Yuan Dynasty Research Articles

Human activities caused lake ecological transitions in the Chinese Loess Plateau over the past 1400 years

The combined effects of climate change and human disturbance has degraded lake ecosystems worldwide in recent times, but there are few studies that explore the relative impact of these factors over long timescales. In this paper, we use sedimentary pigment data to reveal variations in algal abundance and the lake ecological environment of a typical subalpine lake (Beilianchi Lake) in the southwestern Chinese Loess Plateau, to distinguish the relative effects of natural climate change and human disturbance over the past 5000 years. Our data show that between 5000 and 1400 cal yr BP, algal abundance exhibited a slow decline without obvious fluctuations, mainly driven by a gradually drying and cooling climate. After 1400 cal yr BP, algal abundance showed large and rapid fluctuations characterized by a pattern of a decline, then increase, and then decline again. During this period, human activities began to affect lake ecology and gradually overshadowed the role of climatic changes as the main driving factor. Enhanced human disturbances caused a rapid and synchronous decline in algal abundance due to increases in soil erosion and reductions in water transparency. Algal biomass levels recovered when the soil erosion intensity decreased during 800–500 cal yr BP corresponding to the period from Southern Song to Yuan Dynasties. Thereafter (during the period of Ming and Qing Dynasties), as human activities became further enhanced and the soil erosion intensity became very high, the lake ecosystem rapidly transitioned to a stable state of low algal growth. This indicates that the lake ecosystem may have had the capacity to recover from moderate external disturbances in the early stages of human activity, but the resilience of the lake ecosystem began to decrease under stronger human disturbances. Our findings provide important empirical evidence for evaluating the current state of lakes and for sound lake management in the future.

Processing, Microstructure, and Performance of Robocast Clay-Based Ceramics Incorporating Hollow Alumina Microspheres.

The restoration of ancient ceramics has attracted widespread attention as it can reveal the overall appearance of ancient ceramics as well as the original information and artistic charm of cultural relics. However, traditional manual restoration is constrained due to its time-consuming nature and susceptibility to damaging ancient ceramics. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) printing technique was employed to accurately restore Chinese Yuan Dynasty Longquan celadon using hollow Al2O3 microsphere-modified 3D printing paste. The results show that the hollow Al2O3 microsphere content plays a vital role in the printability, physical properties, and firing performance of the modified 3D printing paste. The printed green bodies show no noticeable spacing or voids under moderate rheological conditions. The as-prepared ceramic body modified with 6 wt.% hollow Al2O3 microspheres and fired at 1280 °C exhibits optimal bending strength of 56.66 MPa and a relatively low density of 2.16 g∙cm-3, as well as a relatively uniform longitudinal elastic modulus and hardness along the interlayer. This 3D printing technique based on hollow Al2O3 microsphere-modified paste presents a promising pathway for achieving non-contact and damage-free restoration of cultural relics.

Alteration in Plant-Based Subsistence and Its Influencing Factors from Late Neolithic to Historical Periods in Hexi Corridor, Northwestern China: Archaeobotanical Evidence

The spatio-temporal evolution of human subsistence strategies and their driving force in prehistoric Eurasia has received increasing attention with the rapid development of archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological, and isotopic research in recent decades, while studies focusing on the historical periods are relatively absent. In the Hexi Corridor in northwestern China, which has served as a hub for trans-Eurasian exchange since the late prehistoric period, archaeobotanical data have been reported from numerous Neolithic and Bronze Age sites, as well as sites from the Wei and Jin Dynasties (220–420 BCE) to the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368 BCE). However, no archaeobotanical study has been conducted at sites of the Han Dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE), a crucial period connecting prehistoric and historical eras. In this study, we identified 32475 plant remains, including 31,463 broomcorn millets, 233 foxtail millets, and 780 weeds, from the Shuangdun North Beacon Tower (SDNBT) site of the Han Dynasty at the western end of the Hexi Corridor, suggesting that millets played a prominent part in human subsistence strategies in the area during this period. In addition, sheep, chicken, dog, horse, and rodent remains were also collected at the site. By applying a multi-disciplinary approach, we detected a remarkable change in plant-based subsistence in the ancient Hexi Corridor. Specifically, the importance of millet crops, compared with other crops (especially barley and wheat), in plant-based subsistence declined from the Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age; it apparently improved during the Han and Sui-Tang Dynasties (581–907 CE), when agricultural empires controlled the area, and then declined again during the Wei, Jin, Northern, and Southern Dynasties (220–581 CE) and the Song-Yuan Dynasty (960–1368 CE), when nomadic regimes controlled the area. Climate change, trans-Eurasian exchanges, and geopolitical shifts influenced the diachronic change in plant-based subsistence from the Late Neolithic to the historical periods in the Hexi Corridor.

