Title: Assistant Research Fellow

Research fields: Astronomy and Calendrical Science in Early China, Early Institutions and Civilization, Excavated Texts and Chinese Classical Studies

Biography:
Born in City of Emeishan, Sichuan Province. Member and Deputy Secretary-General of the Society for Yin-Shang Civilization Studies, China; Member of the Chinese Pre-Qin History Society and the Chinese Agricultural History Society; Board Member of Jiangsu Provincial Agricultural History Society; Editorial Board Member and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Southern Academic Journal.

Education background:

• 2009–2011: Experimental Class of Humanities, Tsinghua University (Undeclared Major)
• 2011–2013: Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Tsinghua University, B.A. in Chinese Literature（Chinese Philology）
• 2013–2022: Department of History, Tsinghua University (M.A.-Ph.D. Track), Ph.D. in History

Academic Employment:

• 2022.9–2026.1: Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Ancient History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
• 2026.2–Present: Assistant Research Fellow, Institute for the History of Natural Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Major Publications:

Monograph

• Xia Yunan: Exploring the Origins of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms from the Perspective of Excavated Texts《出土文献视野下的二十四节气探源》, Beijing: Beijing Publishing Group, 2023 (2nd ed., 2025).

Co-edited Volume

• Li Rui, Zhong Qingcai, Xia Yunan: New Evidential Studies on Chinese Classics 《古典新证》, Shantou: Shantou University Press, 2026.

Selected Articles

1. Xia Yunan: “On ‘Liu Xing’ and the Level of Astronomical Observation in Wuding Period武丁时代的六星与天文观测水平”, Journal of Chinese Culture, 2025 (6).
2. Xia Yunan: “The Transformation of the Ritual System from Shang to Zhou Dynasties Centered on ‘Yue Ji’以‘禴祭’为中心看殷周礼制转向”, Historical Research, 2025 (1).
3. Xia Yunan: “The Political Construction of the Grand Duke’s Image during the Transition from Zhou to Han Dynasties”, Journal of Historiography, 2025 (2).
4. Xia Yunan: “Clearly Distinguish the Four Seasons: A Study on the Origin of Equinox and the Solstice and the Solar Terms Follow the Rules Based on the Unearthed Literature 四时明辨：从出土文献看分至起源与节气中绳”, National Arts, 2024 (5).
5. Xia Yunan: “ The Formation History of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms from the Perspective of Excavated Texts: Focusing on the Solar-Term Manuscripts in the Tsinghua, Peking University, Yinqueshan, and Hujia Caochang Han Slips出土文献视域下的二十四节气形成史——以清华简、北大汉简、银雀山汉简、胡家草场汉简中的节气类文献为中心”,Agricultural Archaeology, 2023 (6).

Other Articles

1. Wang Zhenzhong, Xia Yunan: “Redefining the Hallmarks of the Formation of Chinese Civilization: With the Discrimination of the Concepts of ‘Guguo’ and Others 中华文明形成标志的重新界说——兼对“古国”等概念辨析”, Chinese Historical Research, 2025 (1).
2. Xia Yunan: “Collation Notes on the Yizhou Shu by Utilizing the Qunshu Zhiyao of Kamakura Edition”， Guizhou Cultural and Historical Journal, 2025 (1).
3. Xia Yunan: “A Stratigraphic Study on the Accounts of Taigong in the Yizhoushu”, Southern Academic Journal, 2025 (1).
4. Xia Yunan: “Formation History of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms from the Perspective of Unearthed Literature明辨四时：从分至观测到时间秩序的诞生”, Chinese National Astronomy, 2025 (9).
5. Xia Yunan: “A Note on the Editions and Seals of the Yuan Edition of the Yizhoushu,” Chinese Seal Carving, 2024 (5).
6. Xia Yunan, Liao Mingchun: “Interpretation of the Concept of ‘Integrity’ in the Hexagrams and Lines of the Yijing: Revisiting the Nature of the Yijing”, Journal of Hebei Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), 2024 (5).
7. Xia Yunan: “Three Joinings of Yinxu Oracle Bones”, Yindu Journal, 2024 (4).
8. Xia Yunan: “Fifteen Emendations to the Yizhoushu”, New Classics, Vol. 14, Shanghai: Shanghai People’s Publishing House, 2024.
9. Xia Yunan: “A New Interpretation of Shū-type Texts from the Perspective of Political Philosophy—From Yegor’s Mediation of Legitimacy in Early China,” Shang-Zhou History and Writing《殷周历史与文字》, Vol. 2, Shanghai: Zhongxi Book Company, 2024.
10. Xia Yunan: “A Study of the ‘Cidashu’Ritual and the Nature of the Chapter Changmai of Yizhoushu《逸周书·尝麦》“祠大暑”诸祀及篇章性质考论”in Zhan Long , Wei Wanlei (eds.), Youth Historical Review《青年史学论坛》, Vol. 1, Beijing: China Social Sciences Press, 2024.
11. Xia Yunan: “A New Exploration on Chenchen’s Bronzes”, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts Journal, 2024 (3).
12. Xia Yunan: “A Study on the Differences in the Sequence of Stanzas Between the Excavated Manuscript Songs and Their Received Counterpart——Using the Example of the Haihun Bamboo Manuscript Songs”, Journal of Jiangxi Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), 2021 (6).
13. Xia Yunan: “A Prosodic Analysis of the Guiguzi”, in Liao Mingchun (ed.), Microscopic Elucidation: Exploring the Old and Seeking the New in Classical Texts《显微阐幽：古典文献的探故与求新》, Shantou: Shantou University Press, 2016.

