Crossing the Border: On the Quadruple-Evidence Method

This book is the first monograph of its kind in the academic world which comprehensively expounds the new methodology of humanities. The quadruple-evidence method is one which integrates quadruple-evidences to open up new horizon for interpretation of ancient culture in the three-dimensional manner. The first layer of evidence refers to documents passed down from the past; the second layer of evidence refers to local written materials; the third layer of evidence includes oral legends of anthropology and folklore and etiquette in the living folk customs; the fourth layer of evidence refers to those ancient objects and images either unearthed in archaeological excavations or handed down from the past. The book consists of theoretical explorations and their applications in individual cases. While the first part studies the academic evolution, theory and methodological value of the quadruple-evidence method, the second part, in using the method in different cases, explores different historical and cultural phenomena in the history of China, attempting to extend the frontier of the origin of civilization from the approach of mythological study

The Quadruple-evidence Method in Retrospect.- The Fourth-dimension Evidence: Theoretical Legitimacy.- The Quadruple-evidence Method in Methodology.- The Owl as the Cultural Symbol from the Perspective of Comparative Iconology.- A Study of the Serial Jade Pedants Unearthed from the Dou Family’s Tombs in the West Han Dynasty Based on the Inter-evidentiality.- On the Inter-evidence Again: The Jade ring Unearthed from the Tombs of the HanDynasty in Chaohu city and the Bear Totem of the Chu People.- A Third Exploration on the Evidence Interrelation: On the Myths of Heavenly Bear in the Han Dynasty.- The Chain of Evidence and the Great Tradition: An Interpretation of the Mystery of Er-snake in Classic of Mountains and Seas.- Summary and Prospect.- Reference.- Translator’s Note.

 

Li Yang is an associate researcher at the Institute of Mythology, Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences. She has been engaged in the research on theories and methods of literary anthropology, jade culture and the origin of civilization. She has also, on her own or in cooperation with other scholars, completed a number of national, provincial, and ministerial-level projects. Of all her academic contributions, the best known one is Shang Dynasty Jades in Mythological Archaeology, her own monograph.

Shuxian Ye is Zhi Yuan Chair Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Director of Comparative Literature Research Center at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Researcher at CASS Institute of Literature, President of Chinese Mythology Society, President of Chinese Comparative Literature Association, President of Chinese Literary Anthropology Research Society, Vice President of Chinese Folk Literature and Art Association, and Member on the expert panel of the National Social Science Fund of China.