Kipchak Networks of Power in Mongol China

Kipchak tribes have always had an important military role in the Mongol Empire. In this article, a Kipchak tribe that was at the center of this military role and formed a strong social and political network in Mongolian China is discussed. In addition to their military roles and the social capital they use to strengthen their influence in the Mongolian civil bureaucracy in China, the functioning of their family structure and its benefits are shown. Accordingly, even the marriages of the members of the Kipchak tribe in question served to establish or expand their power networks. Local records of the Jiking Region in China, which hosted many prominent immigrants during the Yuan period, provide important evidence for this investigation. Tuq Tuq’a’s relatives and descendants, who took care to preserve their identity as an elite military unit until the end of the dynasty, both in the civil bureaucracy and in the military field, successfully maintained the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard; In addition, this important and powerful military clan gained significant property and financial advantages in the Jiking Region. This nomadic group that settled in China became an important part of the Yuan Dynasty.

METHODS FOR THE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF DUNHUANG WALL PAINTINGS: FOREIGN EXPERIENCE

This article examines the genesis of planning solutions and ceiling designs of Dunhuang cave shrines. Based on the methods of defining features, graphic-and-analytical and system-and-structural analysis, the spread of types of plans and ceilings from dynasty to dynasty has been traced. Using auxiliary methods of historical, mathematical, and comparative analysis, a general picture of the development of the planning structure and constructive schemes of Dunhuang shrines from the Northern Lian period to the Yuan period has been created. By counting the types of plans and ceilings in each period, a group of the most common types of plans was determined: with a combination of larger and smaller rectangles (where the smaller is the altar part of a square or rectangular shape), a plan in the form of a square with a protruding trapezoidal altar, an altar in outline close to a rectangle or trapezoids with rounded corners, a horizontally elongated plan rectangle, based on squares with protrusions. The most common type of ceiling is fu-dou-ding with modifications.

Spatio-temporal distribution and evolution of the Tujia traditional settlements in China.

The rapid modernization in China has aggravated the reduction of the traditional settlements and aroused concern about the protection and research. This study aims to examine the spatial-temporal variations Tujia traditional settlements in China and to delineate the driving mechanism of the settlement distribution. Previous studies have focused on the characteristics of settlements in provincial or smaller areas, providing lacked information regarding spatial distribution heterogeneity of Tujia traditional settlements in China. In this study, the spatial heterogeneity and influence factors of the distribution of traditional Tujia settlements were examined using the GIS platform and statistical methods. The results reveal that the spatial distribution of settlements exhibits clustering with the pattern of "scattered distribution in a large region, while concentrated in small areas". The settlements were generally built in low hills, gentle slopes, sunny slopes and low-relief terrain areas, with elevation, relief degree of land surface (RDLS), slope and aspect were the key factors affecting the distribution. In Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, settlements showed significant clustering all through, though the location and number of clustering center kept changing. In this process, the history of the Tujia chieftain and the transportation and marketing lines of Sichuan salt had a profound influence on the historical evolution of the settlement.

Recognition of Yuan blue and white porcelain produced in Jingdezhen based on graph anomaly detection combining portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

The blue and white porcelain produced in Jingdezhen during China’s Yuan Dynasty is an outstanding cultural heritage of ceramic art that has attracted wide attention for its identification. However, the traditional visual identification method is susceptible to misjudgment, thermoluminescence dating damages the samples, and the methods based on chemical analysis are limited by the accuracy and specificity of the elemental features. In this paper, we address the identification challenge by using machine learning techniques combined with portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (pXRF) analysis. We collect a large dataset of chemical compositions of Yuan blue and white porcelain from Jingdezhen using pXRF, and propose a graph anomaly detection method based on gradient attention map (GRAM) to identify the porcelain from different dynasties. We treat the porcelain produced in the Yuan dynasty as normal samples and those from other dynasties as abnormal samples. For GRAM, we merely train the variational graph autoencoder (VGAE) model with normal graphs and then use its encoder to extract graph features and compute the anomaly scores by utilizing the GRAM of the graph representations with respect to the node feature embeddings. Finally, we compare GRAM with state-of-the-art graph anomaly detection techniques and show that it achieves superior performance.

