The author would like to thank Professors Sarah Allan and Anne Behnke Kinney for their helpful and insightful comments on this review article. The author, a jianzhi jiaoshou 兼職教授 of Hunan daxue Yuelu shuyuan Guoxue yanjiu jidi 湖南大學岳麓書院國學研究基地, would also like to acknowledge the support from the Yuelu Academy Research Base for Classical Chinese Studies during the writing and revision of this article.

1. Since 11 volumes in Chinese are included in this review article, I attach a list of abbreviations of the book titles to the end of this article for the convenience of the reader.

2. Wei, Chen 陳偉, Baoshan Chu jian chutan 包山楚簡初探 (Wuhan: Wuhan daxue, 1996)Google Scholar; Guodian zhushu bieshi 郭店竹書別釋 (Wuhan: Hubei jiaoyu, 2002)Google Scholar.

3. Wuhan University, 2005.

4. Fudan University, 2004.

5. A few representative editions can be found in: Renyi, Cui 崔仁義, Jingmen Guodian Chu jian Laozi yanjiu 荊門郭店楚簡《老子》研究 (Beijing: Kexue, 1998)Google Scholar; Hao, Peng 彭浩, Guodian Chu jian Laozi jiaodu 郭店楚簡《老子》校讀 (Wuhan: Hubei renmin, 2000)Google Scholar; Allan, Sarah and Williams, Crispin, The Guodian Laozi: Proceedings of the International Conference, Dartmouth College, May, 1998 (Berkeley: The Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley, 2000)Google Scholar; Henricks, Robert G., Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching: A Translation of the Startling New Documents Found at Guodian (New York: Columbia University Press, 2000)Google Scholar; Mingchun, Liao 廖名春, Guodian Chu jian Laozi jiaoshi 郭店楚簡老子校釋 (Beijing: Qinghua daxue, 2003)Google Scholar; Xiaogan, Liu 劉笑敢, Laozi gujin: Wuzhong duikan yu xiping yinglun 老子古今–––五種對勘與析評引論 (Beijing: Zhong-guo shehui kexue, 2006)Google Scholar.

6. Peking University, 2007.

7. Zhongshan University, 2006.

8. Zhongshan University, 2002.

9. yanjiusuo, Henansheng wenwu, ed., Xinyang Chu mu 信陽楚墓 (Beijing: Wenwu, 1986)Google Scholar.

10. yanjiusuo, Zhongguo Kexueyuan Kaogu, ed., Changsha fajue baogao 長沙發掘報告 (Beijing: Kexue, 1957)Google Scholar.

11. kaogudui, Hubei Jingsha tielu, ed., Baoshan Chu jian 包山楚簡 (Beijing: Wenwu, 1991), Plate 117 (CXVII)Google Scholar.

12. yanjiusuo, Hubeisheng wenwu kaogu, zhongwenxi, Beijing daxue, ed., Jiudian Chu jian 九店楚簡 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 2000), 110Google Scholar.

13. Jiahao, Li 李家浩, “Jiangling Jiudian 56 hao mu zhujian shiwen” 江陵九店五十六號墓竹簡釋文, in yanjiusuo, Hubeisheng wenwu kaogu, ed., Jiangling Jiudian Dongzhou mu 江陵九店東周墓 (Beijing: Kexue, 1995), 508Google Scholar.

14. Xiaosong, Wu 吳曉松, Gang, Hong 洪剛, “Hubei Huanggang liangzuo zhong xing Chu mu” 湖北黃岡兩座中型楚墓, Kaogu xuebao 考古學報 2000.2, 161–71Google Scholar.

15. Guohua, Yuan 袁國華, “Baoshan Chu jian wenzi kaoshi” 包山楚簡文字考釋, in Dierjie guoji Zhongguo guwenzixue yantaohui lunwenji 第二屆國際中國古文字學研討會論文集 (Hong Kong: Department of Chinese, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993), 435Google Scholar.

16. Chengzuo, Shang 商承祚, ed., Zhanguo Chu zhujian huibian 戰國楚竹簡匯編 (Jinan: Qilu, 1995), 89Google Scholar.

17. For example, by Boltz, William G., “The Study of Early Chinese Manuscripts: Methodological Preliminaries,” in The Guodian Laozi: Proceedings of the International con-ference, Dartmouth College, May 1998, Allan, Sarah and Williams, Crispin, eds., (Berkeley: SSEC & IEAS, 2000), 39–51Google Scholar.

18. Wen, Xing, “Towards a Transparent Transcription,” Asiatische Studien LIX.1.2005, 31–60Google Scholar.

19. yanjiusuo, Henansheng wenwu kaogu, ed., Xincai Geling Chu mu 新蔡葛陵楚墓 (Zhengzhou: Daxiang, 2003), 189Google Scholar. In this article, unless otherwise noted, the English translations of the excavated texts are my own, according to my best understandings of the original interpretations of the excavated texts proposed by the scholars who transcribed or reconstructed them.

