From Periphery to Center: An Overview of Pre-Qin Urbanization from an Urban Architectural Perspective in Jiangxi Province, China

Jiangxi was situated on the periphery of the Chinese cultural sphere during the pre-Qin period (from the Paleolithic to the establishment of the first feudal dynasty around 221 BC). Archaeological excavations and studies of pre-Qin settlements in Jiangxi have likewise remained marginal comparatively, and it is generally believed that the region was subordinate to neighboring archaeological cultures. This paper employs a three-level analytical framework for settlements, encompassing individual structures, individual settlements, and settlement groups. Drawing upon cultural systems identified through archaeological research and integrating perspectives from architecture and urban history, this paper first defines the architectural and burial traits of various archaeological cultures in Jiangxi. Utilizing recent excavation data from the Fuhe River Basin, it examines the spatial layout of ditched settlements and then establishes a chronological framework for the development of walled settlements. Subsequently, the paper analyzes settlement distribution patterns and the factors behind their temporal changes. Lastly, a comparative analysis situates Jiangxi’s regional specificities within broader discourses on cultural diffusion. As a whole, this paper aims to delineate the spatiotemporal context of pre-Qin architectural features and settlement patterns, thereby contextualizing the early urbanization process in Jiangxi.