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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
Tour Guide Wording
for
Jinsha Site Museum
Edited by Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum
October 2006
1
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum
(Tour guide starting from the Southern Entrance Gate)
Good morning (afternoon) everyone, welcome your presence and visit to Jinsha
Site Museum. My name is
, a tour guide special for Jinsha Site Museum. It
is a great honor for me to stay with you today in your visit to Jinsha Site Museum.
You may be ignored that you have already stood upon the land where splendid
Jinsha cultural relic site with a profound history of more than 3000 years has been
buried. Let’s go through the tunnel of time for a journey of Jinsha discovery.
(After access into the Museum Entrance Gate)
Discovered
on
February
8,
2001,
Jinsha
Site
is
identified
as
the
ancient
Shu
cultural
relic
attract
which
was
prosperous
in
the
Shang
Dynasty
(16th
—
11th
Century BC) and Zhou Dynasty (after the Shang Dynasty to 221 BC). Jinsha Site
is situated in the northwest of Chengdu City, between the 2
nd
Ring Road and the
3
rd
Ring Road, 5 kilometers away from Chengdu City Center the Tianfu Square.
Jinsha Site was discovered by accident in a capital construction site which was on
progress.
This discovery was awarded as “2001 China Top Ten Archaeological
Dis
coveries”
in
the
same
year
when
it
was
unearthed.
Through
years’
archaeological study and excavation, it is quite certain that the site distribution is
scattered
over
5
square
kilometers
around.
Within
this
historical
cultural
site,
some important cultural heritages such as large-scale palace-style buildings, sites
for
worship
activities,
civilian
housing
area
and
Graves
have
been
discovered.
About over 6000 pieces of precious cultural relics including gold wares, bronze
wares,
jade
wares,
stone
wares,
lacquered
wooden
wares
along
with
a
large
number of ceramic wares, ivories, wild boar buckteeth and deer horns have been
unearthed. These unearthed discoveries help us a lot in understanding in general
the
living
style,
production,
custom
for
burying
the
death,
religious
worship
of
ancient Shu people in Jinsha Time; in addition, they are also helpful for us to draw
an initial conclusion regarding the nature and age of the heritage site. Upon the
evaluation
of
the
scale
of
the
Site
and
some
high
honorable
traces
and
relics
discovered in the Site, Jinsha Site can be conjectured once to be the Capital of
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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
ancient
Shu
State
followed
after
San
Dui
Civilization
from
late
Shang
Dynasty to the Western Zhou Dynasty.
Jinsha Site is recognized as the most important archaeological discovery of China
in
early
21
st
Century
as
well
as
another
significant
archaeological
discovery
followed after San Xing Dui discovery in Sichuan Province. Discovery of Jinsha
Site
greatly
extended
the
content
of
the
ancient
Shu
culture,
which
is
of
great
significance in research on the origin, development and decay and perish of the
Shu
culture;
in
particular,
it
provided
us
with
reliable
evidence
to
explain
the
miracle of sudden perish of San Xing Dui civilization. It is no doubt to advocate
that Jinsha Site has reproduced the glory and prosperity of the ancient Shu State,
recovered
a
missed
history
and
revealed
the
3000-year-long
sleeping
ancient
civilization.
Furthermore,
this
discovery
has
brought
forward
the
history
of
Chengdu existence from 2300 years ago to about 3000 years ago.
Like a thunder advocating the coming of spring, Jinsha Site started with a new
page to look into the miracle of ancient Shu State. And also due to such discovery,
Jinsha Village located in the northwest suburb of Chengdu City which was quite
unknown
by
the
public
before
year 2001
has
become
a magnetic
field
in West
China attracting wide public concerns and peoples’ curiosity.
(From the Entrance Gate to the Relics Site Hall)
Jinsha Site had received wide concern from all works of the society when it was
discovered. The State and CCP leaders have shown their special concerns and
contributed
their
great
efforts
to
the
excavation,
protection
and
construction
of
Jinsha
Site.
More
than
20
top
leaders
from
the
China
Central
Government
including
Jiang
Zemin,
Zeng
Qinghong,
Wu
Guanzheng,
Qiao
Shi,
Song
Ping,
Wei Jianxing, Wang Lequan, Wu Yi, Li Lanqing, Li Tieying, Jiang Chunyun and
Chen
Zhili
and
so
on
have
paid
their
visit
and
inspection
one
after
anther
to
Jinsha Site, leaving their instructions to explore, protect and construct Jinsha Site
well. Various governmental administration and departments of each level such as
State
Administration
of
Cultural
Heritage,
Sichuan
Provincial
CCP
Committee,
Sichuan
Provincial
People
’s
Government,
Chengdu
Municipal
CCP
Committee
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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
and
Chengdu
Municipal
People’s
Government
also
have
contributed
their
high
regard and support to the protection and construction of Jinsha Site. Early in the
end
of
2002,
Chengdu
Municipal
CCP
Committee
and
Pe
ople’s
Government
specified
the
boundary
for
the
site
protection
and
zone
under
control
of
new
construction,
and
set
about
to
develop
the
general
plan
for
the
site
cultural
heritage protection and its feasibility study in 2003. In 2004, Jinsha Site Museum
project
was
approved
for
construction.
In
2006,
construction
of
Jinsha
Site
Museum was entirely completed.
Situated
at
the
site
where
Jinsha
cultural
relics
were
unearthed,
Jinsha
Site
Museum covers a floor area of 456 mu (equal to 300,000 m
2
), total construction
area of approximately 35,000 m
2
, which consists of Relics Hall, Exhibition Hall,
Cultural Heritage Conservation Center, Park Zone and other key sections with a
total construction investment amounted up to RMB309 million (cost for land use
excluded).
The
Park
Zone
facilitated
for
the
Museum
is
eco-environmental
oriented
dedicated
to
the
site
heritage
protection
purpose
through
a
large
quantity
of
every-green
plantation,
such
as
phoebe
nanmu,
gingko
and
metasequoia
etc.
In
order
to
prevent
from
any
damage
to
the
virgin
earth,
plantations of those trees are all rooted in the backfilled earth with a depth of 2m.
The
small path
on
our left
site
is called
“Road
of
Jade”. Our ancient ancestors
started their pioneering from this land full of jungles and
dangers where we are
standing
upon
now
to far-off high mountains
to mine,
select
and transport
jade
stones
piece
by
piece,
leaving
us
a
great
number
of
fancy
jade
artworks
to
nowadays. Today, walking on this “Road of Jade”, I am hundred percent sure you
are
feeling
and
experiencing
the
hardship
suffered
by
our
ancestors
in
mining
jade
stones
thousands
years
ago.
On
our
right
side,
there
stands
the
“Ebony
Forest”,
a
window
of
antiquity
and
time
-fading.
Before
Dujiangyan
Irrigation
System construction by Li Bing, Chengdu Plain was frequently struck by floods,
which often resulted in river course change. When a flood occurred in the upper
stream, various trees were flushed and buried deeply in the ancient river course,
which
remained
not
rotted
though
3000~12000
years
has
been
passed.
Since
such deeply buried trees appear deep black color from the surface to the inside,
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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
Sichuan
people
call
them
ebony
wood.
From
a
scientific
point
of
view,
these
so-called ebony trees can be varied in tree species. Due to its unique features
such
as
compact
density,
organic
matter
decomposition
completion,
no
deformation
and
no
worm
birth,
ebony
wood
is
precious
and
expensive
with
a
folksay like this “Ten thousand Liang (Chinese ancient measurement unit equal to
50g) of gold deposit at house is not worth one cubic meter of ebony wood in the
field”. A large number of ebony wood has been discovered in Jinsha Site as well
as area neighboring Chengdu Plain. This live “fossil” fully proves that the ancient
Chengdu Plain had sound eco-environment.
(Permanent LOGO of Sun and Immortal Bird)
The sculpture standing before us originates from the “Sun and Immortal Bird” gold
ornamental article unearthed in Jinsha Site. The outside diameter of the original
piece is 12.5 cm. With its meaningful look and feel, precise structural composition,
beautifully
flowing
patterns
together
with
rich
rhythm,
it
condensed
ancient
peoples’
profound
philosophical
and
religious
thinking,
endless
imagination,
extraordinary artistic creativity and exquisite craftworks, representing the submit
of
gold
artistic
articles
of
China
Shang
and
Zhou
Dynasties.
Morals
such
as
chasing
for
brightness,
teamwork
for
progress
and
consonance
with
tolerance
found in the Sun and Immortal Bird pattern also exaggerate the strong feeling of
responsibility and mission of Chinese government and people to protect cultural
heritage
of
the
motherland.
On
August
16,
2005,
the
Sun
and
Immortal
Bird
pattern was selected as the LOG for Chinese cultural heritage. On October 17,
2005,
Sun
and
Immortal
Bird
Shu
Embroidery
returned
from
its
space
journey
carried
by
Shenzhou
No.
6
Airship.
On
December
18,
2005,
this
permanent
commemorative sculpture work was officially settled down in Jinsha Site Museum.
The Sun and Immortal Bird sculpture standing before us is amplified by nearly 30
times of the original, serving you as a good photographing place for your eternal
memory.
(Outside the Relics Hall)
This building before us is the Relics Hall of Jinsha Site Museum. This proximate
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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
round shaped slopping full steel structural building has an total area of 7,588 m
2
,
a height of 19m and a span of 63m. At the present, the archaeological excavation
right
here
is
still
under
its
progress.
Here,
in
addition
to
our
feel
to
the
grand
sacrificial scene happened in ancient Shu State 3000 years ago, we also can take
close
look
on
the
archaeological
excavation
process
to
experience
how
archaeological work is proceeding so scientifically and precisely, also, you will be
the lucky one to witness how precious cultural relics is unearthed.
