Contents and Abstracts

[Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations]

Title: On Dreams and their Special Values in the Epic of Gilgamesh………………………………………/3

Author: Fang Xiaoqiu, Ph. D. Candidate, Department of the West Asian Studies, School of Foreign Languages,Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.

Abstract: The Epic of Gilgamesh is known as the most ancient heroic epic in human history. In the standard version of the Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic, dreams have special function. The dream context, analyses, and realization of the dreams described in the first tablet of the epic intensively reflect the prophetic functions of dreams and the practice of determination by oneiromancy of the Mesopotamian people. Moreover, the two dreams described in the seventh and twelfth tablets echo each other, and the way of accounts of the dreams in the first, the seventh, and the twelfth tablets are also consistent providing clues about the connection of the twelfth tablet with the other parts of the Gelgamesh Epic.

Key words: dreams; Epic of Gilgamesh; prophetic functions; the twelfth tablet

Title: The Origins, Images and Functions of Sirens………………………………………………………………/10

Author: Wang Yixin, Professor, Faculty of History, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.

Abstract: In Greek mythology, Sirens are perplexing figures with obscure and disputed origin and their images differ greatly in literature and art. By analysis of the image and function evolutions of Sirens from different perspectives, this paper reaches the following conclusion. The legend of Homeric Sirens is likely introduced by the Greek sailors from abroad, which is a tale about a young witch seduced sailors to death with magic songs. Because of the fatality of Sirens’ songs, the anthropomorphic sea-maidens were gradually demonized and equated with the bird-woman bogeys in ancient Greek art. Their images perhaps originated from the soul-bird Ba of Egypt. In terms of function, Sirens were terrible death-angels or soul snatchers during the Archaic age of Greece, similar to the bird demons such as Ker, Harpies and Sphinxes. Since the fifth century B.C., the functions of Sirens gradually changed into mild mourners, soothers and chanters of funeral dirge.The femininity of Sirens is derived from their roles as seducers; their hybrid form roots in their formidable characters in nature and society; their links with the heavenly Muses spring from their magic songs and mantic power; the sporadic mermaid images, which became a normal form in the Middle age, are originated from their innate connection with the sea.

Key words: Sirens; Soul-Birds; Death-Spirits; Muses of the Other World; Mermaids

Title: A Comparative Study of the Egyptian King-List in Herodotus’and Manetho’s……/20

Author: Shi Xiangjie, Ph. D. Candidate, Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, 130024, China.

Abstract: As most important literature sources for modern Egyptologists, Herodotus and Manetho respectively recorded an Egyptian King-list in theirand. It can be seen from the comparison that Manetho narrated longer history and more king-names, while Herodotus provided more details and influenced more other classical historians. Although Herodotus misunderstood some historical sources and made some errors due to his selection of materials, his relatively rational methodology and view of history helped to make his Egyptian King-list an overall valuable document eventually.

Key words: Herodotus;; Manetho;

[Byzantine and the European Middle Ages]

Title: Anselm of Havelberg: A Study of the Greek Elements of the Twelfth-century Latin Intellectual Works………………………………………………………………………………………………………/27

Author: Li Teng, Research Assistant, College of Humanities and Communications, Shanghai Normal University,Shanghai, 200234, China.

Abstract: The scholars of the Latin West in the middle of the twelfth century eagerly studied ancient Greek philosophy and theology and integrated the Greek elements into their own theological construction. Anselm of Havelberg, as one of the few Latin theologians visited Constantinople in the twelfth century, included a large number of elements from Greek theology and philosophy into his. These elements came partly from the existing Latin literature and partly from the latest translations in that time. This paper explores the Greek sources used in Anselm’s work, especially the anonymous reference of Gregory of Nazianzus by Anselm, as well as the influences of this Greek theologian to Anselm. Such a case study is expected to contribute to the understanding of the deep connection between the Latin West and Greek East in the period of the twelfth-century Renaissance.