Preface: The Sacred and the Secular in Taoism: Theories, Practices, and Communities

As an indigenous religion of China, Taoism has always been regarded as “Za Er Duoduan” 雜而多端 (Miscellaneous and Multifaceted), just as a famous scholar Ma Duanlin 馬端臨 (1254–1340) said in the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) [...]

明初 對 哈密 정책에 대한 一考察

In the late period of the Yuan Dynasty, the region of Hami (哈密) was dominated by the descendants of Chagatai, the son of Chinggis Khan. Although the Ming Dynasty could not directly rule over Hami and its surrounding areas, they were able to expand their influence there following the military attack. Hami was a major thoroughfare connecting the Central Plains (中原) and the Western Regions (西域). After the Ming Dynasty successfully attacked Hami, they were overjoyed that merchants and travelers could now move freely.
 The descendants of Chagatai continued to govern this region. The Ming Dynasty established a guard post in Hami, changing the royal titles of the Mongol princes in the area from Su Wang(肅王) to Zhongshun Wang(忠順王) and Zhongyi Wang(忠義王).
 Noteworthy is the fact that the Ming Dynasty granted Mongolian women's headgear, known as 'boqtaq,' to Prince Zhongshun and Prince Zhongyi. This demonstrates, first and foremost, that the Ming Dynasty valued the former Yuan Dynasty's royal descendants who ruled Hami (哈密), a strategic gateway to the Western Regions (西域). Furthermore, the fact that the Ming did not only bestow ceremonial items upon the men of Hami but also gave special items to the women indicates the remarkably high status of women in Hami.
 Therefore, we can discern that the Ming Dynasty sought to replicate the practices of the Mongol rulers by bestowing similar honors upon the remaining Mongol imperial members who adhered to their established norms.

Genesis of the Planning Structure And Ceilings of Dunhuang Sanctuaries

The article is devoted to the study of the genesis of the plans and ceilings of the Dunhuang cave sanctuaries. Based on the methods of graphic-and-analytical, defining features and system-structural analysis, the spread of types of plans and ceilings from dynasty to dynasty has been traced. With the help of a group of auxiliary methods of historical analysis, mathematical analysis and comparative analysis, a general picture of the development of the floating structure and constructive schemes of the Dunhuang sanctuaries from the Northern Liang period to the Yuan period was created. By counting the types of plans and ceilings in each period, a group of the most common types of plans was determined: with a combination of larger and smaller rectangles (where the smaller is the altar part of a square or rectangular shape), a plan in the form of a square with a protruding trapezoidal altar, an altar in outline close to a rectangle or trapezoids with rounded corners, a horizontally elongated plan rectangle, based on squares with protrusions. The most common type of ceilings is fu-dow-din with modifications.

Similarities and Differences in Revenge Motifs Between Hamlet and the Orphan of Zhao

“The Orphan of Zhao” written by Ji Junxiang who was a playwright in China’s Yuan Dynasty and “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare are two very classic literary works in East and the West, both with the theme of “revenge”. This article found that the similarities in revenge motif of the two works can be divided into four aspects: central themes、plot presentation、social background innuendo、political conspiracy. In the differences in revenge motif, there are obvious differences in three aspects: narrative form、means of Revenge、character portrayal. In-depth research found that the main reason for these similarities and differences is differences in cultural backgrounds.Through this comparative endeavor, we aim not only to highlight the divergent approaches to revenge between Eastern and Western literary traditions but also to deepen our comprehension of the unique characteristics, connotations, and cultural backgrounds inherent in these works. Moreover, this analysis endeavors to serve as a guiding framework for discerning common patterns in the developmental trajectory of literature across diverse ethnic groups. In essence, this study aspires to illuminate the rich tapestry of human storytelling while fostering a more profound appreciation for the multifaceted interplay between culture, society, and creative expression.