(Inside the Relics Hall)
Here is the excavation site for ancient large-scale sacrificial event in Jinsha Site.
February 8, 2001 is the date marking the re-appearance of Jinsha Kingdom which
has been buried underneath the ground for thousands of years.
Based on the
existing discovery, here is a sacrificial place by the river solely used by ancient
Shu Kingdom. It is arranged along both sides of the ancient river course with a
total area of about 15,000 m
2
. It is likely that in the very beginning the ancient Shu
people were undergoing their sacrificial activities on the river bank, and when the
activity was over, burying their sacrificial offerings underneath the river shoal, and
then covering them with earth. And again after completion of next sacrificial event,
they were burying the sacrificial offerings, which were being piled layer by layer
through 500-year prolong repetition from late Shang Dynasty to early the Spring
and Autumn Period.
Excavation work in the sacrifice area started in early 2001. So far, cultural relics
including gold ware, bronze ware, jade ware, lacquer wood ware and pottery ware
and so on unearthed right here have bee amounted to over 6000 pieces; besides,
a large number of precious ivory wares and thousands of wild boar bucktooth and
deer horn wares have been unearthed as well. Since the cultural relics deposit in
the sacrificial area is rather complicated, plus the unearthed cultural relics are so
rare and precious, majority of them are required for site protection, therefore, the
archaeological
excavation
here
is
quite
slow
in
progress,
and
area
and
depth
allowable for excavation are limited. Our exploration excavation depth up to now
only reached to the earth layer corresponding late Western Zhou Period, still 3m
away from the immature.
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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
I
would
like
to
spend
several
minutes
to
introduce
you
some
archaeological
knowledge related to the excavation here. As you see, our archaeological experts
and workers are carrying out the archaeological research and excavation. These
small
square
grids
are
called
“check
spare”
widely
used
in
archaeological
research
and
excavation.
Talking
with
plain
words
understood
by
everybody,
check
square
is a foursquare
earth
pit
excavated
vertically
down
in
a flat
land.
However, this foursquare earth pit is not excavated without purpose. Which place
is excavated first and which place is the next depends on the determination of soil
layers
time
sequence.
Sometimes,
earth
pit
excavation
is
done
according
to
actual
situation
or
excavation
purpose,
which
can
be
various
forms
such
as
10m×
10m
check
square
or
2m×
10m
check
trench.
The
earth
beam
between
check
squares
is
called
partition
beam.
There
are
many
lines
made
by
hand
shovel on the section plane of partition beam, and these lines are made just for
earth layer separation purpose. Such line made for specifying earth layers is an
important step to keep well archaeological record. When two neighboring check
squares
are
completed
in
excavation
for
all
earth
layers,
the
partition
beam
between will be excavated for archaeological purpose. The partition beam main
function
is
to
observe
the
change
of
earth
layers.
When
all
partition
beams
between
four
neighboring
check
squares
are
completed
in
archaeological
excavation, a square earth mound will be remained in the middle, which has a
scientific name called “critical column”. This remained earth mound main function
is to coordinate the earth layer relation for four neighboring check squares, which
is super important in archaeological research resulting its name
—
critical column.
Also, it is the last one to be excavated in an archeological site.
(Check square role lies in three aspects: (1) earth layer control: within a certain
range of area, earth layer distribution in different place differs from each other, if a
excavation
is
large
in
area,
it
is
hard
to
control
the
earth
layer
distribution,
therefore,
comparatively
speaking,
it
is
easier
to
control
the
earth
layer
distribution
within
a
small
sized
check
square;
(2)
coordinates
establishment:
each
relic
phenomena
or
unearthed
cultural
relic
can
be
certain
in
terms
of
position
within
the
check
square
accompanied
with
coordinates;
(3)
record
convenience.
In
an
archeological
excavation,
check
square
is
a
basic
unit
for
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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
recording and data processing).
Earth layer is the basis for an archaeological excavation.
Different earth quality
and color produce varied earth deposit, which are also different each other in time
sequence. That is, the earlier deposit is located underneath the late ones. Deposit
in
different
time
sequence
has
varied
each
other
in
earth
quality
and
color,
resulting different unearthed cultural relics. The natural deposit earth layer prior to
human activity within a historical site is called “immature soil”. A new earth layer
will be formed on a large area of the ground surface where human are living upon
or carrying out activities for prolong period, with inclusion of rubbish intentionally
discharged and articles unintentionally missed. This newly formed earth layer by
human activities is called
“mature soil”. Formation of “mature soil” is a continuous
process
showing
constant
color
and
quality
when
deposit
components
remain
nearly
unchanged.
When
there
is
a
big
change
in
deposit
components
due
to
human activities or natural environment within a historical site, the newly formed
mature soil layer is about to differ from the old mature soil layer both in color and
quality, hence, varied mature soil layers which can be identified by archaeologists
are produced. In archaeology, immature soil layer and each mature soil layer are
generally
called
“earth
layer”.
Historical
site
and
its
deposit
formation
are
interrelated
to
corresponding
earth
layer
deposit.
Layer
position
and
position
relationship
between
neighboring
layers
are
two
important
concepts
in
stratigraphy, whose main subject is to classify the layer position and to determine
the
position
relationship
between
neighboring
layers.
For
this
reason,
modern
stratigraphy
is also
called
layer position
science.
Method for age
determination
applied in stratigraphy depends on the chronolithologic unit. The layer position is
the
position
of
the
deposit
unit
in
the
deposit
sequence
system;
therefore,
the
deposit
unit
classification
size
will
produce
direct
influence
upon
the
chronolithologic unit precision. So, the smaller size the deposit unit is classified,
the
better
precision
the
age
determination
will
be.
Field
archaeology
is
to
re-
build a “framework of history” with space
-time coordinated objects and data for
replication of history or part of history. (The above archaeological knowledge is
dispensable
according
to
visitors’
interest.
Importantly,
it
is
ok
if
you
give
your
visitors a brief introduction to archaeological fundamentals)
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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
Up to now, we have discovered over 60 sites related to sacrificial events in the
archaeological excavation in this sacrificial activity area. Through analysis of site
heritage and burying articles, the sacrificial activities here can be classified into
three phases. These three phases are independent and different from each other;
and
even
in
the
same
phase
sacrificial
offerings
used
differ
from
each
other
greatly.
Sacrificial offerings
used
in
Phase
I
are
mainly
ivory
and
stone
wares
together
with
some
pottery
wares
and
minute
quantity
of
jade
wares
corresponding
to
about late Yin Dynasty (about 1200 BC).
The most significant characteristic showed in Phase II is that a large number of
gold, bronze and jade wares are used as sacrificial offerings, still there are large
quantity
of
ivory
wares
which
are
served as
the main offerings
in Phase
I, and
less
stone
wares
and
lacquer wood
wares
are
found,
corresponding
to
an
age
from
late
Yin
Dynasty
to
mid
West
Zhou
Period
(about
1100BC~
855BC)
This
phase can be subdivided into multiple sections as per different types of sacrificial
offerings.
The
characteristic
showed
in
Phase
III
is
that
a
large
number
of
wild
boar
bucktooth,
deer
horn,
beauty
stone
and
pottery
wares
are
used
as
sacrificial
offers, but there is a big decrease in quantity of bronze, jade and ivory ware which
are widely used as offerings in Phase I, corresponding to an age from late West
Zhou Period to early Spring and Autumn Period (about 850BC~650BC).
Taking for example, No.11 heritage site discovered there (point out its position) is
a heritage site of ivory and lacquer wood wares offerings widely used in Phase I.
This heritage pit is buried in sand bed, and sacrificial offerings found in this pit can
be divided into three layers of top, middle and bottom.
A number of columnar
ivory
sections
and
one
piece of
jade
ware are firstly
laid
in
the
pit
bottom, and
elephant cheek tooth, wooden tiger lacquer ware and small number of columnar
ivory wares are placed in the middle layer, and more than ten entire ivory and a
piece of lacquer embedded with jade slip are placed in the top layer. The longest
ivory found in the top layer has a length of 1.85m, representing the longest one for
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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
the present found in Jinsha Site.
Sacrificial
offerings
most
prevailing
in
this
phase
also
include
Stone
Bi,
stone
cake- shaped wares and Stone Zhang (a name of instrument). Most of the stone
cake-shaped wares are made of shale with thin body and clear & neat outer edge.
Most of Stone Zhang found today remain only their main body without petiole, but
their
knife-edges
are
well
ground
as
their
cutting
part.
Stone
Zhang
usually
is
placed beside Stone Bi. All these stone wares are placed in a slope higher on the
northwest and lower in the southeast layer by layer to form fan-shaped and ring
like
pattern.
A
super
big
Stone
Bi
with
fine
craft
and
a
diameter
up
to
85cm
is
placed in the front to all (later, this super big Stone Zhang can be viewed in the
Exhibition
Hall).
What’s
the
use
of
these
stone
wares
putting
right
here?
We
believe they have something to do with sacrificial activities. This is because, right
here we don’t find any evidence such as manufacturing tools, stone waste and
workshops
used
for
producing
stone
wares
to
prove
that
this
place
is
a
stone
ware
workshop; if it is for piling semi finished stone wares, the piling pattern is
absolutely not like this; knife-edges of all Stone Zhang unearthed are well ground,
and
their
petioles
are
also
carved
in
negative
lines,
and
even
vermilion
are
painted
in
some
of
the
negative
lines;
their
placement
direction
high
in
the
northwest
and
low
in
the
southeast
is
perfectly
consistent
with
the
Jinsha
Site
grave
placement
direction.
As
we
know,
grave
placement
direction
is
one
of
considerations
that
ancient
people
most
concern,
also
it
has
special
meaning.
