Search Results (39)

Settlements are the fundamental structural components of the Northwest and Southwest Routes, which were important defensive sectors of the Jin Dynasty’s Great Wall defense system. Under the Jurchen rule, these villages function as special conduits for investigating border defense tactics. However, historical document analysis is the main method used in present study on the Northwest and Southwest Roads, and comprehensive quantitative empirical data about the geographical organization of settlements are absent. As a result, research on the unique defense tactics of the Jin Dynasty is still not fully understood. This study establishes a dual “historical-spatial” analytical paradigm by examining settlement remnants from the Northwest and Southwest Roads in modern-day Inner Mongolia. In order to thoroughly examine defensive tactics within their distinct historical and geographical settings, it clarifies the building procedures, spatial distribution, and site selection features of these settlements using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The results show: (1) The Southwest Road defense zone was continuously reinforced, whereas the Northwest Road defense zone steadily shrank inward from the standpoint of settlement construction. This illustrates how the Jin Dynasty’s macro-level defensive strategy changed from “military deterrence” to “tactical defense”. (2) In terms of military administration systems, ethnic composition differences and settlement defense functions were the main factors influencing the settlement patterns formed in the Northwest and Southwest Roads. (3) In terms of spatial distribution and site selection features, the Zhaotaosi settlements functioned as the core settlements integrating “command-troop garrison-combat operations,” in contrast to the conventional method of using the highest-level settlement as the rear command center. Full article

As urban spaces and cultural contexts continue to evolve, the conservation of immovable cultural heritage faces increasing challenges. This study adopts museumification as an extension of the living heritage continuity approach and examines how a religious monument can be re-embedded in contemporary social life. Using the Jin dynasty Sansheng (Three Saints) Pagoda in Qinyang City, Henan Province, as a case study, it analyzes the mechanisms through which museumification reshapes heritage value and public engagement. A three-dimensional analytical framework—field, space, and society—was developed, and data were collected through field observation, 205 questionnaire responses, and in-depth interviews with museum staff. The results show that museumification has enhanced the pagoda’s public visibility and symbolic meaning, strengthened local identity, and supported the transmission of historical knowledge. Visitors reported cultural pride, historical immersion, and emotional connection, demonstrating the museum’s role in maintaining the living continuity of the site. However, challenges such as limited exhibition space, insufficient narrative coherence, and the tendency for emotional experience to outweigh knowledge acquisition remain. Overall, the study offers empirical insights into the contemporary transformation of religious heritage and provides practical implications for conservation strategies based on museumification. Full article

