Xi Reveals the Impact of Ancient Bamboo Slips on Chinese Civilization
- The exhibition displayed slips that documented ancient legal systems, local governance, and daily life in China.
- Excavations in Shuihudi unearthed significant findings, including the Eighteen Types of Qin Laws as the earliest known legal document.
- This research highlights the vital role bamboo and wooden slips played in preserving and developing Chinese culture.
On November 7, 2024, Xi Jinping visited an exhibition in Yunmeng county, Hubei Province, showcasing bamboo and wooden slips dating back to the Qin (221BC-206BC) and Han (206BC-AD220) Dynasties. The slips served as a vital link between earlier oracle bone script and later paper documents. They covered various topics, including legal systems and governance, and highlighted the lifestyles and culture of ancient China. Significant findings from this area include the discovery in 1975 of 1,155 bamboo slips in a Warring States Period tomb, providing the earliest known documentation of Qin law. This rich historical treasure underscores the importance of bamboo slips in understanding the evolution of Chinese civilization and its cultural heritage. Additionally, the Project on Paleography initiated in 2020 aims to further study and promote awareness of these ancient writings, emphasizing their role in shaping human history.