Therefore,
consistency
of
most
Stone
Bi
placement
direction
with
grave
burry
direction is not just a coincidence. According to legend, ancestors of ancient Shu
people
came
from
the
Minshan
Mountain
in
the
northwest.
If
such
direction
in
sacrificial offering placement expresses the respect and memory of ancient Shu
people to their ancestors?
In this phase, we also found a bury pit loaded with Stone Bi and stone statues.
(show where it is). At the first sight when it was unearthed, a mouth open stone
tiger is facing to the chest of a stone kneeling human figure, and neighboring are
one piece of stone snake and some Stone Bi. Obviously, it is a special sacrificial
scene.
As
far,
nearly
1000
pieces
of
stone
wares
have
been
unearthed
in
the
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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
whole
sacrificial
area
with
wide
varieties
mainly
of
Zhang,
Bi,
tomahawk,
axe,
adze,
chisel,
kneeling
human
figure,
tiger,
snake,
tortoise
and
so
on.
Most
of
these
articles
have
close
ties
with
ancient
artificial
events
rather
than
living
necessities. The kneeling human figure and animal like stone carving altorelievo
works are beautifully designed and true to real, representing the earliest and elite
stone carving artworks found in China.
The
sacrificial
sites
where
gold
wares,
bronze
wares
and
jade
wares
are
prevailed as sacrificial offerings are mostly found in the second phase. Sacrificial
offering
quantity
also
varied
greatly
for
several
pieces
to
more
than
hundred
pieces. These articles have no trace proving they have once been used as living
articles,
which
are
superior
to
others
in
grade
and
more
elegant
in
craftwork.
Viewing
their
basic
function
and
nature,
they
are
most
likely
used
in
religious
activities.
They
are
functioning
not
only
as
the
objects
standing
for
the
wealth,
status
and
social
position
of
the
ruling
class
but
also
as
the
media
and
ritual
articles
for
sorcerers
to
communicate
the
god,
to
worship
the
heaven,
earth,
mountain and river as well as their ancestors. Through study on these articles, the
spiritual world of Jinsha people is revealed.
So far, over 200 pieces of gold articles have been unearthed in the Sacrifice Area
mainly including “Sun and Immortal Bird” gold ornamental article, gold crown belt,
gold
human
face
mask,
gold
frog-shaped
article
and
so
on
characterized
with
elegant
craftwork
and
strong
artistic
expression.
The
“Sun
and
Immortal
Bird”
gold ornamental article, which has been recognized as LOGO of Chinese Cultural
Heritage
later,
was
unearthed
just
right
here
on
February
25,
2001
(showing
where it was unearthed).
Among all articles unearthed in the Sacrifice Area, most of them are jade wares
with an aggregate number of more than 2000 pieces (showing where they are) of
varied
types
and
elegant
design
and
elite
fabrication.
Most
unearthed
jades
present bright color, in this regard, they are quite different from the previous jade
wares found in this part of area.
Co-burying of ivory and jade wares as sacrificial offerings are very popular in the
11
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
second
phase
and
No.10
sacrifice
site
is
a
typical
example
of
such
co-burying
sacrificial
offerings
(showing
where
L10
is
unearthed).
L10
site
is
only
about
1.5m
2
big,
where
sacrificial
offerings
are
laid
in
two
layers
up
and
down.
The
bottom layer is dominated by jade wares, while the upper layer buries only ivories
and arranges in horizontal pattern altogether 7 ivories. One piece of Jade Zhang
unearthed
in
this
site
is
carved
with
four
pairs
of
symmetrical
kneeling
human
figures carrying ivories on their shoulders in pair. It is an important object through
which
we
can
see
how
ancient
Shu
people
were
carrying
out
their
sacrificial
activities with ivories; in addition, it acts as an persuadable evidence to explain
why so many ivories were found in Jinsha Site and San Xing Dui Site.
Pit 1 unearthed right here (showing where the ivory pit is) is the sacrifice site with
best design and pattern and most concentrated burying of cultural relics among
all other sacrifice heritages fund in Jinsha Site.
Sacrificial articles are also laid in
layers. The lower layer deposited jade wares and bronze wares mostly. Due to
the
bottom
unexcavated,
the
quantity
of
buried
jade
and
bronze
wares
is
still
unknown.
The
upper
layer
buried
only
ivories.
Observing
the
sectional
plane,
there are altogether 8 layers of piled ivories, and the longest one is up to nearly
1.6m.
The
displacement
is
found
in
good
pattern
presenting
a
magnificent
and
holy atmosphere. A large number of ivories are unearthed in the Sacrifice Area.
Through scientific research, ivories family and species come from Asian Elephant.
These ivories are most important offerings to heaven and earth gods contributed
by ancient Shu people.
However, how many elephants and in what way to be
presented to god are differed in each sacrificial activity.
We
may
have
this
question,
there
are
so
many
ivories
used
in
their
sacrificial
activities, where did the elephants come from? Were there wild elephants living in
Chengdu Plan thousands of years ago? Early when 81 ivories were unearthed in
San
Dui
Site,
archaeologists
started
their
research
and
guess
about
the
origin of sacrificial elephants. At that time, experts seem agreed on the theory of
elephant coming from outside. People believed those elephants came from China
Yunnan Province or from India. When so many ivories were presented to the eye
of archaeologists and experts this time in Jinsha Site, they were puzzled again
12
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
about the origin of those elephants. Quite differently from San Xing Dui research,
this
time,
the
theory
of
elephants
coming
from
local
is
superior
over
theory
of
elephants coming from outside. Obviously, there is no any wild elephant living in
Chengdu area and even in the whole land of Sichuan Province nowadays. If this
point
of
view
that
ancient
elephants
were
coming
from
local
is
positive,
it
may
imply there is a great difference in weather in Chengdu Plain 3000 years ago vs.
the
present.
According
to
scientific
research,
3000
years
ago
was
global-scale
thermomer
period
with
average
temperature
2~3
℃
higher
than
today.
Sourced
from
literature
records,
wild
elephants,
at
that
time,
were
found
living
in
the
Changjiang
River reaches and
the middle and
lower reach of
the Yellow
River.
Wild elephant is mentioned in Oracle Inscription shown on tortoiseshells or animal
bones of Shan Dynasty saying that King of Shang was hunting wild elephants and
soldiers were riding elephant fighting in battlefields in China central plains.
Shan
Hai
Jing
(Legends
of
Mountains
and
Seas)
·
Zong
Ci
Jiu
Jing
notes
“in
the
Minsha
n Mountain…… animal species most are rhinoceros and elephant and Kui
cattle
Hua Yang Guo Zhi (History of Hua Yang State) ·
Shu Zhi (History of Shu
State)
also
records
“this
land
is
called
“Tian
Fu”
(land
of
abundance),
original
name
was
Hua
Yang……in
terms
of
treasures
in
this
land,
Bi
Jade
is
one
of
them……also,
rhinoceros
and
elephants
are
found
living
in
this
land…….”. We
also
found
a
poem
line
in
Shu
Du
Fu
(Ode
of
Shu
Capital)
written
by
famous
litterateur Zuo Si in the Western Han Dynasty singing: “jade
green peacocks are
flying
in
the
sky,
giant
rhinoceros
and
elephants
are
racing
on
the
ground”.
Archaeological
researchers
found
and
collected
some
precious
ebony
wood
in
the ancient riverway running through this site (showing where it is), besides, old
tree root of large volume also was found.
In addition to those findings, elephant
cheek tooth, muntjac bone, and tooth of rhinoceros, badger, black bear, cattle and
horse, and two well reserved elephant mandibles also were unearthed. All these
abundant evidences present us a vivid picture that Chengdu Plain in Jinsha Time
was a green land with density and tall forest, where clustered and species varied
animals were competing for their survivals. Therefore, we are more confident to
draw this conclusion that such kind of eco- environment shall be adequate for the
living of wild elephant. There is great possibility those ivories unearthed in Jinsha
Site are originated from the local place.
13
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
Conservation of ivory still is a global problem even in nowadays. Looking into the
reason,
it
is
because
that
unearthed
ivory
for
archaeological
study
purpose
is
limited in quantity, which results in shallow study on ivory protection methods. So
far, there is no any successful case worldwide in protecting ivory. Another reason
is the ivory structure itself, which is composed layer by layer same as tree wood
year circles. Once the ivory material on the top surface is damaged, it will quickly
be weathered away and turned to be powder, which no longer can be rooted to
the mother material, leaving null protection. When ivory was found in Jinsha Site,
cultural relics conservation experts began to look for effective protection method.
At
the
present,
local
backfill
upon
discovery
and
organosilicon
sealing
are
two
methods used in ivory protection in Jinsha Site.
A
large
number
of
bronze
wares
were
also
unearthed
in
this
place.
Though
majority of them are small sized articles, there is nearly no difference in varieties
and
design
compared
with
that
unearthed
in
San
Dui.
The
discovery
of
accessory parts to large sized articles implies the existence of big bronze wares
in Jinsha Site.
Here
is
a
special
deposit
spot
(bucktooth
deposit
spot)
as
we
can
see,
which
covers an area of about 300 m
2
. The burying right here are wild boar bucktooth,
deer horn
and muntjac
horn,
which
are
huge
in
quantity.
Also
small
number of
ivory, jade ware, beauty stone and well reserved pottery ware were unearthed in
this
spot.
Through
counting,
wild
boar
buckteeth
found
here
are
amounted
to
several thousands, they all are stomach teeth of wild boars; interestingly, bones
other than teeth of wild boar, deer, elephant and other animals are not found in
this
spot.
It
is
impossible
to
discard
jade
ware
and
ivory
to
the
field
as
living
garbage,
since
they
are
rare
and
precious.
Therefore,
it
is
certain
that
this
deposit spot is not a living garbage yard. Through nationality study and integrated
research based on appropriate archaeological material, it is believed that this spot
is related closely to religious worship activities. It is very special, for this kind of
worship spot has never been found in other archaeological sites over China.
