How Long to Read The Nivison Annals

How Long Does it Take to Read The Nivison Annals?

It takes the average reader 5 hours and 30 minutes to read The Nivison Annals by David S. Nivison

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

In his last essay just weeks before his death at the age of 91, David S. Nivison says, "Breaking into a formal system - such as a chronology - must be like breaking into a code. If you are successful, success will show right off." Since the late 1970's Nivison has focused his scholarship on breaking the code of Three Dynasties (Xia, Shang, Zhou) chronology by establishing an innovative methodology based on mourning periods, astronomical phenomenon, and numerical manipulations derived from them. Nivison is most readily known in the field for revising (and then revising again) the date of the Zhou conquest of Shang, and for his theory that Western Zhou kings employed two calendars (His so-called "Two yuan" theory), the second being set in effect upon the death of the new king's predecessor and counted from the completion of post-mourning rites for him (i.e., a "second 'first' year"). Nivison's enabling discovery that the Bamboo Annals (BA) had a historical basis was initially designed to make Wang Guowei's analysis of lunar phase terms (the so-called "Four quarter" theory that separated each month into four quarters) work for Western Zhou bronze inscriptions. In order to do so he had to assume that some inscriptions used a second yuan counted from completion of mourning. The king's death was the most important event late in a reign, so this implied that a king's reign-of-record was normally counted from the second yuan, omitting initial mourning years. It follows that when the unexpressed mourning years are forgotten (or edited out) but the dates of the beginning and end of the dynasty are still known, the remaining reigns-of-record cluster toward the beginning and end, and a reign in the middle is enlarged. Problems, ideas, and solutions like the one described above are found throughout this new collection of important works on chronology, astronomy, and historiography.

How long is The Nivison Annals?

The Nivison Annals by David S. Nivison is 330 pages long, and a total of 82,500 words.

This makes it 111% the length of the average book. It also has 101% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read The Nivison Annals Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 7 hours and 30 minutes to read The Nivison Annals aloud.

What Reading Level is The Nivison Annals?

The Nivison Annals is suitable for students ages 12 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy The Nivison Annals?

The Nivison Annals by David S. Nivison is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

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