| Abstract |
In this study, a literature review on the pictorial stone—the discovery of the Chinese ding vessel in the Si River—of the Han Dynasty was conducted. Based on theories of myth transmission, we discussed how the legendary story—the emergence of the ding vessel in the Fen-Yin County—created by the government officials during the Han Dynasty and the relevant criticisms (regarding the popular beliefs disseminated at the time) recorded in the Lunheng, have triggered the literary evolution of this mythological narration during the Han Dynasty, prompting the people of the Han Dynasty to veer from their initial perspectives. By exploring the origin of three historical events (i.e., the flooding incident and the existence of developed transportations in the Song State of the Pre-Qin period; the deterioration of the royal system, in which the feudal ethics regime implemented during the Zhou Dynasty had deteriorated; and the acceptance of Qin Shi Huang toward the Yin-oriented Qilu Cultural thinking), we investigated the cause that initiated the literary evolution based on the existing collective memories pertaining to these three Pre-Qin cultures. Additionally, a “dual-evidence” method was employed to examine the authenticity of these historical events and provide a discourse on the truth of these histories, which facilitated the understanding that in contrast to those believed among the people of the Han Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang had possessed an objective standpoint and motivation regarding the legendary myth—the discovery of the Chinese ding vessel in the Si River. Based on the findings, we explored the political operations of the Han Dynasty to unravel the origin of this legendary myth. |