In the Sacrifice Area, we also discovered that tortoise shell augury for forecast of
good and evil was very popular in Jinsha society. Tortoiseshell is a tool used by
14
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
wizard
to
practice
divination.
Discovery
of
large
amount
of
tortoiseshell
proved
that witchcraft activities in Jinsha Time were prevailing. Besides, there is evidence
to
support
that
Jinsha
people
were
using
large
amount
of
pottery
wares
as
sacrificial offerings. No. 28 Site is one of such examples. This spot has an area of
13 m
2
. Sacrificial offerings found here mainly are conical cup and pot with total
quantity up to over 100 pieces.
Co-existence of large number of conical cup and
pot in a concentrated place where there is no other objects have proved that such
cups
and
pots
are
not
living
wastes.
If
they
were
living
wastes,
they
would
be
mixed up with all kinds of potteries. Therefore, this spot was used for dedicated
purpose. These potteries were in broken pieces when unearthed, but we still can
figure out that they were good one when buried. We also believe No.28 Site has
something to do with religious activities.
A big tree root with reaches up to 100 m
2
is found right here. This tree root is really
huge, which reminds us of the eco- environment in Jinsha Time where big trees
existed everywhere.
The magnificent scale of sacrifice activity in Jinsha society showed the rich social
wealth
of
ancient
Shu
Kingdom,
the
abundant
sacrificial
offerings
carried
the
diversified
spiritual
world
of
our
ancestors,
and
the
artistic
fine
cultural
relics
condensed the endless creativities of ancient craftsmen.
As we witness at the
site,
there
are
vast
number
of
cultural
relics
buried
underneath
our
feet,
the
unearthed articles and
relics
are only
“a
corner in
a
huge
iceberg”.
We believe
more
information
picturing
sacrificial
activity
in
ancient
Shu
Kingdom
is
just
hidden inside the undiscovered soil layers. With the disclosure of this land layer
by layer, amazing news is about to give us more astonishment. Excavation and
archaeological
research
in
Jinsha
Sacrifice
Site
will
be
carried
on
in
steps
as
scheduled. If you are interested in, you are welcomed to visit our museum more
often to witness the disclosure of ancient Shu State undiscovered secrets.
(In post archaeological working area)
Just now, we had experienced how archaeological researchers were working in
the field. Now please follow me to have a look at post archaeological work.
15
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
After
mapping,
photographing,
registering
and
bagging
to
those
unearthed
articles as we saw just now, they will be moved here for a series of post work such
as
cleaning,
sieving,
splicing,
repairing,
drawing,
rubbing,
rectifying,
analyzing,
researching
and
developing
a
report.
Extreme
carefulness
and
patience
are
required to each work process.
Most of time, archaeological researchers have to search and explore in a large
pile of broken relic pieces not ignoring any clues. They are doing their utmost to
replicate
the
original
face
of
cultural
relics
by
splicing
varied
shaped
broken
pieces according to their shape, color, and material.
When a cultural relic is repaired and replicated to its utmost, it will be subject to
graph plotting in detail, and together with rubbing if this article has ornamentation
and picture pattern. Archaeological researchers will map and record every detail
accurately
of
each
relic,
and
then
develop
a
scientific
archaeological
research
report according to their mapped and recorded details.
(Going out of the Relics Hall)
The
building
towards
us
is
the
Exhibition
Hall
of
Jinsha
Site
Museum.
This
building is built in full steel structure with a sloping roof and square shape and a
total
construction
area
of
16000
m
2
.
Together
with
the
Relics
Hall,
they
are
forming two main buildings of the Museum, one round and one square shaped.
They are possessing unique style and bring out the best in each other These two
buildings are designed in slope roofing, implying the uprising of Jinsha Site from
the
earth.
Grids
on
the
roofing
symbolize
the
check
square
applied
in
archaeological
excavation,
meaning
that
a
large
amount
of
unknowns
and
miracles in Jinsha Site are still waiting for our discovery. These two buildings are
touching the land like two pieces of tree leaf on either bank of the Modihe River,
well merged with the environment.
This tranquil river flowing in front of us is called the Modihe River, which is running
in E-W direction and cutting Jinsha Site into two parts south and north. For over
thousands of years, this beautiful river silently has been keeping accompany with
16
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
Jinsha Site, and nobody knows where it comes from. Same to the beautiful name
“Jinsha” (gold sand), nobody knows
when it came into existence. The name of
“Jinsha Village” can be traced back to the Post Shu Period in the Five Dynasties
(907~960
AD),
which
was
engraved
in
a
Gravestone
belonging
to
that
period
saying it was under the administration of ancient Xipu County. This proves that
this name of “Jinsha” ca
me into existence starting from the Five Dynasties period
at
minimum
and
has
been
keeping
no
change
to
nowadays.
However,
this
historical
heritage
site
was
named
as
“Jinsha
Site”
officially
in
2001.
Early
in
1995~2000, Chengdu Cultural Relics and Archaeological Research Institute once
experienced
its
archaeological
study
and
excavation
in
some
premises
called
Huangzhong Community, Sanhe Garden and Jindu Garden within the boundary
of
Jinsha
Site,
where
they
found
a
lot
of
historical
heritages
of
the
Shang
and
Zhou Dynasties including large-sized houses, stoves, ashpit and graves. Cultural
relics
found
at
that
time
mainly
are
conical
pottery
calyx
and
cup,
ringfoot
pot,
high-necked pot and articles with Gui shape (a round- mouthed vessel with two or
four loop
handles), which belong to “Shi Er Qiao Culture” of Chengdu Plain Xian
Qin (primitive period till the Qin Dynasty) Culture Series approximately during late
Shang
Dynasty
to
early
Western
Zhou
Dynasty.
Since
majority
of
them
were
unearthed
in
Huangzhong
Vill
age,
hence
the
name
“Huangzhong
Village
Site”
comes from. (it is a common rule that archaeological site is usually named with
the
placename
where
it
is
unearthed).
In
early
February
2001,
a
construction
company discovered a large amount of ivory, gold ware, bronze ware, jade ware
and stone ware and other kinds of precious cultural relics in their excavation of
living
sewer
line
in
a
spot
south
to
“Sanhe
Garden”
800m
to
Team
1,
Jinsha
Village,
Supo
Town,
Qingyang
District
of
Chengdu
(nowadays
site
of
the
museum).
Upon
this
discovery,
Chengdu
Cultural
Relics
and
Archaeological
Institute
immediately
organized
HR
forces
to
set
about
archaeological
investigation
and
excavation
work
covering
this
large
area.
At
this
time,
archaeological researchers began to associate Jinsha Village Site with previous
discovered Huangzhong Village Site, and realized these two spots were integral
parts
composing
a
large-sized
historical
heritage
site.
Considering
Jinsha
Site
where many precious cultural relics have been unearthed is attracting more and
more
peoples’
concern
and
curiosity,
Huangzhong
Village
Site
is
also
included
17
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
with a general name of “Jinsha Site”.
(Crossed over the Modihe River)
The
Exhibition
Hall
of
Jinsha
Site
Museum
has
an
area
of
600
m
2
.
It
has
five
sub- exhibition
halls,
which are arranged
based on
the
major heritage
sites and
cultural relics unearthed in Jinsha Site, showing us a full picture of the glory and
great
achievement
of
Jinsha
civilization
from
the
eco- environment,
architecture
style,
production
and
living,
funeral
custom
and
religious
worship
activity
in
ancient
Shu’s
Jinsha
Kingdom
by
using
state
-of-the-art
technology
as
well
as
scientific, exoteric, dramatic and interactive ways. Our following tour will start from
the second floor to the first floor, and then to the first floor underground. In the first
floor underground, it locates the last sub-exhibition hall which is named
Miracle of
Jinsha
,
besides,
it
also
has
a
4D
cinema
available
every
20
minutes
(undetermined)
to
play
us
a
4D
special-effect
film
Legend
of
Jinsha
(undetermined).
Furthermore,
we
also prepare
a
lot of
interactive
activities
and
games for you option, which are about to induce you to admire the old, to review
the wisdom of ancient Shu cultural tradition, and to learn more and enjoy through
your participation in amazing games. Book store, souvenir shop, coffee bar, fast
food and quick also fast-food restaurant and other recreational facilities also are
available
in
the
first
floor
underground
for
your
service.
Whenever
you
have
interest and time, you are welcomed to have a look and rest there after we finish
our tour of discovery of Jinsha.
Tour guide wording for
Stepped into Jinsha
theme exhibition
(In the stairway)
As time came to February 8, 2001 when people were still hearing of the clock tick
of the new century, a secret hidden for over 3000 years in a small rural village
unknown to the public in the northwest of Chengdu City was disclosed within a
short
time
just
in
one
day.
A
missing
state
full
of
mysteries
and
a
group
of
18
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
ancient
countrymen
full
of
wisdoms
are
paving
their
way
in
the
tunnel
of
time
towards us.
Their
cultural
remains
contain
the
breath
of
our
ancestors;
their
meaningful
historical sites engrave the memory of human civilization; history of Chengdu City
are rewritten with a new page. Discovery of Jinsha makes it alive from deep sleep
astonishing the world with vigorousness, fanciful and illusory glories. Thanks to
the
hardworking
of
our
archaeological
researchers,
the
historical
veil
of
Jinsha
has
being
revealed
to
the
public
little
by
little.
The
Sun
and
Immortal
Bird
is
carrying Jinsha flying towards the world in the new century. Following the singing
of the Sun and Immortal Bird and crossing over the historical long rivers lasting
for thousands of years, let
’s step into the fantasy of Jinsha Kingdom.
