This book offers an anthropological analysis of how craft production
changed in relation to the development of complex societies in northern
China. It focuses on the production and use of food containers-pottery
and bronze vessels-during the late prehistoric and early historic
periods. A major theme is how production and use of prestige vessels
changed in relation to increase in degree of social inequality. The
research and writing of this book took place intermittently over a
period of several years. When I first outlined the book in 1994, I
planned to offer a more limited and descriptive account of social change
during the late prehistoric period. In considering the human desire to
display status with prestige goods, my initial approach emphasized how
the case of northern China was similar to other areas of the world. I
began to realize that in order to adequately explain how and why craft
production changed in ancient China, it was crucial to consider the
belief systems that motivated produc- tion and use of food containers.
Similarly, a striking characteristic of ancient China that I needed to
include in the analysis was the preponderance of food containers, rather
than other goods, that were buried with the deceased. I decided to
investigate the social and ritual uses of food, bever- ages, and
containers during more than one period of Chinese history. Some strong
patterns could have emerged during the late prehistoric period.
