On The Cultural Exchange In Zhaotong Area During The Warring States, Qin And Han Dynasties From Archaeological Materials

Based on archaeological diggings unearthed in Zhaotong Yunnan Province, this paper is designed to explore the cultural communication of Zhaotong ranging from the Warrior State Period down to Qin and Han Dynasty. Zhaotong had been influenced by many cultural varieties in this period, such as local culture, Yelang culture, Yunnan culture, Qiongdu culture, and Han culture (including Bashu culture and the culture of central China). However, those cultures bring about different influence on the area in different periods. Before Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty sent troops to exploit the area, the culture in Zhaotong was led by indigenous culture, along with the combination of Yunnan culture, Yelang culture and the culture of central China. After that, the influence sphere of central China culture gradually extended and finally took the place of indigenous culture. By the end of Eastern Han Dynasty, the culture of Zhaotong showed no difference with that of central China.Devoid of abundant archaeological diggings and historical records, a detailed analysis of the above-mentioned cultural forms seems unattainable. Therefore, the author mainly focuses on the influence of cultures which hold sway over the cultural evolution and communication of Zhaotong, namely the indigenous culture and central China culture. The influence of two cultural varieties upon the area differs:the influence of indigenous culture went through the Warring States, Qin and Han Dynasty, but it gradually faded away as time went by. To be specific, the indigenous culture was the mainstream of the area before the reign of Emperor Wu. Though the indigenous culture communicated with other cultures, the communications were only confined to economic, military and cultural aspects among the grassroots. In the course of various cultural exchanges, they enjoyed similar status and did not exert decisive impact on each other’s culture.After Emperor Wu improved the management and administration of southwestern China inhabited by undeveloped tribes, powerful Han culture began to shake the foundation of the indigenous culture in a peremptory way and competed for the dominant position by and by with the building of so-called Nanyi Road, the establishment of county system and the flood of immigrants from central China into the area. Ultimately local people went through the process in which they repulsed, welcomed and paid allegiance to Han culture, while Han people also underwent several changed in attitude toward those tribes, from contempt, then friendliness to respect. The changed attitudes of the two sides resulted from the cultural communication in Zhaotong in the period.