| Craft Production and Social Change in Northern China Softcover Repri Edition Contributor(s): Underhill, Anne P. (Author) |
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ISBN: 1461351723 ISBN-13: 9781461351726 Publisher: Springer OUR PRICE: $170.99 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: October 2012 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Asia - China - Social Science | Archaeology - Social Science | Anthropology - General |
| Dewey: 931 |
| Series: Fundamental Issues in Archaeology |
| Physical Information: 0.75" H x 6.14" W x 9.21" (1.12 lbs) 346 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Chinese - Chronological Period - Ancient (To 499 A.D.) - Chronological Period - Medieval (500-1453) - Chronological Period - Prehistoric |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: This book offers an anthropological analysis of how craft production changed in relation to the development of complex societies in northern China. It focuses on the production and use of food containers-pottery and bronze vessels-during the late prehistoric and early historic periods. A major theme is how production and use of prestige vessels changed in relation to increase in degree of social inequality. The research and writing of this book took place intermittently over a period of several years. When I first outlined the book in 1994, I planned to offer a more limited and descriptive account of social change during the late prehistoric period. In considering the human desire to display status with prestige goods, my initial approach emphasized how the case of northern China was similar to other areas of the world. I began to realize that in order to adequately explain how and why craft production changed in ancient China, it was crucial to consider the belief systems that motivated produc- tion and use of food containers. Similarly, a striking characteristic of ancient China that I needed to include in the analysis was the preponderance of food containers, rather than other goods, that were buried with the deceased. I decided to investigate the social and ritual uses of food, bever- ages, and containers during more than one period of Chinese history. Some strong patterns could have emerged during the late prehistoric period. |