Approaching the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips

Book excerpt: This book provides a detailed introduction to the study of the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips, explaining the preservation and analysis of the artifacts and their significance in historical research of the pre-Qin period. The Tsinghua Bamboo Slips are a collection of Chinese texts inscribed on approximately 2,500 bamboo slips. They were excavated from a Warring States Period tomb and are now preserved at Tsinghua University. The book delves into the traditions and discoveries of bamboo manuscripts in China and discusses the preservation and research of the slips, covering the procedures of artifact processing, authentication, digitization, editing, and interpretation. The manuscripts are remarkable for their quantity, period of creation, and distinctive content coverage. They contain important historical documents that differ from or are missing from the extant literature. The analysis of these texts helps to unravel some of the unresolved mysteries in pre-Qin historical studies and illuminates scientific achievements of ancient China previously unknown to the world. This book is essential reading for scholars and students of Chinese studies, pre-Qin history, and early literacy. It will also appeal to general readers interested in ancient Chinese history and culture.