The Taosi-Shimao-Xinzha Tri-Capital Axis and the Origins of the Early Chinese State

Abstract

This paper, grounded in an interdisciplinary research paradigm, proposes a groundbreaking "Taosi—Shimao—Xinzhai" Three-Capital Axis model for the political evolution of the early Xia Dynasty by systematically integrating evidence from textual historiography, archaeology, astro-chronology, and paleography. The study first constructs a precise chronological framework, providing a scientific basis for calibrating radiocarbon dates with ancient historical records. Addressing the challenge of determining the nature of these capitals, the paper moves beyond the "identity verification" paradigm suitable for individual burials and innovatively proposes a "status identification method" based on the principle of "spatiotemporal exclusivity of power." It further elucidates the decisive role of "material-text mutual corroboration" as a form of generalized inscription. Building on this foundation, the research achieves two breakthrough discoveries: First, through the analysis of the graphic structure of the character "堯" (Yao), it demonstrates that its original meaning refers to the observatory at Taosi, and "Emperor Yao" was the ruler who controlled this astronomical sanctuary. Second, through iconographic comparison, it establishes the genetic relationship between the engraved symbol on the bone spade from burial ⅡM26 at Taosi and the character "禹" (Yu), revealing it as a visualfreeze-frame(定格) of "Yu the Great taming the waters." These two parallel evolutionary chains from "image → character"—"Yao-Observatory" and "Yu-Water Taming Icon"—serve as dual corroboration, jointly unveiling the early visual encoding and transmission mechanism in Chinese civilization characterized by "conveying meaning through vision." Ultimately, this study not only clearly outlines the trajectory of power migration from Emperor Ku's foundation of Taosi to Shaokang's restoration and consolidation at Xinzhai, reconstructs the authentic "tripod-divination" ritual, but also, from the perspective of civilizational generative mechanisms, deciphers the core code enabling the millennia-long continuity of Chinese civilization: civilizational evolution follows the encoding principle of "Conveying Meaning Through Vision, Shaping Identity: The Civilizational Source Code."

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