20. Henansheng wenwu kaogu yanjiusuo, Xincai Geling Chu mu, Plate 80: Jia san 31.

21. The English translation is based on Xuan's own interpretation following his reconstructed reading of the bamboo slip. In order to avoid unnecessary confusion, I do not translate the symbols and notes in his transcription. See Jiancong, Xuan 禤健聰, “Xincai Chujian duanzha yize” 新蔡楚簡短札一則 (http://www.jianbo.org/admin3/list.asp?id=1079, 12 28, 2003), accessed April 8, 2011Google Scholar.

22. Cook, Constance A., Death in Ancient China: The Tale of One Man's Journey (Leiden: Brill, 2006), 83CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

23. Wei, Chen, “Geling jian zhong de zhou” 葛陵簡中的繇 (http://www.jianbo.org/admin3/list.asp?id=1112, 02 29, 2004), accessed April 8, 2011Google Scholar. Fu, Yu 于茀, “Xincai Geling Chu mu zhujian zhong de zhouci” 新蔡葛陵楚墓竹簡中的繇辭, Wenwu 2005.1, 69–71Google Scholar.

24. Henansheng wenwu kaogu yanjiusuo, Xincai Geling Chu mu, Plate 78, Jia san 15, 60.

25. However, Chen's definition of zhou is not accurate. He considers zhou as “the words received during a divination” (貞問時所得的文辭, Xinchu, 98), while zhou actually indicates some previous divinatory words or set phrases that were quoted during a divination.

26. Xueqin, Li 李學勤, “Lun Geling Chu jian de niandai” 論葛陵楚簡的年代, Wenwu 2004.7, 67–70Google Scholar. See also Liu Xinfang 劉信芳, “Xincai Geling Chu mu de niandai yiji xiangguan wenti” 新蔡葛陵楚墓的年代以及相關問題 (http://www.jianbo.org/admin3/html/liuxinfang01.htm), accessed April 8, 2011. The archaeologists of the Geling tomb dated it as around 340 B.C.E., Xincai Geling Chu mu, 181. Song Huaqian argues for 401 B.C.E.–395 B.C.E. as the range of the date of the Geling tomb (Geling, 134).

27. The archaeologists' statistic is 1,571 (Fourteen Collections, 395).

28. Henansheng wenwu kaogu yanjiusuo, Xincai Geling Chu mu, Plate 161, Ling 115, 22.

29. “Allogram” is a term coined by Jonathan Krause to indicate all gua 卦 with multiple lines. It is not very clear whether Song Huaqiang considers the gua 卦 as one allogram or two hexagrams. His colleague Yan Changgui has clearly argued that this gua graph stands for two hexagrams (Wugui, 205–9). According to Song's argument of taking dui 兌 as the name of the gua, I think he considers the gua an allogram. Chenglong, Yu 于成龍, “Chuli xinzheng: Chu jian zhong de jishi, bushi yu jidao” 楚禮新證–––楚簡中的紀時、卜筮與祭禱, Kaoguxue yanjiu 考古學研究 6 (2006), 22Google Scholar. I cannot find Song's statement of his argument for dui 兌 being an allogram name in his Geling book but only his reference of it to his earlier writings, which I have identified as the online article “Xincai jian zhong ji you zhouci de yizu jianwen de shidu” 新蔡簡中記有繇辭的一組簡文的釋讀 (http://www.bsm.org.cn/show_article.php?id=461), accessed April 8, 2011.

30. Cook, , Death in Ancient China, 83, n. 16Google Scholar.

31. Song further suggests that hunmo 昏末 is very likely an explanation of the image of the dui allogram. See his “Xincai jian zhong ji you zhouci de yizu jianwen de shidu.”

32. Henansheng wenwu kaogu yanjiusuo, Xincai Geling Chu mu, Plate 80, Jia san, slip 31.

33. Zhenglang, Zhang 張政烺, “Shishi Zhou chu qingtongqi minwen zhong de Yi gua” 試釋周初青銅器銘文中的易卦, Kaogu xuebao 考古學報 1980.4, 403–15Google Scholar.

34. Wen, Xing 邢文, Boshu Zhou Yi yanjiu 帛書周易研究 (Beijing: Renmin, 1997), 232Google Scholar.

35. Xing, Wen, “Hexagram Pictures and Early Yi Schools: Reconsidering the Book of Changes in Light of Excavated Yi Texts,” Monumenta Serica 51 (2003), 571–604, in particular, n. 35Google Scholar.

36. English abstract of Zongkun, Li 李宗焜, “Shuzi gua yu yinyang yao” 數字卦與陰陽爻, Zhongyang yanjiu yuan Lishi yuyan yanjiusuo jikan 中央研究院歷史語言研究所集刊 77.2 (2006), 279–318Google Scholar. Li did not take my analysis into account. Nor did Song Huaqiang, and I find his argument here unconvincing (Geling, 197–99).

