This paper explores the development of theories and methods in the study of the origin of early civilizations and states, highlighting the shift in focus from the “when” to “why” in understanding societal change. The concept of cultural evolution, particularly during the Enlightenment, laid the foundation for modern archaeology and social sciences. However, the unilinear approach was later challenged by the historical particularism of the Boasian school, which emphasized cultural uniqueness and rejected evolutionary models. In the 20th century, neoevolutionism and cultural ecology sought to understand societal complexity through ecological, technological, and demorgraphic factors. The concept “chiefdom” became central to explaining the origin of early states. The paper discusses the limitation of traditional Chinese historigraphy and the potential for integrating Western theories with Chinese scholars to adopt new approaches, combining historigraphy, archaeology, and anthropology. Finally, the paper appeals to make an endeavor to use a multidisciplinary approach to explore the origin of Chinese civilization.