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In Shang and Western Zhou China: an Inquiry Into the Bronze Age Interaction Sphere

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In Shang and Western Zhou China: an Inquiry Into the Bronze Age Interaction Sphere Mining and Smelting Technology and the Politics of Bronze in Shang and Western Zhou China: An Inquiry into the Bronze Age Interaction Sphere Katrinka Reinhardt East Asian S tudies Department McGilI University, Montreal May, 1997 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillrnent of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts. O Katrinka Reinhardt 1997 National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1*1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services sewices bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, nie Wellington OtbwaON K1AON4 OtoiwaON K1AON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in rnicroform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................ 1 Acknowledgments.................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................................................... 4 ..................................................... Technological. aspects.................. ..... 4 Socio-political aspects................................................................................ .5 Rise of Chinese civilizations ..................................................................... 6 Research rnethods ........................................................................................ 7 Chapter 2: The Shang and Western Zhou ....................................................... 9 Defining the Shang and Western Zhou ................................................ 1 1 . Political organization ...................................................................................1 5 . Significance. of bronze .............. .. ........................................................ 2 2 Ritual. music. and writing ............................................................ 2 4 Natural resources .............................................................................2 6 WeaIth .............. .. .............................................................................. 2 7 Chapter 3: Bronze production ................ ....................................................... 2 9 Bronze foundries........................................................................................... 2 9 Techniques of manufacture ..................................................................... 3 3 Bronze alloy composition ........................................................................ 3 5 Types of objects manufactured and their use .................................3 8 Social organization of manufacture ................................................40 Chapter 4: Copper ..................................................................................................... 4 4 Properties of copper.................................................................................... 4 4 Mining of copper in Chinese antiquity ................................................ 4 5 Linxi copper mine ............................................................................ 4 9 .. Tonglushan copper mine ............................................................... 5 O Gangxia copper mine ....................................................................... 6 1 Mayang copper mine ...................................................................... 6 3 Jinniudong copper mine ................................................................ 6 7 Conclusions ......................................................................................... 6 8 Ancient copper refining .background ................................................6 9 Origins ...................................................................................................6 9 Oxides and carbonates versus sulfides ...................................7 1 Copper smelting sites in ancient China ................................... 74 Ancient copper refining .the process ............................................... 7 6 Crushing and selection ................................................................... 7 6 Roasting ................................................................................................ 7 7 Smelting............................................................................................. 7 8 Flux ............................................................................................. 7 8 Furnace .....................................................................................7 9 Fuel ............................................................................................. 8 1 .. Il Chapter 5: Tin ............................................................................................................. 2 Properties of th............................................................................................ 8 2 Mining of tin ................................................................................................... 83 Refining of tin ........................ .. ................................................................... 84 Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 85 Chapter 6: Lead ......................................................................................................... 86 Properties of lead ......................................................................................... 86 Mining of lead ............................................................................................... 8 Refining of lead ............................ .. .......................................................... O Silver and the cupellation process ...................................................92 Conclusions ...................................................................................................... 94 Chapter 7: Conclusion............... .. ......................................................................... 96 Technological aspects ................................................................................ 9 6 . Socio-political aspects .............................................................................. 9 7 Rise of Chinese Civilizations ............................................................... 103 Appendix 1 : Glossary ............................................................................................. 105 Appendix 2: Physical properties of the metals ........................................ 108 References ................................................................................................................... 109 Figures. maps. and tables Figure 1 : Timeline .................................................................................................... 2 . Figure 2: Sanxingdui bronze human head ...................................... .. .......2 2 3 4 Figure 3: Clay. piece-molds .................................................................................. Figure 4: Tonglüshan shafts and tunnels ................................................. 55 Figure 5: Windlass hoisting system .................................................................. 56 Figure 6: Tonplüshan mining tools .................................................................... 58 Figure 7: Mayang mining tools ............................. .. ......................................... 66 Figure 8: Tonglüshan ore body ........................................................................... 74 Figure 9: Smelting furnace ...................................... .. ........................................... O Map i : The Shang state .......................................................................................... 13 Map 2: The Zhou state during the Western Zhou ........................................ 14 Map 3: Ancient China showing mine sites .................................................. 48 Map 4: The Zhou state during the Eastern Zhou .......................................... 99 Table 1: Compositional analysis of bronze vessels .....................................37 Table 2: Characteristics of the ancient copper mines ............................... 47 Abstract In this thesis 1 focus on mining and smelting in China during the Shang and Western Zhou periods (c. 2200 - 770 B.C.). The importance of bronze in Shang and Zhou society and the vast quantity of bronze artifacts recovered indicates that the acquisition of metal ore would have been a major occupation of the state. The Shang and Zhou governments controiled their own bronze foundries but did not control the mines. The mines are located in southern China where the Chu state flourished
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