New Books in East Asian Studies Rowan K. Flad and Pochan Chen, “Ancient Central China” (Cambridge UP, 2013)
Oct 19, 2013
Rowan K. Flad, an archaeologist specializing in ancient China, co-authored the book "Ancient Central China: Centers and Peripheries Along the Yangzi River." He delves into the pivotal role of the Three Gorges region in historical exchanges, challenging traditional views of centrality. The conversation touches on archaeological methods, the Shu polity's cultural dynamics, and the significance of salt production. Flad also discusses collaborative academic writing and ongoing research at the Stanford Humanities Center, focusing on future insights into ancient societies.
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Recenter What 'Central' Means
- 'Central China' in the book names the Yangzi valley to challenge political-center narratives.
- Landscapes host multiple overlapping centers (ritual, economic, historiographical), not just political ones.
Research Born From Three Gorges Rescue Digging
- Flad and Chen began work during rescue excavations for the Three Gorges Dam, which produced abundant new data.
- They used those finds to claim the Three Gorges as central to regional interaction despite political peripherality.
Glasnost Transformed Chinese Archaeology
- China’s archaeological opening since the 1980s enabled regionalist and international work that transformed knowledge.
- The 1990s glasnost allowed students like Flad and Chen to collaborate and access field projects once closed.
