Han-Peng Ho

This project aims to provide a meaningful vocabulary of land terms found in Zhou records; account for the dynamics of the lineage—sovereign relationship—and the nature of land ownership and soverignty through the study of land transfers; and trace the emergence of the county system by showing the administrative and political implications of land possession and transfers in Western Zhou China (1045-771 BCE). In collaboration with local scholars, the research involves the analysis of bronze inscriptions, archaeological reports, historical texts, topographical maps, and laboratory reports on soil and environmental studies relating to the Zhou locus of power in modern day Shaanxi province. Besides improving our understanding socioeconomic and administrative developments in early China, this project encourages greater communication among scholars and research scientists in the fields of history, political economy, environmental science, archaeology, and paleography.