Writing and Literacy in Early China (Paperback)

Feng Li

ISBN 10: 0295993375 / ISBN 13: 9780295993379

Published by University of Washington Press, Seattle, 2013

About this Item

Paperback. The emergence and spread of literacy in ancient human society an important topic for all who study the ancient world, and the development of written Chinese is of particular interest, as modern Chinese orthography preserves logographic principles shared by its most ancient forms, making it unique among all present-day writing systems. In the past three decades, the discovery of previously unknown texts dating to the third century BCE and earlier, as well as older versions of known texts, has revolutionized the study of early Chinese writing.The long-term continuity and stability of the Chinese written language allow for this detailed study of the role literacy played in early civilization. The contributors to Writing and Literacy in Early China inquire into modes of manuscript production, the purposes for which texts were produced, and the ways in which they were actually used. By carefully evaluating current evidence and offering groundbreaking new interpretations, the book illuminates the nature of literacy for scribes and readers. Recently discovered ancient texts dating to the third century BCE and earlier inform the groundbreaking interpretations presented here on the emergence and spread of literacy in Chinese society. This book provides insights into literacy's role in early civilization. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780295993379

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Writing and Literacy in Early China (Paperback)
• Publisher: University of Washington Press, Seattle
• Publication Date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0295993375
• ISBN 13: 9780295993379
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The emergence and spread of literacy in ancient human society an important topic for all who study the ancient world, and the development of written Chinese is of particular interest, as modern Chinese orthography preserves logographic principles shared by its most ancient forms, making it unique among all present-day writing systems. In the past three decades, the discovery of previously unknown texts dating to the third century BCE and earlier, as well as older versions of known texts, has revolutionized the study of early Chinese writing.

The long-term continuity and stability of the Chinese written language allow for this detailed study of the role literacy played in early civilization. The contributors to Writing and Literacy in Early China inquire into modes of manuscript production, the purposes for which texts were produced, and the ways in which they were actually used. By carefully evaluating current evidence and offering groundbreaking new interpretations, the book illuminates the nature of literacy for scribes and readers.

About the Author

Li Feng is professor of early Chinese history and archaeology at Columbia University. David Prager Branner is retired as a professor of Chinese at the University of Maryland. The other contributors are Anthony Barbieri-Low, William Boltz, Constance Cook, Lothar von Falkenhausen, David Pankenier, Matthias Richter, Adam Smith, Ken-ichi Takashima , and Robin Yates.