37. English abstract of Zongkun, Li, “Shuzi gua yu yinyang yao,” 318Google Scholar. (The roman-ization has been changed to Pinyin).

38. Williams, Sarah Allan and Crispin, ed., The Guodian Laozi, 236–37Google Scholar.

39. bowuguan, Jingmenshi, ed., Guodian Chu mu zhujian 郭店楚墓竹簡 (Beijing: Wenwu, 1998), 111Google Scholar. Wei, Chen, Guodian zhushu bieshi, 18Google Scholar.

40. bowuguan, Jingmenshi, Guodian Chu mu zhujian, 3Google Scholar.

41. Hao, Peng, Guodian Chu jian Laozi jiaoshi, 10Google Scholar.

42. Hao, Peng, Guodian Chu jian Laozi jiaoshi, 10Google Scholar.

43. Qingfan, Guo 郭慶藩, Zhuangzi jishi 莊子集釋 (Beijing: Zhonghua, 2006), 362Google Scholar.

44. Qingfan, Guo, Zhuangzi jishi, 367–68Google Scholar.

45. Also see Zhenwu, Wu 吳振武, “Gu wenzi zhong de jiebi zi” 古文字中的借筆字, Gu wenzi yanjiu 古文字研究 20 (2000), 308–37Google Scholar.

46. The Chinese text reads, “在研究楚系文字的變化規律、地域特徵等方面時最好把古書排除在外.” When talking about gushu 古書 here, Xiao Yi does clearly indicate the ancient book manuscripts written on bamboo slips excavated from the Chu region. See Xiao's Wenzi, page 1, for his intended meaning.

47. Jiahao, Li 李家浩, “Xianqin wenzi zhong de ‘xian’” 先秦文字中的 “縣,” in Jiahao, Li, Zhuming zhongnian yuyanxuejia zixuan ji Li Jiahao juan 著名中年語言學家自選集: 李家浩卷 (Hefei: Anhui jiaoyu, 2002), 15–34Google Scholar.

48. Wei, Chen, Baoshan Chu jian chutan, 94–100Google Scholar.

49. Shixuan, Yan 顏世鉉, “Baoshan Chu jian dimin yanjiu” 包山楚簡地名研究 (master's thesis, Taiwan University, 1997), 114–15Google Scholar.

50. Xueqin, Li 李學勤, “Shanghai bowuguan cang Chu zhushu Shilun fenzhang shiwen” 上海博物館藏楚竹書《詩論》分章釋文, in Guoji jianbo yanjiu tongxun 國際簡帛研究通訊, vol. 2.2 (2002), 1–3Google Scholar; “Shilun jian de bianlian yu fuyuan” 《詩論》簡的編聯與復原, in Xueqin, Li, Zhongguo gudai wenming yanjiu 中國古代文明研究 (Shanghai: Huadong shifan daxue, 2005), 247–49Google Scholar; “Shilun shuo Guanju deng qipian shiyi” 《詩論》說《關雎》等七篇釋義, in Zhongguo gudai wenming yanjiu, 272–75; “Shilun shuo Wanqiu deng qipian shiyi” 《詩論》說《宛丘》等七篇釋義, in Zhongguo gudai wenming yanjiu, 283–86.

51. The Chinese original is jisuan, 即算, which should mean “even though” rather than “since.” However, it is awkward even in the Chinese original, thus I translate it as “since” according to the original context.

52. yanjiushi, Guojia wenwuju guwenxian, ed., Mawangdui Han mu boshu (yi) 馬王堆漢墓帛書 (壹), (Beijing: Wenwu, 1980), 11Google Scholar.

53. Mawangdui Han mu boshu (yi), 96.

54. bowuguan, Jingmenshi, Guodian Chu mu zhujian, 112Google Scholar.

55. Lan, Ai 艾蘭, Wen, Xing, eds., Xinchu jianbo yanjiu 新出簡帛研究 (Beijing: Wenwu, 2004), 26–49Google Scholar.

56. Xinchu jianbo yanjiu, 29.

57. Such as Chengyuan, Ma 馬承源, ed., Shanghai bowuguan cang Zhanguo Chu zhushu (er) 上海博物館藏戰國楚竹書 (二) (Shanghai: Shanghai guji, 2002), 154Google Scholar; Shanghai bowu-guan cang Zhanguo Chu zhushu (si) 上海博物館藏戰國楚竹書 (四) (Shanghai: Shanghai guji, 2004), 256–57, etcGoogle Scholar.

58. The original texts with hexagrams of Song Huaqiang's Zuo zhuan quotations can be found in the Chunqiu Zuo zhuan zhengyi 春秋左傳正義, (zhushu, Shisanjing 十三經注疏 ed., Beijing: Zhonghua, 1980), 1807a, 1983a, and 2051aGoogle Scholar.