This book outlines the preface of bronze civilization in East Asia, and traces back to the beginning of “Bronze China”. Dating back from more than 6,000 years ago to 3,000 years ago, this book sorts out the archaeological discoveries in China from primitive copper alloys to red copper and bronze, clarifying the development of bronze techniques 1,000 years before the discovery of oracle bone inscriptions. It examines the archaeological materials from the late Longshan Period to the early Shang Dynasty to explain how bronze was discovered in China and how bronze ritual vessel influenced the ceremony system as the carrier and symbol of Chinese ritual civilization.

Xu Hong is a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and professor and tutor for graduate students of University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. From 1999 to 2019, he served as the leader of Erlitou (二里头) archaeological team in Yanshi, Henan Province, and a council member of Chinese Archaeological Society. His research fields include archaeology of Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties and ancient Chinese cities, and he is engaged in archaeological research on the formation of Chinese civilization and early state.