The chronology of the three dynasties (Q2752087)

The present article proposes a reconstruction of very controversial and presently much debated subject: the chronology of the Xia, Shang, and Western Zhou dynasties. Starting from the chronology of the ``Modern text'' Bamboo Annals (\textit{Jinben zhushu jinian}, BA in the sequel) the author assumes that ``the BA chronology can be shown to be correct, or systematically correctable'' . Then he starts from a very large number of successive hypotheses that he examines one by one, explaining each time why they must be correct by means of highly sophisticated techniques making use at the same time of archaeological, philological, historical and astronomical knowledge. In particular, he tries to ascertain his reconstructed chronology by using all sorts of datable key astronomical events, not only eclipses and conjunctions but also syzygies and even lunar phases. The author also answers objections made by previous critics. Given the complexity and numerous uncertainties inherent in the scanty available documentation, it is not certain that the totality of these conclusions will be accepted by sinologists, but, at least, the study has the great merit of clearly stating what should count as an hypothesis. Still, one weak point is perhaps the uncritical acceptance of what calendrical systems in use during the three dynasties were and of Zhang Peiyu's chronology \textit{Zhongguo xian-Qin shi libiao} (Chronological tables for the pre-Qin history of China), Ji'nan, Qi-Lu chubanshe, which is based on these: other chronologies from the same period have also been propounded, for example Xu Xiqi, \textit{Xinbian Zhongguo Zhongguo sanqian nian liri jiansuo biao} (New chronological tables for three thousand years of Chinese history), no place-name, Renmin jiaoyu chubanshe (1992). NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThis article, however, is only an overview of an unpublished book (cf. footnote 1, p. 203) and any serious study of the subject should start from the book rather than from the article.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 0964.00010].