Changes in Bronze Age Culture Before the Emergence of Lute-shaped Bronze Swords - Focusing on Weiyingzi Culture in Liaoxi area
Authors: OH DAEYANG 
Published: October 2020

Weiyingzi Culture was early Bronze Age culture developed around Dalinghe and Xiaolinghe River in the west of Yoha. The period was approximately between 1300 - 1000 B.C and the culture was characterized by dominance of Material Culture of the Steppe region, relics including Zhongyuan-style bronze ritual ware, tomb system using wooden coffins, and so on. The typical type of the Culture was earthen cookware with three legs which was represented by flower-pattern decoration along the mouth (huabiankouyanli, 花邊口沿 鬲 ), patternless blown belly (tongfuli, 筒腹 鬲 ), and combined form of flat-bottom and patternless rice bowel (bo, 鉢). This study attempted a preliminary study for reinvestigation on the characteristics and formation process of Weiyingzi Culture by removing differences in recognition and errors in previous studies on such themes and finding out inherent characteristics and external factors of the Culture. In conclusion, one of the reasons for the formation of Weiyingzi Culture in around 1300 B.C. was introduction of Material Culture of the Steppe region, which was also found in the surrounding areas such as Hebei, southeast of Inner Mongolia, and Fuxin. In consideration of the distribution status and characteristics of buried ritual bronzeware in Zhongyuan and that the Material Culture of the Steppe was widely found in Shanxi and north region of Shanxi along the migration route of the Steppe tribe, it was assumed that the migration route of the Weiyingzi Culture was via Ordos Plateau, passing through Liaoxi Zoulang region in the northeast of Hebei. Weiyingzi Culture is suspected to have brought by those who contacted Zhongyuan Culture. Meanwhile, it was noted that Weiyingzi Culture has a few significant factors inherent in Gaotaishan. Since Gaotaishan culture had also strong characteristics of Steppe Culture, it was suspected that the people who remained in that area could accept Steppe Culture easily. As for the surrounding areas, community group who had strong color of Upper Zhangjiayuan Culture advanced to the borderline region with Hebei. Xiquegou-decendant community group who had more connected with Lower Xiajiadian Culture advanced to the borderline regions with southeast of Inner Mongolia and Liaoxi. In the borderline regions with Liaoxi and Liadong, community group of Gaotaishan culture lived there. People in those areas accepted Material Culture of the Steppe region which started to get in from the west without much resistance while the Lower Xiajiadian Culture that had dominated these areas for about 500 years still remained. In that aspect, there was high possibility of significant level of affinity and cultural exchange, although the background cultures were different to each other. It was found that part of natives who remained in Liaoxi area after being subjected to Lower Xiajiadian Culture had blood ties and cultural connections with Gaotaishan culture in the East. Based on that, it was assumed that they selectively accepted Material Culture of the Steppe region flown into that area via Zhongyuan and Hebei and contributed to the formation of Weiyingzi Culture.