The Relationship Between Archaeology Of The Qin And Han Dynasty And The Culture Of Zhou Yi

During Qin and Han Dynasties, the ideology and culture of Zhou yi had an influence on many researches, which was far beyond our imagination. In Qin Dynasty, Zhou Yi survived from the event of burning books and burying Confucian scholars alive, which made it spread with no interrupt. There are two reasons why Emperor Qin Shihuang did not give orders to burn Zhou Yi. On one hand, Emperor Qin Shihuang was convinced by the divination nature of Zhou Yi. On the other hand, cosmic concept of Zhou Yi is in line with Qin Shihuang’s character and the political need. Either from the side of religious witchcraft or the side of ideological theory, Zhou Yi both had a major impact on Emperor Qin Shihuang. At that time, besides Qin Shi Huang, many important court ministers including Lisi, who also paid much attention to "Yi" Studies, were deeply affected by Zhou Yi culture. To the Han Dynasty, "Yi" Studies ushered in an important stage of development, "Yi" Studies’prosperity and development in the Han Dynasty led to the special title" Han Yi" for "Yi" Studies in the Han Dynasty. Since the Han rulers’respecting Confucianism and advocating Confucian Classics, Zhou Yi was ranked the first of the "Six Confucian Classics". Thus, Commentaries on Zhou Yi in the Han Dynasty became specialized knowledge. Mr. Zhu Bokun’s approval on Han Yi’s development is as following, "Yi Studies occupies an important position on Han Dynasty’s philosophy history, ideological history and academic history. Xiangshu Zhou Yi theories of Han Dynasty developed extremely into prosperity. The achievement of Han Yi specifically include Gua-qi theory of Mengxi and Jingfang, Yi Wei and the Xiangshu explanations to Yi Wei, the Yao Chen theory of Zhengxuan’s Yi-ology, Xun shuang’s theory of Qian-sheng Kun-jiang, Yufan’s Yi-ology and Wei Boyang’s Yi-ology and so on. Therefore, the development and prosperity of Zhou Yi in Qin and Han Dynasties is very impressive. In fact, besides the recording documents, we can also understand the rich cultural atmosphere of Zhou Yi in Qin and Han Dynasties from many related archaeological discoveries. From the perspective of "Yi" archeology, I have done a preliminary study on the connections of related archaeological discoveries of Qin and Han Dynasties and Zhou Yi Culture.First, the construction of the capital site(Qin Xianyang City, the Western Han Chang’an City, Luoyang City in the Eastern Han Dynasty) of Qin and Han Dynasties are all closely related to the Zhou Yi culture. The design of "Imitating the Heaven and the Earth" on Qin Xianyang City and Han Chang’an City reflects Zhou Yi’s concept of the unity between Heaven and man. Han Chang’an city’s length of Jing and Wei each was fifteen li and the Eastern Han Dynasty’s Luoyang city’s East-West wall was six li long, its North-South wall was nine li long. The above-mentioned constructions reflect Zhou Yi’s concept of yin and yang. The central axis layout of the capital cities of Han Dynasties and the "center choice" construction of Weiyang main palace both reflect the center worship of Zhou Yi.Second, some designs and constructions of the mausoleums and some Princes tombs in Qin and Han dynasties both reflect Zhou Yi culture. The constructions with astronomy and geography and the mound shape of Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum, the square shape of Han Imperial Mausoleum cemetery and the round mound shape of Mausoleum, the shapes of the burial tombs of the Western Han Princes, the above-mentioned constructions reflect Zhou Yi’s concept of the unity between Heaven and man. The system of imitating of the capital of Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum, the capital and Mausoleum of the Western Han Dynasty was constructed as South-North orientation, the different size of Western Han prince tombs and queen tombs, the above-mentioned constructions all reflect Zhou Yi’s concept of yin and yang. The layout of the inside cemetery of Qin Shihuang mausoleum and the position of the mausoleum mound, the name and the position of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum coffin chamber, etc., the above-mentioned constructions all specifically reflect the concept of center worship of Zhou Yi.Finally, the shape and ornamentation of the Qin and Han Dynasties’relics is also closely related to Zhou Yi culture. The design of carriages and coins in Qin and Han Dynasties and the design of depository in Han Dynasty, the above-mentioned constructions are all produced under the cognition concept of Round Top and Square Bottom at that time, which embodies Zhou Yi’s concept of the unity between Heaven and man. The design of some relics in Qin and Han Dynasties embodies Zhou Yi’s concept of yin and yang.Such as the ornamentation of some relics in Qin’s Yunmeng tomb, the murals relics painted with Fuxi, Nvwa, the sun and the moon in Han Dynasty tomb and the relics painted with four gods pattern(such as bronze mirror and Vatan), etc., the above-mentioned designs all reflect Zhou Yi’s concept of yin and yang.