Water Conservancy System and Urban Layout of Yinxu, the Capital City of Shang: A GIS Approach

Archaeological work began in 1928 at Yinxu (also known as Yin Ruins), the site of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty, and the continuous excavations have yielded the discovery of numerous remains and relics. The late Shang Dynasty was the zenith of China’s Bronze Age, and research on various aspects of Yinxu has gained attention among Chinese and international archaeologists. The layout of Yinxu, especially the water conservancy systems, has become a popular subject of research in recent years. Nevertheless, quantitative research is lacking in the existing literature. Using geographic information systems (GIS) allows such research to be carried out. This study used the hydrology and density analysis modules of ArcGIS software to study the water system and urban layout of Yinxu quantitatively. The results show that the water conservancy system altered the surface runoff pattern of the city and effectively harnessed limited local water resources. The system, centered on artificial channels, was built during the Second Phase of Yinxu, largely because of climate change and the city’s expansion. Its construction, in turn, profoundly affected the layout of the city. Dwellings and handicraft workshops clustered around areas with abundant water resources; together with the Huan River, the large-scale water conservancy facilities acted as partitions that practically isolated the “central zone”, creating a wall-less defense system that differs from other capital cities in the Bronze Age of China.