Key words: Anselm of Havelberg; The Twelfth Century Renaissance; Greek Theology; Gregory of Nazianzus

[History of Pre-Qin China]

Title: On the Inscription of Xiji Gui and Related Historical Facts…………………………………………/38

Author: Xie Naihe, Professor, School of History and Culture, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin,130024, China.

Key words: Xiji Gui; Southern Yan kingdom; queen of Zhou; female of ficial af filiation system

[Imperial China]

Title: A Study of the Iron Farm Tool Production, Management and Social Supply…………………………/46

Author: Liu Peng, Ph.D. Candidate, History Department of Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210097,China.

Abstract: The Qin Government ran a large portion of the iron agricultural equipment production and supply.Governmental of fices existed in the central and regional levels to look after the iron mining, tool production and the related matters. It was not advisable to call the workshop for casting iron tools as Gongshi (工室).The county-level of ficials such as Tian (田), Jiu (廄), Tianguan (田官), Sikong (司空), and Cang (倉),were all responsible for the management of farm tools. The Qin paid great attention to lending tools to the common people and had quite complete regulations to guarantee its implementation. The borrowers did not need to worry about the natural damage of the tools. There should be also of ficials responsible for selling iron products. In general, the role of the Qin government in the supply of iron tools to common people and its role in promoting small-scale peasant production should not be underestimated.

Key words: Qin; iron farm tools; Shuihudi Qin bamboo slips; Liye Qin bamboo slips

Title: A Re-discussion ofand the Acting Of ficials in Liye Bamboo Slips of the Qin Dynasty………/57

Authors: Yuan Yansheng, Professor, School of History, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001,China; Shi Junjun, Ph. D. Candidate, School of History, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001,China.

Abstract: Most of the(守) in the inscription of the Qin bamboo slips discovered in Liye refer to the local-level acting of ficials. When a formally appointed of ficial could not ful fill his duty for some reasons,an acting of ficial may be appointed to that position. This system may guarantee the continuity of the governmental administration even when the formal of ficials failed to work in position. There are many acting of ficials in Qianling area during the Qin era because of the quick expansion of the Qin tertiary and the lack of formal of ficials.

Key words:; acting of ficial; conscripted labor; then Qin bamboo slips from Liye

Title: Color Culture and the Power Politics between the Monarch and Ministers: A New Examination of the Early Han Black and Red Color Admiration……………………………………………………………/65

Author: Wu Fanglang, Lecturer, College of History, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang , Jiangxi, 330022, China.

Abstract: The Admired out fit color in the First Emperor year was black. At the beginning year of Emperor Gaozu’s military competition with other powers, the red color was admired the most. By the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu after the establishment of the Western Han dynasty, the black was admired. In 166 BC.,the combination of inside red and outside black was admired. When Emperor Wudi in his reign (140-87 BC.), yellow became the most admired color. Behind these changes, there are political games between the different groups and the contradiction between the imperial power and the old influential of ficials. The imperial power was eventually strengthened in this process.

Key words: Han Dynasty; black and red; out fit color changing; power politics

Title: The Type, Level, and Evolution of the Genealogies in Mid Imperial China……………………………/73

Author: Chen Peng, Lecturer, Department of Chinese History, School of Literature, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin,130012, China.

Abstract: In mid imperial China, the genealogies can be divided into two categories: single surname genealogy and compound surname genealogy. The former includes the genealogies of royal families and common families, while the latter includes the genealogies of the whole Empire and a prefecture. To the late Tang dynasty, the four types of genealogies all saw some developments, which influenced the later genealogies of the Song dynasty. In terms of source, all types of genealogies in mid imperial China can be graded as follows: General family genealogy is the most basic level genealogy, the royal family genealogy is a slightly higher level genealogy. The genealogy of local well-known clans is the upper level of common family genealogy, while the genealogy of nationwide well-known clans is a higher level genealogy. Clarify the types and hierarchies of genealogy may provide a foundation for the study of the form, content and function of all the Chinese genealogies in that era.

Key words: Mid imperial China; genealogy; type; hierarchy; evolution

Title: The Integration of the Shanxi Prefectures during the Liao Dynasty…………………………………/85

Author: Wu Wenjun, Ph.D. Candidate, College of the Humanities, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130012,China; Yang Jun, Professor, College of the Humanities, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130012, China.

