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China in the Early Bronze Age: Shang Civilization (Encounters with Asia)

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"China in the Early Bronze Age: Shang Civilization" is a carefully constructed tome synthesizing up-to-date archeological findings in China to postulate the construction of space over time during the periods surrounding the Shang Dynasty. Purposely passing on specific conclusions as to the finality of such spacial organization, and reminding us that the "dynasties" prior to the unifying Qin were only elements of a larger, complex whole, Thorp, nonetheless has produced an important addition to the literature pertaining to this period of Chinese history. Beginning with Erlitou Culture, and passing through Erligang Culture, Thorp brings us into the Shang period at Anyang, explicating the various aspects of technology, ritual and culture of the various periods. Included in this, relatively short, tightly organized book are numerous boxed features and references to ongoing research. As good an introduction to the formative period of Chinese society and culture as one is likely to find, and written in immensely readable form.

A standard joke is that the Iliad wasn't written by Homer but another Greek with the same name. This author takes the standard Western skeptical view that the Xia dynasty is purely fictitious, a product of later Chinese myth. What can I say but that they knew that somebody preceded the Shang, even if they didn't have many hard facts about them. The Erlitou culture fits the bill. Why not just call them the Xia?
But he does give a good description of late Shang culture as we now know it. Obviously this isn't the last word because there remains so much yet to be uncovered.