Amid evolving consumer demands, product design increasingly emphasizes the deeper needs for emotional resonance and cultural identity. Taking Liao–Jin dynasty silk as a case study, this study explores a digital regeneration pathway for traditional cultural colors, evolving from “form–color restoration” to “emotional awakening.” The study focuses on transforming the emotional imagery—such as “mighty” and “dignified”—embedded in the colors of Liao–Jin silk into perceptible, customizable color experiences for modern consumers. To achieve this, an emotional color customization system was constructed through the integration of Interactive Genetic Algorithms (IGA) with the PAD emotional model. Within this system, cultural emotional semantics (e.g., “Powerful,” “Victory”) were quantified as target anchor points in PAD space. The matching degree between color schemes and target emotions is calculated based on user feedback, and is utilized as a fitness function to drive evolution. An experiment was conducted with 48 volunteer evaluators using Liao–Jin silk. Results demonstrated that, compared to traditional IGA, this method achieved significant improvements in emotional matching accuracy: average fitness increased by 34.00%, maximum fitness rose by 10.76%, and the spiritual essence of Liao–Jin culture was more effectively translated into color schemes that evoke positive user emotions. This research offers an innovative solution for cultural heritage digitization, advancing from “form–color restoration” to “emotional and spiritual regeneration.” It also provides a viable approach for intelligent emotional design in fields such as apparel design, cultural creativity, and digital cultural heritage preservation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Baihe Dihuang Tang (BDT), a classical herbal formula from Zhang Zhongjing’s Han Dynasty work Jin Gui Yao Lue, is widely used to treat depressive disorder by nourishing Yin, clearing heat, and tonifying the heart and lungs. However, its pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to explore BDT’s antidepressant effects via MAOA-regulated serotonin (5-HT) metabolism and synaptic plasticity, supported by experimental validation, while using network pharmacology to predict MAOA-targeting active components. Methods: Active components and targets of BDT were screened using TCMSP, TCMID, and other databases, and then a component-target-pathway network was constructed. A chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced depressive mouse model was established. Behavioral tests, including open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST), were conducted to evaluate antidepressant effects. ELISA, qRT-PCR, and Western blot were employed to assess hippocampal 5-HT metabolism (MAOA, 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio) neurotrophic signaling (BDNF, TrkB) and synaptic plasticity-related proteins (PSD-95, SYN1). Results: BDT significantly reduced FST/TST immobility time and improved anxiety-like behaviors in OFT/EPM. BDT treatment downregulated MAOA expression, elevated hippocampal 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio, activated BDNF/TrkB pathway, and upregulated PSD-95/SYN1. Network pharmacology confirmed MAOA’s central role, identifying MAOA/serotonergic synapse modulation as BDT’s main mechanism and pinpointing Ferulic acid, Caffeate, Stigmasterol, (−)-nopinene, Eugenol, and cis-Anethol as MAOA-targeting bioactive components. Conclusions: BDT ameliorates depressive-like behaviors. This effect is mechanistically linked to suppression of MAOA-mediated 5-HT catabolism—a key validated target. This suppression elevates hippocampal 5-HT bioavailability, thereby activating BDNF/TrkB signaling and promoting synaptic plasticity. Network pharmacology confirmed MAOA as a primary target and identified specific modulatory bioactive components. Full article

The reliable corpus of Buddhist sutras translated by Zhi Qian 支謙 serves as an important reference benchmark for determining the authenticity of Buddhist sutras from the Three Kingdoms 三國 period to the pre-Jin period (220–265 CE). The Bimo shi Mulian jing 弊魔試目連經 (The Sūtra of Māra Testing Maudgalyāyana) is currently included in the Taishō Tripiṭaka as an individual sutra. Since the start of block-printing of Buddhist canons, this sutra has been attributed to Zhi Qian of the Wu 吳 State in the Three Kingdoms period and included in the ruzangmu 入藏目 (“list [of texts] admitted to the canon”) of various editions of the Tripitaka. However, historical investigation reveals significant complexity and controversy surrounding its title, attributed translator, and its entries in different ancient catalogs. A systematic examination of historical Buddhist catalogs (jinglu 經錄) demonstrates that, during the times of Dao’an 道安 and Sengyou 僧祐, the sutra was given different names and recorded as a scripture with an unknown translator. During the time of Fajing 法經 in the Sui 隋 Dynasty, the sutra first appeared in the annotations of the sutra catalog under the name Bimo shi Mulian jing, and the translator was not recorded. By the time of Fei Zhangfang 費長房 in the Sui Dynasty, the sutra was first attributed to Zhi Qian, yet it was not included in the ruzangmu 入藏目. Finally, Zhisheng 智昇 in the Tang 唐 Dynasty integrated a great deal of information and attributed the sutra to Zhi Qian under the name Bimo shi Mulian jing and included it in the ruzangmu of Hinayana sutras 小乘入藏目 (List of Hinayana Sutras Admitted to the Canon). Zhisheng’s record has been followed to the present day. Furthermore, critical analysis of Fei Zhangfang’s methodology in attributing this sutra to Zhi Qian, when combined with linguistic evidence, confirms that this sutra was neither translated by Zhi Qian of the Three Kingdoms period nor produced earlier than the Western Jin 西晉 Dynasty (265-316 CE). This study’s analysis of both the canonical inclusion process and the attributed translator of the Bimo shi Mulian jing demonstrates how Buddhist catalogs—exemplified by Fei Zhangfang’s Lidai sanbao ji 曆代三寶紀 (Records of the Three Treasures Throughout the Successive Dynasties)—systematically constructed false translator attributions, while simultaneously underscoring the imperative to re-evaluate so-called “authoritative records” within the Chinese Buddhist canon through integrated multidisciplinary methodologies combining Buddhist catalog criticism with linguistic analysis. Full article

