Early China

Aims & Scope

Early China publishes original research on all aspects of the culture and civilization of China from earliest times through the Han dynasty period (CE 220).

The journal is interdisciplinary in scope, including articles on Chinese archaeology, history, philosophy, religion, literature, and paleography.

It is the only English-language journal to publish solely on early China, and to include information on all relevant publications in all languages.

The journal is of interest to scholars of archaeology and of other ancient cultures as well as sinologists.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	0.2
2024	0.30

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	26878

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	19

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.124

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q2

h-index

Year	Value
2024	6

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• Qijia and Erlitou: The Question of Contacts with Distant Cultures

  Citation: 51

  Authors: Louisa G.

• Mortuary Ritual and Social Hierarchy in the Longshan Culture

  Citation: 33

  Authors: Liu

• The Cosmo-political Background of Heaven's Mandate

  Citation: 30

  Authors: David W.

• Erlitou and the Search for the Xia

  Citation: 29

  Authors: Robert L.

• From Temple to Tomb: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition

  Citation: 26

  Authors: Wu

• Choosing Balance: Weighing (<i>quan</i>) as a Metaphor for Action in Early Chinese Texts

  Citation: 25

  Authors: Griet

• The Shang State as Seen in the Oracle-Bone Inscriptions

  Citation: 23

  Authors: David N.

• Astronomical Dates in Shang and Western Zhou

  Citation: 22

  Authors: David W.

• Han Thanatology and the Division of “Souls”

  Citation: 22

  Authors: K.E.

• The Yin-Yang Texts from Yinqueshan: An Introduction and Partial Reconstruction, with Notes on their Significance in Relation to Huang-Lao Daoism

  Citation: 21

  Authors: Robin D.S.

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