October 28-29, 2022

Houma and Wenxian Covenant Texts Workshop

Introduction:
The Houma and Wenxian covenant texts are a critical source of evidence for the study of early China, as they represent a unique textual genre that informs a wide range of topics from the socio-political institutions to the ritual practices and intellectual milieu of the Eastern Zhou period. By bringing together and introducing scholars working in the field of early China to the contents of, scholarship on, and different methodological approaches to studying the covenant texts, this workshop aims to stimulate renewed discussion on these important materials and their use in future research.

Co-organizers:
Crispin Williams, University of Kansas
Chris Kim, Columbia Univcersity
Maddalena Poli, Pomona College

Participating Scholars:

Benjamin Gallant, Harvard University
Ethan Harkness, New York University
Chris Kim, Columbia University
Yong-ha Kim, Columbia University
Crismon Lewis, Columbia University
Li Feng, Columbia University
Liu Yan, Northwestern Polytechnical University
Maddalena Poli, Pomona College
Crispin Williams, University of Kansas
Dongming Wu, New York University
Liu Xuan, Columbia University

Schedule:

Friday, October 28
9:45–10:00am             Welcome remarks
10:00–11:00am           Introduction to the covenant texts and past/current research
11:00–11:10am           Break
11:10–12:30pm           Directed reading of example covenant texts
12:30–2:00pm             Lunch
2:00–3:30pm               Paleographic and methodological issues
3:30–3:50pm               Break
3:50–5:30pm               The use of de 德 in the Wenxian texts

Saturday, October 29
9:15–10:30am             Roundtable discussion
• The Legacy of Covenant Texts in Regard to Law and Historical Writing   (Benjamin Gallant)
10:30–10:45am           Break
10:45–12:00pm           Roundtable discussion