Cao’an in the Ancestral World: Contemporary Manichaeism-Related Belief and Familial Ethics in Southeastern China

The Cao’an (草庵), situated in the Fujian Province of China, stands as a rare Manichean relic that has long attracted scholarly interest. In the Sunei (苏内) village where the Cao’an is located, there are numerous texts, narratives, and religious practices related to Manichaeism which are often cited as evidence of local Manichaean activities since the Song and Yuan Dynasties. However, drawing from anthropological fieldwork, this paper points out that the local villagers have a more complex and seemingly contradictory attitude towards Manichaeism. On the one hand, they are enthusiastic about worshipping “Moni guangfo” (Mani the Buddha of Light, 摩尼光佛) and collecting narratives of their Manichaean ancestors. On the other hand, they resist the local government’s attempts to strengthen the “Manichaean” characteristics of Cao’an and related village temples. Their familial ethics provides a critical and coherent perspective. The villagers have gradually accumulated a wealth of Manichaean-related texts and narratives to demonstrate the moral virtues of their ancestors. Their beliefs and rituals concerning Mani the Buddha of Light are also grounded in traditional familial ethics. This helps us grasp the reality of Manichaeism-related culture in contemporary China.

The Sinicization and Evaluation of Emperor Shun of Yuan Dynasty

The last emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, Tuohuan Tiemuer, was a controversial emperor. The author used the method of exemplification to prove that in Emperor Shun’s early years, he worked hard to govern, advocated Han law, loved drinking tea, and governed the country through literature. He implemented the "Zhizheng Year Reform", compiled the three histories of Liao, Jin, and Song, and his social, economic, and cultural aspects were revitalized, truly deserving of the title of a wise ruler. But in his later years, he indulged in debauchery, disregarded court politics, indiscriminately killed ministers, allowed court ministers to engage in internal strife, and ultimately lost his country and fled to the north, becoming the ruler of the fallen country. This evaluation of Emperor Shun of Yuan is more objective and comprehensive.

Research on a Haiqing Robe with Falcon Chasing Hare of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)

The Yuan dynasty was the first unified dynasty established by ethnic minorities in Chinese history. This period has seen unprecedented improvements in either textile style or color design. Haiqing robe is a very common type of garment in this period. Its sleeves can adjust to facilitate production and living. The shape of the Haiqing robe collected in Dulan County Museum in China, is different from that of ordinary clothes. The front and back of it are decorated with golden-brocade. The patterns are lively, with a strong life flavor of Mongolian people. In order to protect the cultural relic effectively and reasonably, we did the conservation as a way to make it suitable for exhibition.

Viewing the Characteristics of Chinese Landscape Painting from Guo Xi’s “San Yuan Method”

The Song and Yuan Dynasties are considered a period when art theory and practice reached a very high level. Among them, painting, as an important category, has great potential. Guo Xi, a painter and theorist of the Song Dynasty, proposed “The San Yuan Method” (means three artistic principles: high, far-reaching and flat), which was compiled into a collection by his son and included in Lin Quan Gao Zhi (the elegance of the bamboo and spring), becoming an important theoretical work in the history of Chinese painting. This article will start from the theoretical foundations of "high", "far-reaching", and "flat" and use specific text analysis and theoretical exposition methods to analyze the painting characteristics of Chinese landscape painting influenced by the " San Yuan Method". The aim is to analyze the creative purpose of landscape painting and appreciate Lin Quan’s heart (Lin Quan's heart is the view put forward by Guoxi, a landscape painter in the Song Dynasty; that is, landscape painters should have an aesthetic mind when observing and painting).

Sanmiao wan alleviates inflammation and exhibits hypouricemic effect in an acute gouty arthritis rat model