This study investigates a rare case of liquid alcohol preserved in a glazed ceramic vase from the tomb of Li Jurou (AD 1226), Jin dynasty, Xi’an, China, to provide new insights into medieval brewing traditions. We employed a multi-proxy approach combining microfossil and isotopic analysis, experimental brewing with sorghum, and incorporated previously published proteomic data to illuminate its origin. Microfossil analysis revealed yeast cells and starch granules with damage patterns diagnostic of enzymatic saccharification and mashing, indicating the use of malted sorghum and wheat, alongside cooked rice and foxnut. The starch damage features observed in the archaeological sample are consistent with patterns documented in experimental beer brewing with sorghum and wheat/barley. Stable isotope analysis yielded a δ¹³C value of –18.5‰, consistent with mixed C₃ and C₄ inputs. Two-component isotopic modeling revealed that C₄ plant (likely sorghum) contributed 40–50% of the ingredients, with C₃ plants such as wheat, rice, and foxnut making up the remainder. These findings align with proteomic results identifying sorghum proteins in the liquid. The combined evidence distinguishes this beverage from qu-based fermentation and links it instead to li-type brewing, rooted in malted cereals and associated with ritual practices. This represents the earliest direct archaeological evidence of sorghum beer in China, highlighting both technological innovation and cultural adaptation in historical alcohol production. Full article

The settlements of the Great Wall are the product of the overlap of ancient Chinese agricultural civilization and non-agricultural civilization. The structure of the settlement system is of great value for understanding the law of defense engineering and social spatial organization. The Great Wall, built by a non-agricultural civilization, is an important part of the development history of the Chinese civilization. Its uniqueness reflects the relationship between institution and space. However, the archaeological remains and related research methods for non-agricultural Great Wall settlements are not perfect. This paper takes the typical case of the Great Wall built by a non-agricultural civilization (Linhuang Lu settlements of the Jin Great Wall) as the object and integrates spatial analysis and social network analysis. It aims to explore the structure of the settlement system. The settlements of Linhuang Lu show non-random distribution characteristics. They can be divided into four levels. The number ratio from high-level to low-level settlements is 70:30:10:1. Through the weighted Voronoi and social network analysis of human connection and geographical connection, this paper clarifies the structural characteristics of spatial association and social association of settlements. Combined with accessibility and geographical environment, the Linhuang Lu settlements were finally divided into 10 Meng’an defense units and 12 Mouke defense units. Quantitative analysis of the settlement system structure shows the hierarchical management of nature and military by non-agricultural civilization. This provides an empirical basis for the reconstruction of the military defense system of the Great Wall of the Jin Dynasty and further explores the applicability of the research paradigm. This paper has methodological innovation value for solving the problem of spatial cognition of settlement heritage. Full article

Traditional villages are irreplaceable cultural heritages, embodying complex human–environment interactions. This study uses historical geography analysis, kernel density estimation, centroid migration modeling, and Geodetector techniques to analyze the 2000-year spatiotemporal evolution and formation mechanisms of 224 nationally designated traditional villages in China’s Qinling-Daba Mountains. The findings are as follows: (1) These villages significantly cluster on sunny slopes of hills and low mountains with moderate gradients. They are also closely located near waterways, ancient roads, and historic cities. (2) From the embryonic stage during the Qin and Han dynasties, through the diffusion and transformation phases in the Wei, Jin, Song, and Yuan dynasties, to the mature stage in the Ming and Qing dynasties, the spatial center of these villages shifted distinctly southwestward. This migration was accompanied by expansion along waterway transport corridors, an enlarged spatial scope, and a decrease in directional concentration. (3) The driving forces evolved from a strong coupling between natural conditions and infrastructure in the early stage to human-dominated adaptation in the later stage. Agricultural innovations, such as terraced fields, and sociopolitical factors, like migration policies, overcame environmental constraints through the synergistic effects of cultural and economic networks. Full article

