of ancient Chinese elites.
通过对《尚书》、清华简中的三篇文献的分析,这报告展现历史文献在促进团体利益的重要作用。
Shang shu 尚書: “Announcement at Luo” 洛誥 (PDF) Tsinghua Manuscripts 清華簡: *“Lady Wu of Zheng disciplines the child ruler” 鄭武夫人規孺子 (PDF) Tsinghua Manuscripts 清華簡: *“Good ministers” 良臣 (PDF)The Sumerian idea of History as a topic of research had unfortunately faded away from scholarly attention for several decades. This talk brings up this old question by examining the early Mesopotamian concept of time and history through a comparative lens.
很不幸,作为一个研究课题,苏美尔人的历史观问题几十年来极少得到学者的关注。本讲尝试以新的方式重新提出这个问题,通过比较的视角审视早期美索不达米亚的时间和历史观念。
Vase Inscription of Lugalzagesi (PDF)Vase Inscription of Lugalzagesi from Frayne, Douglas R. 2008. Presargonic Period (2700-2350 BC). Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia Early Periods 1. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Laws of Hammurabi (PDF)Laws of Hammurabi from Roth, Martha T. 1997. Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor. Writings from the Ancient World 6. Atlanta: Scholars Press.
This talk focuses on the notions of historicity in ancient Chinese culture as reflected in the specific case of Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historiographer. The way it narrates the events related to Xia and Shang dynasties has been confirmed in recent archaeology, which deserves special attention from scholars.
司马迁的《史记》历来是研究商朝历史的最重要文献。最近一百年来的考古学发现证明了原来以为司马迁伪造的信息符合考古学真相。而这些发现让学者改变对于古代文献的态度。
In the first half of the first millennium BCE, various traditions converged into the writing of Babylonian national histories, produced in and outside the official palace circles. Using three historiographic texts as case studies, this paper discusses the historical context and the milieus in which they were written, as well as the main topoi, differences, and commonalities between them.
公元前一千年,古代巴比伦的各种在宫殿内外形成的历史传统合并成统一历史。通过三篇历史文献的分析,这次报告将探讨这些文献的历史背景、所形成的社会阶层以及其重点内容、区别和共同点。
The Chronicle of Ancient Kings A (PDF)Glassner, J.-J. 2004 Mesopotamian Chronicles, Text no. 39
The Chronicle Concerning the Early Years of Nebuchadnezzar (PDF)Glassner, J.-J. 2004 Mesopotamian Chronicles, Text no. 24
The Imgur-Enlil Inscription of Nabopolassar (PDF)Da Riva, R. 2013 The Inscriptions of Nabopolassar, Amel-Marduk and Neriglissar, Text C32
Sima Qian, a scribe, starts the postface of his history (Shiji) with a genealogy—this talk will explore the interrelation between the scribal profession, genealogical activity, and historiography in the context of Western Han (206/201BCE–8CE). The main purpose of my talk is to understand why the Postface of Shiji opens with a genealogy of the Sima family. Hence, the Postface will be at the center of my talk, with the other documents there to support my arguments.
作为史官的司马迁在《史记·太史公自序》的开头谈到了自己的家谱。这次报告将探讨西汉时期史官事业、家谱形成和传授以及史学之间的关系。我的讲座主要追溯《史记·太史公自序》为什么一开始就提到司马父子的家谱,因此“自序”是这个讲座的重点,而其他的资料起附属作用。
Shi ji TOC (PDF) Shi ji 130 Postface (excerpts) (PDF) Shi Qiang pan bronze inscription (PDF) Zuo zhuan: Xiang 24.1 (PDF) Zuo zhuan: Zhao 17.3 (PDF) Zuo zhuan: Zhao 20.6 (PDF) Zuo zhuan: Zhao 29.4 (PDF) Zhao Kuan's stele (PDF) Wei Meng's poem “Raft” (PDF)This paper traces the transformation of the Babylonian Managerial class, as it evolved from the 3rd millennium temple administrators to the 1st millennium royal advisors. Towards that goal a number of relevant written sources, dating mainly to the first half of the 1st millennium, will be presented and discussed in detail.
这个报告探讨巴比伦尼亚“管理阶层”从公元前3千年的寺庙庄园管理员到公元前1千年的君王谋士的转变。为了展开这个话题,报告将介绍以及详细讨论一系列主要来自公元前1000-500年的相关文献。
Antediluvian Sumerian King List (PDF)Transliteration by Piotr Stenikeller.
Story of Seven Sages (PDF)Egbert von Weiher, Spätbabylonische Texte aus Uruk, Teil II (Berlin: Gebr. Mann, 1983), pp. 48-55.
The Uruk List of Kings and Sages (PDF)Alan Lenzi, “The Uruk List of Kings and Sages and Late Mesopotamian Scholarship,” JANER 8 (2008), pp. 140-143.
Advice to a Prince (PDF)AW. G. Lambert, Babylonian Wisdom Literature (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1960), pp. 110-115.
Weidner Chronicle (PDF)A. K. Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles, Texts from Cuneiform Sources 5 (New York: J. J. Augutin, 1975), pp. 145-151.