Episode 1
Ancient Homeland
(Introducing the ancient homeland simulation picture)
This simulation picture presents us a typical scene of ancient homeland:
The
sky
is
pure
green
with
white
clouds
flying
in
thin
smoky
mist,
underneath
where everything on earth is sprouting and flourishing. Dense and deep forest is
running near to far to the edge of the earth; all kinds of buildings big or small are
distributed
line
by
line.
Wild
birds
in
forest
are
singing
in
high
tone,
which
are
harmonized
with
the
melody
of
the
Modihe
River’s
flowing
breath.
Sometimes,
such sound of nature is highlighted with wows of fowls and domesticated animal.
Looking as far as you can see, everything is energetic and flourishing. Scanning
the spring field, creatures and plants are full of vitality. Near in the farmland, some
people are plowing; far in the forest, some people are hunting; middle in the river,
some
people
are
boating
canoe
for
fishing
with
osprey;
in
village
yard,
some
people
are doing handworks and kids are playing and singing..….
——
When morning sun is appearing her red face, a sacred brilliance is radiating
the
splendid
sunlight
down
to
the
land from
remote northwestern snow-capped
mountain.
In
legend,
ancestors
of
mediaeval
Shu
clan
named
Cancong
and
19
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
Baiguan
were
stepped
out
of
the
northwestern
high
mountains
and
gradually
settled down in Chengdu Plain. Soon after, King Yufu became immortal when he
was farming in the Jianshan Mountain, and King Duyu was eventually back to the
Xishan Mountain. This story reveals that birth and prosperousness of Shu Clan
have
close
ties
with
mountains,
and
the
high
mountains
in
the
northwest
have
special meaning to Shu people. High mountains in the northwest are mountains of
God
(Saint),
the
origin
of
ancient
Shu
civilization
as
well
as
the
luck
land
of
ancient Shu’s ancestors. She created the life cycle of ancient Shu Kingdom, and
she protected the survival and flourishing of ancient Shu nation on this fertile land.
This picture is a farmland pastoral, a peaceful atmosphere, and a ideal view of
harmonized
co-existence
of
human
and
nature.
Though
this
picture
is
a
simulation
one,
it
comes
from
many
evidences
supported
by
scientific
archaeological
researches.
Architectural
relics
and
articles
as
well
as
fauna
&
flora specimen in large quantities unearthed in Jinsha Site and other coetaneous
sites gave us firm support to replicate this scene as the above.
Viewed on many archaeological information, Chengdu area in Jinsha Time had
an eco- environment where deep primitive forest and diversified wild animals were
scattered and survived everywhere. In this site, the unearthed ivories are counted
in tons in addition to large quantity of wild boar canine teeth, deer horns, muntjac
bones,
rhinoceros
bones,
horse
teeth
and
burying
of
many
ebony
woods.
Furthermore, many human living traces (pottery wares packages underneath our
feet) also are found in this site. All of these findings implies us that Chengdu Plain
thousands years ago had a mild and humid weather, cross-distributed rivers and
canals,
flourishing
plants
and
a
large
number
of
wild
animals.
Ancient
Jinsha
people were living in this adequate and comfortable environment generation by
generation.
They
were
diligent
and
hardworking
in
farming,
hunting,
fishing,
animal husbandry and handwork, living in a peaceful and substantial life.
The beauty and amenity of Chengdu Plain in ancient time also is supported by a
large amount of literal records.
Shan Hai Jing·
Hai Nei Jing
has a line of: “due to abundanc
e of beans, rice and
20
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
millet, food crops are autogenetic; as if music is seeded in winter and summer,
mythical birds are singing and phoenix birds are dancing; this prosperity is rooted
in green grass and trees; hundreds species of wild animals are living in groups,
this is because this land has immortal grass never die in winter or summer.
Han Shu (History of the Han Dynasty)·
Di Li Zhi (Geography Volume)
notes: “the
soil is fertile, where a river reach covers the whole land, forest and bamboo can
be seen
everywhere, and fruit and vegetable are abundant. ……people are living
by eating rice and fish, even no worries in evil years”.
Hou Han Shu (History of Later Han Dynasty)
·
Gong Sun Shu Zhuan (Biography of
Gong Sun Shu)
records: “Shu state has a thousand li f
ertile land and soil, where
many
kinds
of
crops
can
be
planted…….in
addition,
it
is
a
land
abundant
in
resources such as fish, salt, cupper and silver and convenient in river traffic”.
Hua Yang Guo Zhi (History of Huayang State)
·
Shu Zhi (History of Shu State)
“in
terms of its treasures and resources, it is rich in jade, gold, silver,
pearl, green
jade,
cupper,
iron,
lead,
tin,
ochre,
argil,
brocade,
embroidery,
fish
net,
yak,
rhinoceros, elephant, felt, caddice, cinnabar……”.
In
several
showcases
around,
they
are
displaying
fauna
&
flora
specimen
unearthed
in
Jinsha
Site
and
other
coetaneous
archaeological
sites,
including
elephant cheek teeth, deer horns, wild boar canine teeth, black bear cheek teeth,
horse bones, dog bones and ganoderma lucidum, etc. All these rare and precious
specimen are the true story of the eco-environment of Chengdu Plain in Jinsha
Time.
Jinsha Site is situated in 30
41
north latitude and 104
east longitude, a sensitive
geographic
position
having
tremendous
mysteries.
In
this
latitude
circle,
it
has
concentrated majority
of fauna & flora resources of the earth, also, it has most
desolate flowing deserts; it has deeply engraved with many ancient civilizations
(civilizations
of
ancient
Egypt,
Babylon,
Indus,
Greek,
Shinar,
Maya,
megalithic
culture, Hemudu culture, Liangzhou culture and Daxi culture, etc.); it has the holy
land of Buddhist, homeland of islam, center of Christianity, fairyland of Taoism; it
21
。
，
。
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
has
the
highest
mountain,
deepest
ocean
trench,
most
curiosity
lake,
most
magnif
icent
massif,
spring
tide
and
ocean
current……,
and
Jinsha
Site
adds
another
attractive
landscape
with
its
glories
and
magnificence
to
this
mystery
latitude belt.
Now we come to an interactive activity. When you flap any position in the platform,
a story telling human ancient civilization will be displayed for your interest. You
are welcomed to have a try. The touch screen located over there has saved
information of fauna & flora in Jinsha Site, which is available to present your
wanted fauna & flora knowledge.
Episode 2
King Palace at a Glance
Since 2001, archaeological researchers have completed 17000 m
2
archaeological
excavation
in
more
than
50
spots
within
the
boundary
of
Jinsha
Site.
Some
important
historical
traces
such
as
large-sized
building
foundation,
sacrifice
activity
spots,
residential
houses,
Graves
and
pottery
stoves
have
been
found
together with more than 6000 pieces elegant cultural relics of gold wares, bronze
wares, jade wares, stone wares, lacquer wood wares and thousands of pottery
wares unearthed. Its orderly architectural layout, advanced farming productivity,
elite
handwork
and
well-arranged
Graves
are
functioning
as
fractions
of
past
civilization, by which we are replicating a magnificent scroll of ancient capital city
civilization
featured
with
large
scale,
good
design
and
clear
social
organization
structure.
Watching a short film
Archaeological Research in Jinsha.
Introducing
the
site
model:
Plot
Plan
of
Archaeological
Excavation
Points
in
Jinsha Site
1.
2.
Four
major
historical
remains
discovered
in
Jinsha
Site
(palace
area,
sacrifice area, living area, graveyard);
Other archaeological excavation spots.
22
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
Enormous relic sites and large cultural relics as well as large-sized architectural
foundations imply that it once was a big and well-planned city; discovery of large
amount
of
farm
tools
tells
the
prosperity
of
its
agriculture;
unearthed
potteries,
elite smelt articles and jade wares indicate its advanced handicraft industry. This
is our lovely homeland in ancient times. Memory of this kingdom comes from the
combination
of
excavated fractions piece
by
piece. The unearthed remains
are
indubitable
the
integral
parts
composing
an
entire
Jinsha
society,
where
it
had
density population, plain and substantial living as well as a society full of vitality
and beauty.
Within the boundary of Jinsha Site, various kinds of residential premise relics are
scattered
everywhere,
such
as
large
number
of
living
facilities
including
house
foundations, ashpits, cellars, wells, ponds and pottery stoves.
This is a pottery pot discovered in the living area. Its bottom part is broken, and
the upper part of another pottery pot is tied-in on its top. In fact, this pottery pot is
functioning as a well crib. At that time, construction method for digging well is to
excavate a deep pit first, and then bury a bottomless big pottery pot functioning as
well crib, together with backfill with gravels, forming a filter for well water.
Some
wells found around the living premises revealed that Jinsha people had shaped
their habit of drinking water from well.
The
invention
of
well
is
the
outcome
of
living
in
a
fixed
place
as
well
as
the
agriculture development to a certain degree, also, it is the main evidence showing
ancient
human
chasing
high
quality
living
standard.
Closely
related
to
human
living and production, well has experienced four major processes of evolvement:
earth well
—
wood structural well
—
pottery framed well
—
brick/stone well. Since
the invention of well, it not only upgraded the living standard but also gave much
benefit and convenience to production activities. It is one of symbols advocating
productivity progress.
In the residential housing area, more than 100 small sized houses constructed in
wood
(bamboo)
framed
slime
wall
structured
have
been
discovered.
The
small-sized houses found in Jinsha Site are classified mainly into two classes as
23
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
square
and
rectangle
profiled
with
an
average
area
of
about
20
m
2
each
and
majority of them are single room. Since these houses were built without support
with large-diameter wooden columns, they were likely collapsed and experienced
repair many times.
Opposite
to
the
small
houses
is
a
spot
in
the
northwest
of
Jinsha
Site
where
large-sized
houses
have
been found.