The Seven Masters of the Quanzhen 全真七子 sect served as central figures during the founding phase of Quanzhen Daoism and played key roles in the sect’s early development. Originally positioned as the “Northern Seven Perfected Ones” (Bei Qi Zhen 北七真), they were instrumental in propelling the prosperity and expansion of Quanzhen Daoism. Over time, their images subsequently proliferated across various media—including portrayals in stone inscription, painting, biography, and novel, undergoing transformations through inscriptions, paintings, biographies, and novels—transforming transmission channels from Daoist temples to stage performances and from street corners to modern screens. In the Jin and Yuan 金元 periods, Daoist biographies and inscriptions portrayed the Seven Masters as exemplary figures of Daoist practice. In folk novels and precious scrolls (Baojuan 宝卷) in the Ming 明 and Qing 清 dynasties, they were presented as legendary, divine immortals and distant ancestors available for narrative appropriation. In modern times—particularly due to the popularity of Jin Yong 金庸’s martial art novels—they completed their universalization as Daoist cultural resources blending chivalric ethos and entertainment value. Examining the evolution of the Seven Masters’ imagery, two fundamental implications emerge: First, this transformation was jointly shaped by the power structures, functional needs, and media forms of each era. Second, beneath the fluid representations from sacred patriarchs of the Jin–Yuan period to modern entertainment symbols, there is an enduring thread of Daoist transcendental consciousness. Full article

Ge Hong, a religious thinker, has a philosophy of life that integrates Confucianism and Daoism that is reflected in his theory of human nature and destiny. It is embodied in several related concepts. First, “human nature and destiny are inherently natural”. This means that human nature and destiny are inevitable and determined. On the one hand, Ge Hong denied this concept to demonstrate the possibility of immortality; on the other hand, he accepted it in terms of whether an individual could become an immortal. This gave his thought a distinct dualist feature. Second, the “law of human nature and destiny” served as the foundation for discussing the rationality of the cultivation of immortality during the Wei and Jin Dynasties. Ge Hong also used the law to demonstrate the rationality of the way to immortality. Third, the essence of the way to immortality can be presented through the theory of human nature and destiny, which is to transform humans into immortals through certain means, known as “transforming life and destiny”. Full article

Although the Zhuangzi is mentioned in late Warring States and Han Dynasty texts, it was in the post-Han Wei-Jin period that it first exerted a significant influence on intellectual life, becoming a central target for both praise and criticism, much of which focused on its transcendent attitude toward Confucian social values and secular interests. This paper examines these discussions, focusing on criticisms from the pragmatically minded realist Confucian literati of the period, who largely regarded the text as detaching and distracting scholars from the pressing needs of the state and responses from the more sympathetic and idealist “Neo-Daoist” figures of the Dark Learning (xuanxue) movement. For the latter, the spiritual self-transcendence that could be found in the Zhuangzi text was not only a source of personal satisfaction and joy but also served an important function in Confucian ethics, leading readers to transcend narrow obsession with individual self-interest, political power and social status. While these debates express the state of Chinese society after the collapse of the Han Dynasty, they have also been seen as reflecting wider issues that have become prominent in modern Western philosophical and religious thought, notably the concept of nihilism, an association that is here critically assessed in detail. Full article

The extreme rainstorm flood disaster in Beijing on 31 July 2023 resulted in 33 fatalities and 18 missing persons, with direct economic losses across the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei metropolitan area exceeding RMB 10 billion. Despite its inland location, which is not conventionally classified as a flood-prone zone, Beijing is not conventionally considered a flood-prone region, yet it frequently experiences flood disasters, which has led to confusion and perplexity. This article collects records of historical flooding disasters in Beijing over the past 1000 years, spanning the Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the Republics of China, and the founding of New China up to the present, aiming to analyze the basic patterns and characteristics of regional historical flooding disasters. Taking the extreme rainstorm flood disaster in Beijing on 31 July 2023 as an example, this research employs a multidisciplinary approach, including field investigations and numerical simulations, to dissect the disaster-causing mechanisms. The study shows that the significant characteristics of historical flood disasters in Beijing are concentrated in the plain area and the high-frequency outbreaks (below the 3-year return period). Flood disaster events under the participation of typhoons accounted for a high proportion and caused great harm. The extreme rainstorm flood disaster in Beijing on 31 July 2023 was an extreme weather event under the complex coupling of typhoons and terrain. The residual typhoon circulation stayed on the mainland for nearly 70 h, providing abundant precipitation conditions for Beijing. Water vapor is blocked by the Yanshan–Taihang Mountains, uplifting and converging, forming a strong precipitation center in the Piedmont, which aggravates the regional local precipitation intensity. The research results can provide a reference for the scientific prevention and control of typhoon rainstorm flood disasters in Beijing. Full article

