The immense outpouring of archaeological discoveries this past century has shed new light on ancient East Asia, and China in particular. Yet in concert with this development another, more troubling, trend has likewise gained momentum: the looting of cultural heritage and the sale of unprovenienced antiquities. Scholars face difficult questions, from the ethics of working with objects of unknown provenance, to the methodological problems inherent in their research. The goal of this Element is to encourage scholars to critically examine their relationships to their sources and reflect upon the impact of their research. The three essays in this Element present a range of disciplinary perspectives, focusing on systemic issues and the nuances of method versus ethics, with a case study of the so-called 'Han board' MSS given as a specific illustration. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.
| ISBN: | 9781009475723 |
| Publication date: | 25th April 2024 |
| Author: | Glenda Chao, Christopher Foster, Mercedes Valmisa |
| Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 75 pages |
| Series: | Elements in Ancient East Asia |
| Genres: |
Material culture International trade and commerce Asian history Archaeology by period / region Forgery, falsification and theft of artworks Antiques, vintage and collectables |