Abstract: The Shanxi prefectures originally setted under the Southwest Zhaotaosi (西南面招討司) and Daibei-yunshuo Zhaotaosi (代北云朔招討司) were changed to be regions under the administration of Nanjing in Emperor Taizong period. By the period between Emperor Muzong and Emperor Shengzong, the political, economy, and military affairs gradually merged into a uni fied administration. The fiscal uni fication of different Shanxi prefectures began with the needs of military supplies which were accomplished during the early years of Emperor Shengzong. By the later years of Emperor Shengzong, the Shanxi prefectures had completed their integration of military, political, financial, and even supervision. By the period of Emperor Xingzong, Shanxi prefectures were formally separated from Nanjing and became a regional unit.

Key words: Liao Dynasty; Shanxi prefectures; integration; Nanjing

Title: The Southern Song Confucian Narration and Interpretation of the Model Husband-wife Images.../93

Author: Kong Nini, Associate Professor, College of Humanities and Communication, Shanghai Normal University,Shanghai, 200234, China.

Abstract: Neo-Confucianism became more influential in the lives of literati stratum during the southern song Dynasty. To these Confucians, the husband-wife mutual affection was no longer important. Instead, moral values played a key role in husband and wife relation. According to these Confucians, family was the basic unit that bored the responsibility of values, and a wife should share the value of a husband. The Neo-Confucians widened the scope of the family business and made domestic issues more state relevant. To these scholars, an ideal couple should have common mentality and act under the same standard of morality.The Neo-Confucians promoted the model couples that dedicated their lives together to proof the Confucian values.

Key words: Neo-Confucians; Southern Song; characterization of couples; model; inculcation of values

Title: The Legal Privileges of the Royal Clan and the Related Differentiations during the Ming Dynasty../103

Author: Liang Manrong, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, 130024 &Lecturer, Department of History, Yan'an University, Yan'an, Shanxi, 716000, China.

Abstract: At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang stipulated the legal privileges of the royal clan members to make them on top of the common people and of ficials. From the middle period of the Ming, however, along with the quick increase of the royal clan population, the court had to adopt some policies to keep the control of them.(問刑條例) issued by Emperor Hongzhi and revised and re-issued by Emperor Jiajing and Emperor Wanli contained newer regulations accordingly.Nevertheless, although some reduce of privileges did happen, the high level royal clan members’ legal privileges had not been changed. By an examination of(宗藩條例) issued in the forty-fourth year of Emperor Jiajing’s reign, it can be concluded that the legal privileges of the royal clan members were strati fied according to the rank of them. The legal privileges of the princes remained unchanged, while the legal restrictions on the lower level clan members increased.

Key words: Ming Dynasty; the imperial clan; legal status; legal privileges; differentiation

[Eastern Asian History and Culture]

Title: The Dissemination of Chinese Popular Historical Books in Chos?n Kingdom: Centered onand………………………………………………………………………/116

Author: Qin Li, Ph.D. Candidate, Faculty of History, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.

Abstract: Since the Song, Yuan and Ming periods, some popular historical books were introduced to Korea,among them are(少微通鑒節(jié)要) by Jiang Zhi (江贄) and(十八史略) by Zeng Xianzhi (曾先之). These books became very popular in Chos?n society and became an important channel for Chos?n people to learn Chinese historical knowledge. It is worth noting that the two books were highly respected in the early days of Chos?n Dynasty, and there were many books produced aiming at supplementing them by Chos?n writers. By the late Chos?n Dynasty, however, under the influence of the Qing academic society, Chos?n scholars began to criticize the two books for their styles as well as their reliability. Even so, these two books did played important roles in the elementary education of the Korean society.

Key words: popular historical books;;; communication between China and Korea

English Contents and Abstracts………………………………………………………………………………/125

Editor’s Notes…………………………………………………………………………………/cover page 2

Call for Papers………………………………………………………………………………/cover page 3