Book Reviews

1. Xia Yunan: “Martin Kern, Dirk Meyer, Origins of Chinese Political Philosophy: Studies in the Composition and Thought”, Universitas: Monthly Review of Philosophy and Culture, 2021 (4).
2. Xia Yunan: “A New Interpretation of Shu-type Texts from the Perspective of Political Philosophy: An Instance of Grebnev's Mediation of Legitimacy in Early China”, International Studies on Confucianism, 2023 (1).

Research Grants (Selected)

1. Principal Investigator, “Excavated Texts and the Formation of Early Time Systems出土文献与早期时间系统的形成研究” (24VJXG008), Rare and Unique Learning Special Project, National Social Science Fund of China, 2024–.
2. Principal Investigator, “The Origin and Transmission of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms: New Evidence from Received Classics and Excavated Texts二十四节气的起源与传承：从传世经典与出土文献新证” (P222010019), Beijing Publicity and Culture Guidance Fund, 2022 (completed).
3. Principal Investigator, “The Yizhoushu and New Explorations of Western Zhou History《逸周书》与西周史新探”, Postdoctoral Innovation Project, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 2023 (completed).
4. Co-Investigator, “Textual Graphs in the ShiJing: A Study Based on Excavated Manuscripts” (19VJX123), Rare and Unique Learning Special Project, National Social Science Fund of China, 2019 (completed).
5. Co-Investigator, “Primitive Society Volume”, General Intellectual History of China (CASS 14th Five-Year Plan Major Project), in progress.
6. Co-Investigator, “General Introduction Volume,” New Compilation of the General History of China (Chinese Academy of History), in progress.

Other Publications and Interviews

1. Wang Zhenzhong, Xia Yunan: “Redefining the Hallmarks of the Formation of Chinese Civilization: With the Discrimination of the Concepts of ‘Guguo’ and Others”, Social Sciences Digest, 2025 (7).
2. Wang Zhenzhong, Xia Yunan: “Redefining the Hallmarks of the Formation of Chinese Civilization: With the Discrimination of the Concepts of ‘Guguo’ and Others”, Xinhua Digest, 2025 (10) (full-text reprint).
3. Xia Yunan: “Agricultural Civilization Thought and the Construction of Early ‘Time’ Order in China农耕文明思维与中国早期‘时间’秩序建构”, Guangming Daily (Guoxue Section), March 1, 2025, p. 11.
4. Xia Yunan: “Formation History of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms from the Perspective of Unearthed Literature出土文献视域下的二十四节气形成史——以清华简、北大汉简、银雀山汉简、胡家草场汉简中的节气类文献为中心”，Xinhua Digest (Digital Edition), 2024 (6) (full-text reprint).
5. Xia Yunan: “Symposium on ‘Oracle Bone Scientific Analysis’ Held at the Chinese Academy of History”, Chinese Social Sciences Net, April 17, 2024.
6. Sun Yu: “Exploring the Mysteries of Early Chinese Time Systems from Excavated Texts: An Interview with Xia Yunan从出土文献中探寻中国早期时间系统的奥秘——访中国社会科学院古代史研究所博士后夏虞南”,Chinese Social Sciences Today, February 11, 2025, p. 11.

Contact:
Institute for the History of Natural Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences
No. 55 Zhongguancun East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
Email: xiayunan@ihns.ac.cn