The Significance of the Shang Period for the Contemporary Construction of Chinese Cultural Identity

Abstract

The Shang dynasty is a pivotal part of the complex historical construction of contemporary Chinese cultural identity. Nationhood is intrinsically linked to the shared experiences and language of a group of people. The present exploratory paper provides an overview of the many reasons why the Shang period is central to Chinese cultural identity. Historical, archaeological, and socio-political arguments are evaluated to assess the position of this period of history in the system of ideas and shared assumptions that make up contemporary Chinese Cultural Identity.