The Western Regions during the Han and Tang Dynasties served as a significant cultural intersection along the Silk Road, with stupas acting as core architectural forms of Buddhist dissemination, embodying religious, cultural, and artistic evolution. This study is a research article based on typological analysis, integrating historical documents and archaeological site data to explore the stylistic evolution of stupa architecture in the Western Regions during the Han and Tang Dynasties, revealing the changes in religious beliefs and the process of cultural adaptation and integration of Buddhism in a multicultural context. The study demonstrates that the distribution of stupas shifted from being concentrated in areas such as Shanshan and Shule during the Han Dynasty to expanding across a wider region during the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, eventually forming a Gaochang-centered pattern in the Tang Dynasty. Architectural styles evolved from the simplicity of domed stupas to diversification and then to standardization. The number of niches increased from none to many before decreasing again, while the proportions of the stupa bases gradually increased. This evolution highlights the transition of stupa styles from a singular form to diversification, eventually achieving standardization in the Tang Dynasty. This transformation not only reflects the optimization of the temple layout, gradually shifting from a stupa-centered to a Buddha hall-centered structure, but also illustrates the evolution of stupas from symbols of the Buddha’s tomb to carriers for Buddha statues and ultimately to representations of the Mount Sumeru cosmological concept. This transition also mirrors the shift in Buddhist beliefs, evolving from Theravāda to Mahāyāna Buddhism and then returning to Theravāda practices. This not only facilitated the regionalization of stupa forms and the integration of artistic styles but also provided a significant medium for cultural exchange between China and the West. Full article

This study sheds light on the origin and trade routes of early red coral artifacts found in Xinjiang, primarily dating to the Han and Jin dynasties. The red coral relics examined, excavated from the Shengjindian cemetery of the Western Han Dynasty in Turpan, offer critical insights into the material’s provenance and its introduction to this pivotal region along the ancient Silk Road. Advanced gemological, mineralogical, and geochemical analyses—utilizing computed tomography (CT), laser Raman spectroscopy, and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)—has revealed distinctive features. These include red coloration, a waxy luster, concentric ring structures in cross-section, and calcareous composition, identifying the coral as Sardinian (Corallium rubrum), likely originating from the western Mediterranean region. The findings carry significant archaeological implications. Red coral first appears in the archaeological record in Xinjiang during the Western Han period, facilitated by the thriving Silk Road trade and the expanding influence of Buddhist culture. This study not only confirms the Mediterranean origin of these artifacts but also highlights their integration into the cultural and economic networks of ancient Xinjiang, underscoring the significance of early long-distance trade and cultural exchange. Full article

The excavation of the Lieshan Kiln site represents a significant advance in the field of ceramic archaeology. Previous scholars fixated on the white porcelain unearthed from this kiln, yet this study zeroed in on celadon from the Northern Song and Jin Dynasties. Celadon samples were analyzed using colorimetry, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (ED-XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), polarizing microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermal expansion analysis. Results revealed that material and technological advancements in the production of the Lieshan Kiln and reveal the special phase-separated structure in the glaze of the transparent celadon, with a weakly reduced firing atmosphere. Celadon bodies from both periods were crafted from local sedimentary clays in a single-ingredient formula, with the Jin Dynasty refining the preparation, leading to enhanced density and higher firing temperatures compared to the Northern Song Dynasty. The celadon glaze, a high-calcium type made up of glaze ash and specific clays, differed from the body materials. The high SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio, along with Fe₂O₃ and trace P₂O₅, promoted phase separation. Glaze coloration was modulated by the interaction of Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions, and chemical coloration by Fe ions prevailed when phase-separated particles were minute enough to avoid Rayleigh or Mie scattering. In conclusion, the study deepens the understanding of ancient ceramic production by exploring the phase separation structure and coloring mechanism of the celadon. Full article