Features of Gardens of Shu Kingdom in Pre-Qin Period of China

After the illustration of Shu Kingdom in pre-Qin period, the origin of Sichuan gardens has been discussed. Through the research on relevant materials of old Shu Kingdom, and by comparing with the archaeological discovery of Yangzi Mountain Terrace, the paper has proposed that the origin of Sichuan gardens can trace back to gardens in the period of Duyu King. It is considered that gardens in pre-Qin period are dominated by imperial gardens, emperors' or aristocratic cemeteries, among which the historical function and features of Yangzi Mountain Garden, Nanzhong Garden and Wudan Mountain Cemetery have been introduced. On this basis, characteristics of Sichuan gardens in pre-Qin period have been concluded, and the grand manner manifested through "Great Stone Worship" in ancient Shu Kingdom has been highlighted.

Discussion on Agricultural Religion in the Pre-Qin Period of China

Since ancient times,agricultural religion has been infiltrated into all aspects of economic,political and social life in China. Using rich historical data such as archeology,anthropology and ethnology,this paper discussed the historical process of agricultural religion in the pre-Qin period from animal worship to agricultural worship. It also discussed the agricultural objects,land,celestial nature,and labor ghosts.Finally,it revealed the inevitable trend of combination of social sacrificing activities.

The History of Xu-style Garden in the Pre-Qin Period

Based on ancient documents and archaeology,this paper studied the general situation and landscape conditions of ancient Xuzhou in the pre-Qin period,including regional changes,economic development,and gardening activities and characteristics of Xu-style gardens.The study found that ancient Xuzhou had been inhabited by human beings as early as 6,000 years ago,and villages and kingdoms had gradually formed.When Yu the Great ruled the country(also known as Jiuzhou,or nine states),Xu was one of the nine states,known as Xuzhou.Local natural geographical environment was superior,the transportation was convenient,economy and society was relatively developed,thus by the Zhou Dynasty,ancient Xuzhou region had already had a large number of early garden forms.This period was the incubation period of Xu-style garden.

Effects of Vegetation Restoration on Soil Organic Carbon in China:A Meta-analysis

Vegetation restoration has been proposed as an effective method for increasing both plant biomass and soil carbon(C) stocks. In this study, 204 publications(733 observations) were analyzed, focusing on the effects of vegetation restoration on soil organic carbon(SOC) in China. The results showed that SOC was increased by 45.33%, 24.43%, 30.29% and 27.98% at soil depths of 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, 40–60 cm and > 60 cm after vegetation restoration, respectively. Restoration from both cropland and non-cropland increased the SOC content. The conversion of non-cropland was more efficient in SOC accumulation than the conversion of cropland did, especially in > 40 cm layers. In addition, the conversion to planted forest led to greater SOC accumulation than that to other land use did. Conversion period and initial SOC content extended more influence on soil C accumulation as the main factors after vegetation restoration than temperature and precipitation did. The SOC content significantly increased with restoration period after long-term vegetation restoration(> 40 yr), indicating a large potential for further accumulation of carbon in the soil, which could mitigate climate change in the near future.

An Elementary Study of the Unearthed Mathematics Book, Suanshu Shu

The transcription of the Suanshu Shu算數書(a bamboo book of mathematics)in simplified Chinese characters offers a new opportunity to explore the history of Chinese mathematics in ancient times.This paper analyzes the style and structure of the Suanshu Shu and makes comparisons with the Nine Chapters on Mathematical Procedures and a number of other texts in various social contexts.It will be shown that the Suanshu Shu was compiled from at least two sources,and that no direct textual interplay exists between the Suanshu Shu and the Nine Chapters,although both share the same origins in the Pre-Qin period when the major mathematical methods in the Nine Chapters came into being.It will also be shown that the Suanshu Shu was accomplished with the methods used in certain mathematical books in the Pre-Qin period or their results,which later led to the Nine Chapters,and by accommodating the actual conditions of the lower government administration.The Suanshu Shu is significant for establishing the evolution of algorithmic mathematics from the Warring States period to the Han dynasty.

An Archaeological Perspective on Changes in the Course of the Yellow River and Changes in Civilization

The Yellow River has always been known for"easily silting up,easily bursting its banks,and easily shifting course"and its course has indeed changed many times.It did not undergo any large-scale course changes during the pre-Qin period,but instead followed the course given in the"Hanzhi汉志(Treatises in the Book of Han)."The river recorded in the Yugong禹贡(Tribute of Yu)is actually the Hanzhi river,and the he(river)recorded in the Yugong that passed through the counties of Xunxian and Neihuang actually followed the former course of the Qi River.The Yellow River’s large-scale course changes began in the Han dynasty.After two thousand years of frequent changes,a 6-15 meters thick layer of sediment formed in the lower reaches of the Yellow River,completely altering the natural landscape of hills,rivers and lakes that had existed in the pre-Qin lower Yellow River,and finally shaping today’s landscape of an endless plain.The course changes brought about a rupture in the development of civilization in this area,with most cities and towns destroyed.The changes in the ecological and living environment around the lower Yellow River over thousands of years were apparently related to the flooding and course changes of the Yellow River,but in reality were caused by human over-exploitation of natural resources.