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSanmiao wan (SMW), a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been employed to treat gouty diseases in clinic as early as Yuan dynasty. It shows remarkably therapeutic effects in acute gouty arthritis (GA). However, the potential mechanisms of SMW are still not fully revealed. Aim of the studyThe objective of this project is to evaluate the pharmacological effects and possible mechanisms of SMW in a rat model of acute GA. Materials and methodsMonosodium urate (MSU) suspension was injected into the ankle joint of rats to establish acute GA model. The inflammation was evaluated by measuring the posterior ankle diameter. The pathological status of synovial tissue was assessed by hematoxylin eosin (HE), Masson, and picrosirius red staining. The level of IL-6 was measured using ELISA kit. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CR), UA (uric acid), and xanthine oxidase (XOD) in the serum were measured using standard diagnostic kits. The percentage of Th17 cells in blood samples was performed using flow cytometry. Moreover, RT-qPCR was performed to examine the mRNA level of RANK, RORγt, RANKL, and STAT3 in the synovial tissue. Furthermore, immunofluorescence was carried out to assess the expression of STAT3 in the synovial tissue. ResultsSMW effectively alleviated the inflammation and improved the pathological status of the ankle joint in rats with acute GA. It significantly suppressed the release of proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6). Meanwhile, the levels of UA, BUN, and CR were markedly reduced after SMW treatment. A remarkable reduction of XOD activity was observed in the study. Importantly, SMW treatment significantly reduced the frequency of Th17 cells, decreased the mRNA levels of RANK, RORγt, RANKL, and STAT3 in the synovial tissue. Furthermore, the suppression of STAT3 was also demonstrated using immunofluorescence in SMW-treated group. ConclusionSMW showed significant anti-inflammatory and hypouricemic effects in a rat model of GA. It is an effective TCM formula for GA therapy.

The rise and fall of paper money in Yuan China, 1260–1368

AbstractFollowing the Mongol invasion of China, the Yuan (1260–1368) dynasty was the first political regime to introduce a precious metal standard and deploy paper money as the sole legal tender. Drawing on a new dataset on money issues, prices, warfare, imperial grants, taxation, natural disasters, and population, we find that a silver standard initially consolidated the Chinese currency market. However, persistent fiscal pressures eventually compelled rulers to ease the monetary standard, and a fiat standard was adopted. We show that inflation was high in the early and late periods of the dynasty but remained moderate for nearly half a century. We find that military pressure, particularly civil war, generated fiscal demands that led to the over‐issuance of money. By contrast, natural disasters and imperial grants did not trigger the over‐issue of money. Warfare was much more likely to increase paper money issues under the fiat standard than during the silver standard period.

The Importance of Cross-Cultural Perspectives Based on the Spread of Christianity in China

The process of spreading Christianity in China is also the process of localizing Christianity in China. According to historical records, there was the first religious and cultural exchange between East and West in the Tang Dynasty. In the Yuan Dynasty, Mark Polo brought China into the European horizon, and Matteo Ricci spread Christianity by studying Confucian classics, which also promoted the development of Western sinology; After centuries of outbreak of contradictions within the Christian church, coupled with the blows of imperialist and capitalist power politics in modern times, Christianity in China has been viewed as a binary opposition, many of which are influenced by political factors. But today, the role of Chinese scholars in academia is increasingly non-negligible, and many examples demonstrate the importance of breaking down stable stereotypes and looking at different cultures from a more open-minded and dynamic cross-cultural perspective.

Tribute Trade: A Comparative Study of Yuan Dynasty Ceramics and Sukhothai Dynasty Ceramics

Ceramics in Southeast Asian countries have been deeply influenced by Chinese ceramics, yet they also embody unique cultural attributes. This paper traces the tribute trade between the Yuan Dynasty of China and the Sukhothai Dynasty of Thailand, seeking commonalities in ceramics during that period. The study aims to compare and analyze the roles, styles, techniques, and mutual influences of Yuan Dynasty ceramics and Sukhothai Dynasty ceramics in tribute trade. Through the collection and analysis of relevant historical documents, archaeological data, and ceramic artifacts, it unveils the connections and distinctions between the ceramics of these two dynasties. The research explores the impacts of cultural exchange between the two nations in ceramics, including the transmission of techniques, artistic influences, and the exchange of art. The results of the study demonstrate that Yuan Dynasty ceramics and Sukhothai Dynasty ceramics mutually influenced each other in tribute trade and cultural exchange, jointly driving the development and innovation of ceramic art in both countries. This research holds significant importance for a deeper understanding of the diversity of Eastern ceramic culture and cultural exchange in tribute trade.

A Study on the Recognition and Practice of Confucianism by the Uighur People in Yuan Dynasty

A Study on the Recognition and Practice of Confucianism by the Uighur People in Yuan Dynasty