The
discovered
house foundation
remain
includes
7
large-sized
house
foundations
forming
a
building
complex.
Through
over 3000 years wash, the upper parts above the ground for the 7 houses are no
longer existed but the foundation pits underground. In the ancient foundation pit,
densely arranged small round holes are still remained (called as column hole by
archaeologists), by which they are conjectured to be
slime
wall
structured”
houses.
[
(bamboo)
aggregated
slime
wall
structured”
houses
were
the
main
construction
met
hod
for
building
houses
in
ancient
Chengdu
Plain.
Details
of
the
construction
method
are:
ground
leveling-up, foundation pit excavation, vertical fixing of round wood (or bamboo)
into
the
foundation
pit
as
wood
frame,
rendering
of
grass
and
mud
on
wood
aggregate, finishing of slime wall by oven heating. Roofing is always grass. Early
in mid 1980s, a well-reserved grass roofing once was found in Shi Er Qiao Site of
Chengdu. Five among seven houses were excavated in 1999, and two excavated
in October 2006. Viewing on their house foundation layout, these 7 houses were
well
designed
and
constructed
in
a
house
complex,
where
No.6
house
was
situated in the north, No.5 and 9 respectively in the east and west, and No. 7 with
a square profiled right in the middle. Viewing on the column hole inside the house
foundations, the small column holes inside the eastern foundation walls of No.6
and No.5 house are aligned each other, and there is a space of 1.2m between all
small
column
holes
inside
the
southern
foundation
wall
of
No.6
house
to
that
inside the northern foundation of No.9 house. The two houses excavated in 2006
have six column holes right in the middle, which may be the entrance gate to the
house complex, and houses standing both sides may be its gatehouses. Base on
what we excavated, this house complex has a minimum area above 3000 m
2,
of
which,
No.
6
house
is
the
biggest
one
in
terms
of
unit
size
with
a
excavation
length more than 54.8m and a width to 8m crossing minimum five bays and an
24
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
aggregated
construction
area
more
than
430
m
2
.
This
house
complex
is
characterized by magnificent design, grand scale precise layout intentionally for
dedicated purpose, representing the only one unearthed in southwestern China.
Through comprehensive analysis on the house size, layout and cultural remains
unearthed
surround,
this
house
complex
might
be
a
castle
building
complex
in
Jinsha Site as early as late Shang Dynasty to early Western Zhou Dynasty, and
has
most
possibility
to
be
residential
houses
for
Jinsha
upper
class
family
or
nobles.
Houses for civilian and palace for upper classes can be clearly distinguished from
the
house
foundation
remains
unearthed
in
Jinsha
Site,
which
are
in
apple-pie
order, showing clear social class structure in Jinsha society.
A
large
amount
of form and
size
varied pits
have
been
discovered
neighboring
many premises in Jinsha Site. Looking into the material and color of backfill as
well
as
cultural
relics
unearthed
here,
majority
of
those
pits
are
used
for
discarding of domestic waste, and few of them as cellar cave for articles storage
and most of them are potteries. After research on remains in those pits, it gave us
great help in understanding the living condition of Jinsha People.
A large number of fish bones were unearthed in this ashpit, indicating that Jinsha
People buried fish bones in pit besides their house when they finished eating fish.
These two pits buried a lot of living appliances including some pottery pots and
conical pottery cups and others.
In this ashpit (No. H272), when it was excavated, there was a large pile of broken
pottery
pieces.
Through
more
than
three
months’
replication
by
archaeological
technicians, this pile of broken pottery pieces was put together to be a big pottery
vat
as
high
as
over
1m
together
with
seven
small
potteries.
Viewing
on
this
discover,
it
fully
indicates
that
ancient
Jinsha
people
had plenty
of
staffs, that’s
why this kind of huge pottery ware was used for the storage. It also indicates that
Jinsha
people
might
have
some
large
scale
pottery
stove,
where
large
sized
pottery vats were fabricated through burning.
25
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
In this not big but well shaped ashpit (No. H328), 28 pieces of potteries have been
unearthed.
Archaeologists
found
these
potteries
were
very
special
in
shape,
some
articles
are
hollowed
out
and
free
open
up
and
down;
some
relics
are
narrowly shaped just like a light pole. By looking their appearance, these articles
are not suitable for specific use, mostly they are pottery ritual articles.
In the living area and graveyard, a lot of production and living related appliances
have
been
unearthed;
some
of
them
are
tools
for
production
made
of
wood,
bronze, stone and bone, also some found are pottery weavers, pottery fishing net,
bronze arrows and stone spear, etc.
Shan
Hai
Jing·
Hai
Nei
Jin
notes
:
“within
reaches
of
the
Heishui
River
in
the
southwest, there is a vast fertile land. A city standing there covers a floor area of
300 km2, boasting as the center of the earth and the place where elegant femme
fatales come from. It is abundant in cereals such as beans, rice and millet, which
are autogenetic and seeded both in winter and summer
is found in Hua Yang Guo Zhi·Shu Zhi which says: “Soon after, a king named Du
Yu
appeared
in
history,
who
was
taking
his
historical
duty
to
educate
people
farming
Therefore,
King
Du
Yu
has
been
famous
for
his
highly
developed
agriculture
society
in
history.
Shu
Zhi
also
mentions
that
in
Du
Yu’s
dynasty
“Wenchuan is enclosed as a pasturage land, and Nanzhong as a farming garden
This note confirms our discovery of bones of both wild animals and large amount
of household raised animals in Jinsha Site, as we have seen in the first exhibition
hall.
Viewing
on
all
these
discoveries,
the
ancient
Shu
tribe
at
that
time
was
survived relying on prosperous farming economy together with diversified means
of supports such as hunting, fishing and animal husbandry.
This spade-like plough with a length of 1.42 cm was on earthed from a pond north
to “Furong Garden” on January 24, 2003. Its shape resembles
much to nowadays
spade, and is made of a complete piece of wood. This cultural relic is the only well
reserved farming appliance of the Shang Dynasty found in China, boasting as the
origin
of
China
farming
as
well
as
most
important
evidence
supporting
the
prosperous and advanced rice cropping agriculture in Chengdu Plain.
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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
Spade-like plough is a kind of farming tool used for earth turning including wood,
bone
and
stone
spade-like
plough.
Spade-like
plough
is
an
invention
by
Shen
Nong
Shi
(God
of
Farming),
which
was
recorded
quite
early
in
ancient
literal
records.
Spade- like
plough
(Lei)
was
once
called
Cha
in
the
Warring
States
Period
(403~221BC),
and
soon
after
when
iron
ware
was
invented,
wood
spade-like
plough
was
equipped
with
iron- made
cutting
edge,
just
like
the
one
unearthed in a tomb of Changsha Mawangdui Graveyard in the Hang Dynasty.
Revealed
by
archaeological
information,
spade-like
plough
was
found
firstly
in
Hemudu
Site
in
Yu
Yao
County,
Zhejiang
Province,
where
hundreds
of
bone
spade-like ploughs and a wood one were unearthed having an age as early as
5000BC~3300BC. Other sites in Hemudu Culture have also unearthed 4 pieces
of wood spade- like ploughs. Spade-like plough came into existence as a result of
the development of agriculture. Chengdu Plain enjoys good natural environment,
giving an
very earlier
birth of its rice cropping agriculture. Archaeologists found
the existence of rice silicic acid substance in Dujiangyan Mangcheng Site having
an
age
as
early
as
2500BC~2300BC.
There
is
a
great
possibility
that
wood
spade-like
plough
came
into
existence
in
that
earliest
time
as
an
earth
turning
farming tool. Wood articles are likely to be decayed within a short time, that’s why
few
of
them
are
reserved
to
nowadays
and
unearthed
in
archaeological
excavation,
also
it
gives
us
a
misconception
due
to
such
reason:
taking
as
an
example with some sites of the Neolithic Age, what we have excavated normally
are
axe,
adz
and
chisel
like
stone
wares,
but
actually
the
mostly
used
farming
appliances
are
bone
and
wood
wares,
which
is
supported
by
the
discovery
in
Hemudu
Site.
This
piece
of
wood
spade-like
plough
unearthed
in
Jinsha
Site
reveals that wood spade-like plough is a major farming tool in the Neolithic Age.
This
point
of
view
also
is
approved
by
most
scholars,
who
disclose
that
in
the
Bronze Age, bronze farming tools were not widely used in farming, instead wood
farming
tools
still
were
playing
the
dominance
in
farm
production,
and
this
situation was reversed when time came to the Iron Age.
Jinsha Site also unearthed a lot of fine-made gold ware, bronze ware, jade ware,
lacquer wood ware and pottery ware, which gives sufficient evidence to prove that
handwork skill in Jinsha time was quite developed, and social functional sections
27
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
were clearly shaped. Those artwares with fine arts are just like mirrors through
which diligent Jinsha people’s wisdom and aesthetics are displayed.
More
than
one
hundred
pottery
stoves
were
found
in
Jinsha
Site,
some
were
scattered around the residential houses, and some were concentrated next to the
living
area,
presenting
the
prosperous
pottery
industry
in
Jinsha
Time.
Most
pottery stoves in Jinsha Time are shaped like a dustpan, higher in the front and
lower at the rear in stove chamber with average 6 m
2
. Viewing on the sintered
degree in stove wall, they were all put into service not for a long time.
In
the
residential
house
area
in
Jinsha
Site,
more
than
ten
thousand
potteries
have been unearthed, together with hundreds of millions pottery broken pieced
being
under process of
joint. The unearthed
potteries
are
rich
in
variety,
which
mainly are small flat-bottom pot, fabiform pottery with high stem, bottle, He utensil,
conical calyx and conical cup, conical pot, high-necked pot, ringfoot high-necked
pot, ringfoot basin, ringfoot earthen bowl, ringfoot cup, urn, cup-like article with
high
handle,
peanut
shaped
stand,
ringfoot
cup,
flat
kettle
and
so
on.
