This is the most succinct statement of the late K.C. Chang's views of early Chinese civilization. Many of his opinions are controversial--for example, his view of shamanism in ancient China and his interpretation of the characteristic decorations on bronze vessels--but they are creative, original, and have influenced an entire generation of historians. Once you read his brief and incisive discussion of the resources necessary to produce a bronze vessel, from mining the ore to casting the piece, your appreciation of these artifacts will never be the same again. This kind of book is rare and admirable: concise, well written, and brimming with provocative ideas.

Art Myth and Ritual sets out an elegant yet convincing theory regarding the nature of the early Chinese state and the technological, ideological and social foundations on which it rested. By combining archaeology, classical studies and anthropology, Prof. Chang (who is regarded as the international dean of Chinese archaeology by scholars on both sides of the Taiwan strait as well as in Europe and North America) provides his readers with a dynamic view of ancient Chinese statecraft and the religious ideas that made it possible.

This book remains the single most concise statement of Chang's theoretical contribution to the archaeology of the Chinese Bronze Age. It is also simply written, well-illustrated and an excellent beginning point for the serious student of Chinese archaeology.

With Chang's magnum opus: "The Archaeology of Ancient China" sadly out of print (at time of writing), readers must make do with this volume to get a sense of his scope of vision, analytical depth and anthropological insight.

As one of K.C.s final generation of students, I must admit to a certain bias. However, it is my professional and personal opinion that this book is still one of the best works on Chinese archaeology in any language.

Although dry, scholarly, and 'chunky', SS is a very impressive piece of work regardless of how one approaches it. Indispensable for any student of ancient China. Its methodology is naked as is the moral-political stance of its author--and this is quite good,(although the later aspect is only given free reign in the last 3-4 paragraphs concerning the correlation between the grandure of civilizations and requisite exploitation of its subjects. The book displays archeological and anthropological roots, and as a result, it is a good example of how diverse disciplines and methods can converge and create a history from various souces. A good history, but a better example of how a history is created.

For the serious student only! I must confess, that I was assigned this book as a freshman and didn't read it untill I was a grad-student. It is not the best book to assign to an average novice to Chinese civilization. But the book is just so damn impressive I understand the temptation of a professor to assign it.

I read this book for a college thesis I researched and wrote. The legal arguments presented are enough to make you either: 1) laugh uncontrollably, 2) roll your eyes repeatedly, 3) thank God that Bush won, and 4) lose some sleep knowing these legal scholars are brain-washing American students. The only Supreme Court that circumvented the law was the FLORIDA Supreme Court. This book points the finger at the wrong group.