The Historical Context of Pre-Zhou Culture

The study of Pre-Zhou culture takes us back to the Shang Dynasty period in the Guanzhong region, where multiple bronze age cultural remains have been discovered. Archaeologists have identified these remains through two critical criteria: cultural continuity with later Western Zhou artifacts, and geographical alignment with historical records of early Zhou rulers’ activities.

This archaeological investigation reveals a complex cultural landscape in the Guanzhong basin during what scholars call the “Pre-Zhou period” – the era before the Zhou dynasty’s official establishment. The region served as a melting pot where various bronze age cultures interacted, competed, and eventually gave rise to the civilization that would overthrow the Shang and establish China’s longest-lasting dynasty.

Five Distinct Cultural Remains in Guanzhong

Archaeological evidence points to five major cultural types coexisting in the Guanzhong region during the Shang period:

The first category represents pure Shang culture, found at sites like Nansha Village in Huaxian County and Laoniupo in Xi’an. These sites show clear cultural continuity from the Erligang period through the Yinxu phases, featuring characteristic Shang pottery forms, bronze ritual vessels, and burial customs with waist pits. While influential on later Zhou culture, this Shang cultural presence doesn’t represent the origins of Zhou civilization.

The second type, called the Doujitai category after its namesake site in Baoji, shows distinctive characteristics with two pottery variations – high-collared bag-legged li tripods and joined-crotch li vessels. Sites like Changwu Nianzipo and Wugong Zhengjiapo reveal this culture persisted from Erligang upper layer through Yinxu phase IV, making it chronologically continuous with Zhou culture.

The third cultural type appears at Liujia in Fufeng County, featuring unique cave-style burials containing high-collared bag-legged li vessels and various jars covered with stone lids. While some scholars initially linked these to Pre-Zhou culture, their distinct burial practices and artifact combinations suggest closer ties to the Xindian culture of Gansu-Qinghai region.

The fourth category, represented by the Heidouzui tombs in Chunhua County, shows cultural connections to northern Shanxi and Shaanxi bronze cultures with distinctive artifacts like curved knives, tube-hafted axes, and gold ornaments. However, the lack of pottery finds makes cultural attribution difficult.

The fifth Longkou type, found at sites like Fengxian Longkou Village, displays cultural hybridity with artifacts showing influences from both Zhou and Shu cultures, including joined-crotch li vessels and saddle-mouthed double-eared jars characteristic of the Siwa culture.

The Case for Doujitai as Pre-Zhou Culture

Among these cultural remains, the Doujitai type presents the strongest case for being the authentic Pre-Zhou culture. Several lines of evidence support this identification:

Chronologically, it spans from Erligang upper layer through Yinxu phase IV, directly preceding Western Zhou culture. Geographically, its distribution matches historical accounts of early Zhou activity areas. Artifact-wise, its pottery forms – particularly the li tripods – show clear developmental continuity into Western Zhou types.

The debate between scholars who separate the high-collared bag-legged li and joined-crotch li traditions misses the point that both types coexisted in Western Zhou sites. Recent excavations at Fengxi Mawangzhen H18, a late Pre-Zhou period ash pit, revealed both types present, with joined-crotch li predominating but bag-legged vessels still significant.

Tracing the Origins of Pre-Zhou Culture

Scholars have proposed three main theories about Pre-Zhou cultural origins:

1. The Siwa/Xindian culture origin theory, based on similarities in high-collared bag-legged li vessels. However, comprehensive analysis shows other artifact types don’t match, making this unlikely.

2. The multi-regional influence theory suggesting origins from Shang culture (bronzes), Guangshe culture (certain li types), and Siwa culture. While Shang bronze influence is undeniable, the core pottery traditions differ fundamentally. The Guangshe connection also lacks supporting evidence.

3. The local Guanzhong origin from Kexingzhuang Phase II culture. Some morphological similarities exist in li vessels, but other artifacts show no connection, and there’s a significant chronological gap between these cultures.

Chronological Development of Pre-Zhou Culture

Based on stratigraphic evidence from multiple sites, Pre-Zhou culture can be divided into five developmental phases:

Phase I (Erligang upper layer): Found only at Liquan Zhumazui, featuring high-collared bag-legged li with thin walls and fine cord marks, along with joined-crotch li showing early Zhou characteristics.

Phase II (Yinxu I): Appearing at Zhumazui, Yijiabao, and Andi sites. Vessels become slightly more squat while maintaining basic forms. Shang cultural influence remains strong at mixed-culture sites.

Phase III (Yinxu II): Spreads to more sites including Zhengjiapo and Hejia. Vessel proportions continue evolving toward the characteristic Zhou squat forms. Regional variations become more pronounced.

Phase IV (Yinxu III): Widespread distribution across Guanzhong. Vessel types diversify with additions like gui bowls and bu jars. Bronze ritual vessels appear, showing Shang influence but with local characteristics.

Phase V (Yinxu IV): Artifacts nearly indistinguishable from early Western Zhou, found as far east as Fengxi near modern Xi’an. The cultural transformation to full Zhou civilization is essentially complete.

The Cultural Significance of Pre-Zhou Archaeology

The archaeological investigation of Pre-Zhou culture provides crucial insights into state formation processes in ancient China. The material record shows:

1. A local Guanzhong cultural tradition maintaining distinct pottery styles despite Shang political dominance
2. Selective adoption of Shang bronze technology and burial customs
3. Gradual territorial expansion from a core area in the Qishan-Baoji region
4. Cultural synthesis of different vessel traditions (bag-legged and joined-crotch li)

This archaeological narrative complements historical accounts of Zhou origins, showing how a peripheral culture developed the capacity to challenge and eventually replace the dominant Shang civilization.

The Enduring Legacy of Pre-Zhou Culture

The Pre-Zhou to Western Zhou cultural transition represents one of ancient China’s most significant civilizational developments. The archaeological record demonstrates:

1. Continuity in core pottery traditions from late Pre-Zhou through early Western Zhou
2. The Zhou pattern of adopting superior technologies (bronze casting) while maintaining cultural identity
3. The geographical expansion process from Zhouyuan heartland to wider Guanzhong
4. The cultural dynamics that enabled the Zhou to develop the “Mandate of Heaven” ideology that would shape Chinese political thought for millennia

Modern archaeological methods continue to refine our understanding of this crucial transitional period, revealing the complex cultural processes behind one of China’s most important historical transformations.