Most
of
these appliances mostly were used to load cereals and some for containing wine
and some maybe pottery ritual articles.
Pottery
remains
are
mostly
common
seen
and
time
&
space
flexible
wares
in
archaeological excavations. Hence, they are critical evidences for archaeologists
to
identity
the
geological
origin,
phase
of
time
and
nature
of
cultural
heritages.
Viewing
on
large
amount
of
potteries
unearthed
in
Jinsha
Site,
archaeologists
divided Jinsha Site pottery industry evolvement into three major phases.
Looking at over 200 gold wares excavated in Jinsha Site, they are rich in variety
and elegant in craftworks. Gold wares found here are mainly gold foils and gold
plaques,
which
are
made
of
natural
alluvial
gold.
Through
study
on
the
ingredients
of
14
samplings
of
gold
wares
unearthed
in
Jinsha
Site,
they
are
found to be constituted of gold, silver and cupper mainly, and gold content varied
ranging
from
83.3%
to
94.2%,
of
which
that
in
“Sun
and
Immortal
Bird”
gold
ornamental article is the most. By analyzing the contents in gold ware element,
they are fabricated with free gold by forging after heating.
In terms of gold ware
28
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
processing, it includes a series phases and skills such as hammering and folding,
cutting, grinding, design by graving, chiseling and die punching, etc. Jinsha Site is
the historical site where most gold wares with richest shapes of Shang Dynasty
have been unearthed so far in China.
All
gold
wares
excavated
in
Jinsha
Site
are
made
of
free
gold.
Proved
by
geological
survey,
gold
mines
are
scattered
in
a
wide
range
namely
in
the
northwest of Sichuan Basin and around its edge, where mainly deposits alluvial
gold in bed horizon of Quaternary Holocene alluvial sandy gravel stratum. Alluvial
gold
enrichment
places
are
always
located
in
big
rivers
and
their
branch
river
valleys in the western and northern edge of Sichuan Basin, especially in places
where river valley narrow flow is converted to a wide flow, has a turn or meets
with other branches, for instance, Gucheng Mine in Pingwu County in the Fujiang
River reach, Baishui Mine in Qingchuan County in the Bailongjiang River reach,
Shuimo
Mine
in
Guangyuan
City
in
the
Jialingjiang
River
reach,
etc.
Besides,
high-content
gold
mines
are
also
found
in
some
river
sections
in
the
Minjiang
River, the Daduhe River and Yalongjiang River in West Sichuan Plateau. These
gold mines have provided raw materials sufficient for the precious metal industry
development for Sichuan Basin bronze culture.
Jinsha Site also unearthed over 1300 pieces of bronze wares, majority of which
are small-sized articles and non-complete in function and shape, therefore, they
are much more likely accessories to large ritual articles. Lead and tin bronze is
the main type of bronze wares found in Jinsha Site, which proves the lead is a
kind of major component widely used Jinsha bronze wares. Jinsha bronze ware
casting
process
inherited
the
traditional
casting
method
in
San
Dui
Time,
which
was
made
by
casting
to
a
whole
piece
and
binding
with
front
and
rear
casting
pieces.
Some
bronze
wares
may
cast
section
by
section
before
integrating
them
to
a
whole
piece
by
casting
binding
methods,
or
by
using
separate
casting
of
accessories
and
main
body
and
then
mounting
the
accessories to the main body with welding and anchoring. Finishing methods for
Jinsha bronze wares include plain finishing, ink painting, perforating, decorative
pattern
casting
and
ornamentals
attachment,
of
which
plain
finishing
is
the
29
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
prevailing method. Process methods for cast bronze wares are also advanced,
and many joints are applied with fine grinding. Some wares have been finished
with polishing.
Over 2000 pieces of jade wares have been excavated in Jinsha Site, showing its
massive volume and rich varieties. Jinsha jade wares are made of local jade with
multiple craftworks and skills. Most of them are elaborately engraved and carved
characterized with moisture smooth, exquisite surface, brilliant color and unique
regional feature, bring jade wares to their summit of fortitude, fine and glossy and
nature beauty.
“Virgin
jade
will
never
be
a
fine
-
art
jade
ware”.
In
ancient
time,
a
finished
jade
ware
always
spent
months
of
fabrication
through
a
series
of
process
including
mining, selection, separation, cutting, perforating, pattern engraving, hollow-out or
pull-out carving, grinding and polishing, etc.
Different from nowadays people recognition on jade, ancient Chinese defined that
“beauty stone is jade”.
Some of virgin jade in Jinsha Site are brilliant in colure,
revealing Jinsha peoples' standard of jade selection.
As seen by so many virgin
jade types in this showcase, Jinsha people had a wide selection of virgin jade.
Through
investigation
and
scientific
determination,
we
made
preliminary
judgment
that
majority
of
them
came
from
high
mountains
in
northwestern
Chengdu Plain and minority might be from river shoals nearby.
This
is
a
fancy
stone
discovered
in
Jinsha
sacrifice
site,
which
is
naturally
embodied
with
ink
painting
patterns
both
inside
and
outside.
Through
mineralogical
study
and
identification,
it
is
a
water-eroded
stone,
whose
ink
painting
patterns
are
formed
with
adsorption
of
organic
materials
such
as
neighboring water mass for long-time existing in water. When ancient Shu jade
craftmen found it was a fine-art work of the nature, this stone was saved without
any human work but its natural shape and form and put it into service in sacrificial
activities. Jinsha virgin jade has diversified natural colors serving as clue for jade
craftsmen in jade fabrication
30
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
This is a piece of unfinished semi-product of jade ware, where we still see a trace
it is just half piece of a virgin jade. And its other piece still reserved some grid-like
decorative patterns.
This is a jade Zhang ware made by using slice- cutting. There is a trace of cutting
made platform in the middle, and both cutting lines on both sides are straight and
even
with
only
0.1
cm
gap,
which
proves
that
it
is
cut
with
a
very
thin
tools,
probably a chip-like cupper tool. This jade ware was once applied with grinding
and polishing, but still there leaved few uneven scratches in the lower side. These
scratches
are
laid
out
in
parallel
with
its
cutting
line,
which
are
probably
made
jade saw when cutting the virgin jade.
This jade specimen is rather important.
They are two pieces of jade Zhang not
separated completely. These two pieces of Jade Zhang are separated to end of
main parts but the handle part is still combined. A parabola-like cutting trace is
clearly found in inside. The cutting trace is unevenly laid out, high in the middle
and low on both sides, which represents the outstanding result of cutting by line
saw.
This
uncut
jade
Zhang
is
a
rare
and
precious
specimen
to
research
on
jade-making
process
in
Chinese
Shang
and
Zhou
Dynasties.
More
importantly,
this jade also showed us a unique skill in Chinese jade-making
—
shaped bisect
technology,
i.e.
two
pieces
of
jade
Zhang
are
made
in
one
virgin
jade
and
cut
them
into
two
upon
completion
of
outside
works.
Since
they
are
semi
jade
products,
there
are
no
any
decorative
patterns
in
the
inner
side.
This
method
greatly
accelerates
jade
making
efficiency,
which
saves
virgin
jade
material
as
well as manpower.
(
Two
ring-like
sides
in
this
jade
Bi
separately
engraved
with
seven
concentric
circle patterns composed of thin engraved dense or loose lines. Line patterns are
nearly
symmetric,
same
space
between
lines
and
same
shallow
in
line
depth.
These lines are perfectly arranged with fine grinding and carefully polishing much
like
today’s
micro
-groove
record.
This piece of
elite article
presents
us
a
direct
view
what
advanced
technologies
have
been
applied
in
jade-making
in
Jinsha
time.
This
kind
of
precise
concentric
circle-like
decorative
pattern
is
made
by
using emery wheel. Emery wheel in earliest time is a semi- mechanization device,
31
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
which is drove by pedaling of human feet. Due to uneven human force applied to
this device, the decorative pattern carved also is uneven and some lines are out
of pattern. However, this jade Bi found in Jinsha Site is quite different. Obviously,
it was processed by using a emery wheel which had even and fast speed. This
tool making the jade Bi that time resembles much today’s electric machine tool.
As
known
by
everybody,
it
was
impossible
to
be
driven
with
electric
power,
instead, it was most likely driven by fierce speedy water current.
Round
holes
in
jade ware
are
made by
rotating
mill with
tubular-shaped
wood,
bamboo, bone and stone materials together with sand and water application. Hole
drilling
technology
applied
to
Jinsha
jade
wares
are
quite
developed.
Drilling
methods were always diversified to the thickness and size of a specific virgin jade.
Seeing this jade Cong with tubular drill trace, there is trace of rotating circles left
when it was drilled with tubular drill and sand in the inner wall and malpositioned
interface in the middle when it was drilled from both sides, and holes in upper side
were bigger and much closer to the edge while holes in another side were more
uniform.
Since the
hole
inner wall
in
this article
was
not applied
with
polishing,
therefore, we are more easily to understand what drill method and process has
been applied.
This piece of jade article has hollow-engraving pattern fabricated with hollow- out
craftwork. Hollow-out skill came into existence as early as in Niaoning Hongshan
Culturee and Zhejiang Liangzhu Culture. Jade wares produced after the Shang
and
Zhou
Dynasties
always
made
by
using
combined
technologies
of
drill
and
thread
cutting
plus
hollow-out
decoration,
making
it
a
rich
design
and
dynamic
shape. Hollow-out method in that time mainly was executed with bowstring saw,
which started from a small whole to saw with help with a kind of special sand to
designed pattern.
