The Ancient State of Puyŏ in Northeast Asia: Archaeology and Historical Memory (Harvard East Asian Monographs)

Mark E. Byington explores the formation, history, and legacy of the ancient state of Puyŏ, which existed in central Manchuria from the third century BCE until the late fifth century CE. As the earliest archaeologically attested state to arise in northeastern Asia, Puyŏ occupies an important place in the history of that region. Nevertheless, until now its history and culture have been rarely touched upon in scholarly works in any language. The present volume, utilizing recently discovered archaeological materials from Northeast China as well as a wide variety of historical records, explores the social and political processes associated with the formation and development of the Puyŏ state, and discusses how the historical legacy of Puyŏ―its historical memory―contributed to modes of statecraft of later northeast Asian states and provided a basis for a developing historiographical tradition on the Korean peninsula. Byington focuses on two major aspects of state formation: as a social process leading to the formation of a state-level polity called Puyŏ, and as a political process associated with a variety of devices intended to assure the stability and perpetuation of the inegalitarian social structures of several early states in the Korea-Manchuria region. Puyo in studies of early northeast Asia -- An opportunity and an obligation -- The politics of romanization -- Sources and organization -- The beginnings of history in northeast Asia -- A brief historical description of Puyo -- Puyo in history and historiography -- The state, the people, and the legacy -- Ancient peoples and states of northeast China and Korea -- The state of Yan and peoples on its periphery -- Yan's expansion into Manchuria and the Korean peninsula -- The archaeology of greater Yan -- Summary -- The archaeology of Puyo : part one: Bronze Age antecedents -- Bronze cultures of Liaoning -- Xituanshan culture and society -- Wanghua culture -- Elements of Xituanshan culture -- Summary -- The archaeology of Puyo : part two: formation of the Puyo state -- Post-Xituanshan society -- Liangquan culture -- The Lamadong cemetery -- Elements of post-Xituanshan culture -- Summary -- History of the Puyo state -- Puyo in Han frontier diplomacy -- Puyo in Koguryo history -- Summary -- Society and territory of the Puyo state -- The Puyo foundation myth -- Puyo society and culture-the Wei chronicle -- Walled sites associated with the Puyo state -- Summary -- Post-conquest Puyo survivals -- The dispersal of populations -- The struggle for Puyo territory -- Paekche as a Puyo successor state -- Summary -- Two phases of state formation -- Secondary state formation -- Foundation myths-an alternative to migration -- Conclusion -- Appendix: Puyo in studies of historical geography -- The capital of the Puyo state -- Koguryo's Puyo-song -- Parhae's Puyo-bu -- Summary Mark E. Byington explores the formation, history, and legacy of the ancient state of Puy, which existed in central Manchuria from the third century BCE until the late fifth century CE. As the earliest archaeologically attested state to arise in northeastern Asia, Puy occupies an important place in the history of that region. Nevertheless, until now its history and culture have been rarely touched upon in scholarly works in any language. The present volume, utilizing recently discovered archaeological materials from Northeast China as well as a wide variety of historical records, explores the social and political processes associated with the formation and development of the Puy state, and discusses how the historical legacy of Puy its historical memory contributed to modes of statecraft of later northeast Asian states and provided a basis for a developing historiographical tradition on the Korean peninsula. Byington focuses on two major aspects of state formation: as a social process leading to the formation of a state-level polity called Puy, and as a political process associated with a variety of devices intended to assure the stability and perpetuation of the inegalitarian social structures of several early states in the Korea-Manchuria region. Employs Archaelogical Findings And Historical Records To Describe The Kingdom Of Puyo, An Ancient And Largely Obscure Polity That Once Exercised Influence Over A Large Portion Of Central Manchuria In What Is Today The Northeastern Part Of China--provided By Publisher. Introduction -- The Beginnings Of History In Northeast Asia -- Ancient Peoples And States Of Northeast China And Korea -- The Archaeology Of Puyo : Part One: Bronze Age Antecedents -- The Archaeology Of Puyo : Part Two: Formation Of The Puyo State -- History Of The Puyo State -- Society And Territory Of The Puyo State -- Post-conquest Puyo Survivals -- Conclusion: Two Phases Of State Formation -- Introduction To The Appendixes: Puyo In Studies Of Historical Geography -- Appendix A: The Capital Of The Puyo State -- Appendix B: Koguryo's Puyo-song -- Appendix C: Parhae's Puyo-bu. Mark E. Byington. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.