@Aya Shawn
Living in Singapore, professional investorJan 29
Two keywords are mentioned in this question: history and myth
Historical documents are very serious matters to the Chinese. It does not mean that just randomly discovering some stone carvings, scxtures, or parchment scrolls can be called "historical documents." The "historical documents" recognized by the Chinese are actually is very limited. Basically they are serious, formal historical archives and books.
The xia Dynasty is the first dynasty recorded in Chinese historical documents, there is no earlier one.

这个问题提到了两个关键词:历史和神话
历史文献对于中国人来说是非常严肃的事情。并不是说随便发现的一些石刻、经文、羊皮卷轴就可以称为“历史文献”。中国人承认的“历史文献”其实非常有限。基本上它们是严肃的、正式的历史档案和书籍。
夏朝是中国历史文献记载的第一个王朝,没有更早的王朝。

In addition to formal historical documents, other civilizations, countries or dynasties before the xia Dynasty will of course be recorded. However, in the Chinese view of history, these records can only be classified as "myths" or "unofficial histories", and they are not recognized by history.
In order to respect the historical habits of the Chinese people, I think it is inappropriate to use mythology and unofficial history to discuss the civilization before the xia Dynasty.
But this issue can be discussed using archaeological findings. Although in the eyes of the Chinese, simple archaeological discoveries cannot be regarded as trustworthy history. But their credibility is higher than myths and unofficial histories.

除了正式的历史文献之外,夏朝之前的其他文明、国家或朝代当然也会有记载。但在中国人的历史观中,这些记载只能归为“神话”或“野史”,不被历史所承认。
为了尊重中国人的历史习惯,我认为用神话和野史来讨论夏朝之前的文明是不合适的。
但这个问题可以用考古发现来讨论。虽然在中国人看来,简单的考古发现并不能算是值得信赖的历史。但它们的可信度高于神话和野史。

1. Liangzhu Civilization
Existing in today's Zhejiang Province, China, it appeared 5,000 years ago and lasted for 500 years, 1,000 years earlier than the establishment of the xia Dynasty.
Archaeologists have discovered large-scale urban ruins here, tens of thousands of acres of rice fields, granaries with hundreds of thousands of kilograms of rice, huge dams and palace ruins. Countless tombs, jades and pottery.
UNESCO has designated the archaeological finds here as a World Cultural Heritage. After measuring the scale of houses, tombs, and rice fields, archaeologists estimate that tens of thousands of people once lived in and around this city. It was the capital of an ancient country.
But there is not a single word about it in Chinese historical documents.
1. Liangzhu Civilization

良渚文化存在于今天的中国浙江省,它出现于5000年前,持续了500年,比夏朝的建立早了1000年。
考古学家在这里发现了大规模的城市遗址、数万亩稻田、储存数十万公斤稻米的粮仓、巨大的水坝和宫殿遗址。无数的坟墓、玉器和陶器。
联合国教科文组织已将这里的考古发现列为世界文化遗产。在测量了房屋、坟墓和稻田的规模后,考古学家估计这座城市及其周围曾经居住过数万人。它是一个古老国家的首都。
但中国历史文献中对此只字未提。

2. Sanxingdui Civilization
Sichuan Province, which exists in today's China, appeared 4,800 years ago and lasted for 1,400 years. It was 800 years earlier than the establishment of the xia Dynasty, and its existence spanned the xia Dynasty and the Shang Dynasty.
Not only ancient Stone Age ruins were discovered here, but also a large number of relics from the Bronze Age. Huge, complex and exquisite bronzes, ivories, and jades filled the sacrificial pits.
UNESCO has designated the archaeological finds here as a World Cultural Heritage.
However, there is no detailed record of it in Chinese historical documents. There are only some approximate accounts, and they cannot be completely confirmed.
2. Sanxingdui Civilization

位于今天中国的四川省,出现于4800年前,延续了1400年。比夏朝的建立早了800年,其存在跨越了夏朝和商朝。
这里不仅发现了远古石器时代遗址,还发现了大量青铜时代的遗物。祭祀坑中布满了巨大、复杂、精美的青铜器、象牙、玉器。
联合国教科文组织已将这里的考古发现列为世界文化遗产。
但中国历史文献中并无详细记载。只有一些大概的说法,并不能完全证实。

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3. Longshan Civilization
There are multiple sites that exist in today's Shandong and Henan provinces of China.
It appeared 5,000 years ago and lasted for 100 years, 1,000 years earlier than the establishment of the xia Dynasty.
A lage number of jades, pottery, architectural and urban ruins have been discovered in multiple sites of the Longshan Civilization. Because of its location and cultural relic style, it has a certain connection with the xia Dynasty. Archaeologists tend to believe that it is the predecessor of the xia Dynasty.
However, there is no record of it in Chinese historical documents, only some vague records, and they cannot be completely confirmed.
In addition, China has also discovered the remains of many ancient civilizations that date back to earlier times, such as the DwenkouCivilization, Yangshao Civilization, Hemudu Civilization, Hongshan Civilization, and Majiayao Civilization. The earliest urban ruins discovered so far date back to about 8,000 years ago.
However, there is no record of these civilizations and their cities in Chinese historical documents. Therefore, they are not regarded as "official history" by Chinese historical circles, but are uniformly classified as: "prehistoric civilization"

3、龙山文明
在今天的中国山东省和河南省存在多个遗址。
它出现于5000年前,持续了100年,比夏朝的建立还早1000年。
多处龙山文明遗址发现了大量玉器、陶器、建筑和城市遗址。因其地理位置和文物风格,与夏朝有着一定的联系。考古学家倾向于认为它是夏朝的前身。
但中国历史文献中并没有对此的记载,只有一些模糊的记载,并不能完全证实。
此外,中国还发现了敦口文明、仰韶文明、河姆渡文明、红山文明、马家窑文明等许多更早时期的古文明遗迹。迄今为止发现的最早的城市遗址可以追溯到大约8000年前。
然而,中国历史文献中并没有这些文明及其城市的记载。因此,它们不被中国史学界视为“正史”,而是统一归类为:“史前文明”