Seeing
this
loop-chain
article
(Picture
12),
three
small-sized
jade
rings
are
chained together one by one, which proved
that flexible-ring hollow-caving skill
had
come
into
existence
in
jade
processing
at
that
time.
This
skill
is
truly
elaborated and elegant. This loop-chain jade article also was found in a one- side
jade human figure at its rear top head unearthed in a tomb of the Shang Dynasty
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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
in Xinggan Dayangzhou in Jiangxi Province.
Due
to
the
sparseness
of
jade
in
ancient
time,
the
ancient
people
always
treasured
jade
very
much.
That’s
why
we
found
that
some
jade
wares
were
modified articles from their previous forms and shapes. Like this one, it may be
the top part of a recessed edge of a jade Zhang, and one corner in the edge has
been damaged. Three drilled holes are laid out in triangle pattern, of which the
upper one is bigger, and two holes down seems to be something wrong after
they are drilled, that’s why there is another hole drilled in the middle of the upper
part and it is changed to be another kind of baldric.
Here we prepared you with a short film introducing you jade making process flow.
This film is produced by using state-of-the-art computer imaging. (2 minutes)
Let’s
look
into
Jinsha
peoples’
custom
for
burying
the
dead
after
you
h
ave
a
general
knowledge
and
understanding
about
their
production
and
living.
In
primitive old time, people always believed they had immortal soul even they died,
and
they
were
deeply
rooted
with
the
idea
of
“death
is
just
like
birth”,
which
resulted
them
having
special
care
and
attitude
to
how
to
bury
the
dead.
How
Jinsha did people bury their dead relatives? Archaeologists have found a certain
number of Graves just neighboring their living houses, which indicated that some
dead people were buried next to their houses. However, majority of them were
buried in a concentrated graveyard. Graves in the graveyard are found to be well
planned
in
lay-out,
overlapping
or damage
by
a
new
one
upon
an
old
one
are
seldom
discovered,
which
implies
that
each
graveyard
was
basically
designed.
These
graves
are
all
earth-pit
graves
running
from
northwest
—
southeast
direction (same direction with premise layout and sacrificial article deposit), head
to northwest or southeast, which may have something to do with Jinsha people
worship to their ancestors or their religion belief. Direction of graves in Baodun
Culture of late neolite period in Chengdu plain and San Xing Dui Site is the same
direction as that found here. This phenomenon is not an accidental coincidence.
In legend, Shu ancestors came from high mountains in the northwest land step by
step and settled down right here to be prosperous. Therefore, high mountains in
the northwest are reputed as the origin of ancient Shu civilization as well as the
33
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
paradise worshipped by ancient Shu ancestors. There is a great possibility that
such kind of grave direction selected by San Xing Dui people and Jinsha people
represents their belief to take their immortal soul back to where they come from.
Now
we focus on these three graves burying three adults. One grave is empty
without
any
accompanying
staffs,
besides
he/she
was
buried
after
long
time
of
death judging on the skeleton, and probably a poor people when alive; the grave
next
to
has
accompanied
with
two
or
three
pottery
wares,
more
rich
than
the
previous
one;
but
the
third
grave
here
have
abundant
funerary
objects,
who
is
much
richer
than
the
previous
two
in
terms
of
both
accompanies
quantity
and
varieties.
Varieties
of
funerary
objects
include
jade
wares,
bronze
wares
and
potteries, totaled up to
piece. Of which, a bronze tomahawk placed below
his
waist
is
so
finely
made
that
his
noble
class
identity
is
obviously
shown.
Knowing from these three graves, there were strong sense and polarization of the
rich and the poor in society at that time. Here we also found a grave burying a kid.
He
might
be
only
a
teenager,
still
we
are
sensitive
to
his
babyish
and
piquant
expression nowadays. In Jinsha Site, some graves burying two people were also
found. This provided us with a clue to understand Jinsha people marriage custom.
We guess that monogamy family structure has been initiated in Jinsha time.
So far, over 2000 graves in Jinsha Site have been unearthed for archaeological
study. The dead buried with face-up and stretched body (may represents a kind of
sleeping pose with a meaning of comfort and relax sleeping for the dead), and
two hands placed on the chest. Minority un-stretched body burying is also found.
Reburying was also popular in Jinsha time. In addition to few boat- shaped coffins
found,
no
other
burying
appliances
special
were
discovered.
Approximate
half
graves were accompanied with funeral objects, but they were less in quantity and
dominated by potteries and stone wares, and very few had buried jade wares and
bronze ware, but not too much. Viewing on all graves unearthed as of today, they
are just so-so and ordinary graves with few and common funerary objects. But still,
we are able to see its clear social class layers and classifications based on those
unearthed graves.
After our quick view on all aspects of Jinsha people as well as the society where
34
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
they were living, we can conclude that Jinsha society includes abundant contents
such
as
large-scale
architectural
foundation
remains,
area
for
large
sacrificial
activities, area for residence and living, graveyards, cellar caves, pottery stoves
and workshops, production tools, living appliances and necessities, adornments,
fine- art
articles
and
religious
appliances
and
so
on.
Regardless
its
abundant
contents in Jinsha Site, it shows us an overall layout which is well arranged and
functional
area
clearly
classified.
Its
building
complexes
and
large-scale
handwork manufacturing industry demonstrates us a full picture of ancient Shu
society, where it had full sets of urban facilities, complete functionalities for public
services,
scaled
diversified
productivity
division,
dense
social
organization
structure and highly concentrated social power.
Episode 3
Immortal Heaven and Earth
Human
beings
are
surviving
not
only
for
staying
alive.
Spiritual
pursuing
and
beliefs
are
the
uniqueness
ascribed
to
human
as
the
lord
of
all
creatures.
The
phylogeny
of
human
civilization
is
also
a
history
recording
human
spiritual
pursuing.
Our
ancient
people
have
highly
reverence
and
fear,
thanksgiving
attitude and unique understanding to the universe and nature, all creatures and
manitos as well as their ancestors. They believed that immortals were living out of
human, everything had soul and spirit, based on which a systematic ceremony
communicating
immortals
had
been
gradually
shaped.
The
so-
called
“biggest
state
affairs
are
worship
to
the
immortals
and
wars”
included
ancient
people’s
sacred belief and concept of governance through rule of the rites. Our ancestors
often held various kinds of sacrificial ceremonies in social major events or in daily
lives
with
reverential
hearts,
expressing
their
respect
and
adoration
to
all
immortals with a hope of good communications between all immortals both in the
heaven
and
in
the
earth
and
being
blessed
by
them,
besides,
these
sacrificial
events also were ways to show human care to all immortals.
Site for large-scale sacrificial event found in Jinsha Site occupies an area of over
15000
m2
with
5
m
thick
of
cultural
relics
deposit
gathered
from
late
Shang
Dynasty
to
early
Spring
and
Autumn
Period,
in
particular
cultural
relics
and
remains from late Shang Dynasty to the Western Zhou Dynasty were found most,
35
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
which
indicates
that
the
sacrificial
culture
of
ancient
Shu
is
quite
developed
together strong life-force. Differences existed in sacrificial articles and sacrificial
ways show the complicity and diversity of immortal worship cultures.
This path we are walking on is a time tunnel to Jinsha people sacred sacrificial
site. Hold your breath and listen with your heart to the singing of a immortal bird
3000
years ago
along
with
sound from
the heaven.
Let's
walk into
the
spiritual
world
of
Jinsha
people
quietly
to
experience
their
sacred
ceremony
communicating to the heaven and the earth and to begin our journey sensing the
soul of Jinsha people.
(Walk through the lounge quietly)
Group 1
Bronze Standing Figure
This bronze standing figure at height with a sunbonnet looks like a king, who is
mumbling to host a sacred sacrificial grand ceremony. His eyes are full of power
and
wisdom
facilitating
his
endless
force
of
penetration
and
observation.
He
is
holding
high
the
sacred
sacrificial
offerings,
while
an
object
interposed
into
his
waist
is
presenting
the
people
his
worldly
power.
A
well
combed
and
designed
pigtail
is
hanging
down
along
back
of
his
head,
and
on
his
head,
it
is
a
volute-designed hat band decorated with rotating asterism, which resembles the
brilliant and shining sun. His head ornamental shape reminds of the “Sun
-Gold
Bird” unearthed in Jinsha Site, which are m
uch similar each other.
Li
Ji
(Book
of
Rites)
·
Jiao
Te
Sheng
says:
The
small
bronzed
standing
figure,
capped
with
the
brilliance
of
the
sun,
holding
sacrificial
offerings
at
hand
and
standing at height, is just like the embassy of sunshine, or avatar of sun god who
should be acted as the most important part in sacrificial activities. This design of
standing
figure
reveals
Jinsha
peoples’
religion
of
sun
gold
worship.
Not
come
singly
but
in
pairs
that
similar
bronze
standing
human
figure
also
is
found
in
Sanxingdui Site, which tells the story of interconnection between Sanxingdui Site
and Chengdu Jinsha Site, and also reveals us that a common primitive religion
and similar religious ceremony are existed in these different places.
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Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
All
people
who
have
visited
the
bronze
standing
figure
will
naturally
have
this
question in mind, what kind of ritual article he is holding at hand? This question is
not
only
a
question
that
you
are
interested
in,
but
also
a
question
that
the
academic circles are haggled about. Is it a godly tree branch to welcome the sun,
a
jade
Cong
each
in
both
hands,
a
rare
and
precious
ivory
or
a
wooden
or
bamboo-made tube-like ritual ware? These are guesses made by different people.
Also, someone believes there is nothing in his hand, instead, his hand pose is just
a gesture for a wizard’s norm practice. It’s time for you to make a guess, what
kind of object is he holding?
As to the issue of personal identification revealed by this bronze standing figure,
the academic circles have multiple conclusions including king wizard, King of Shu
State, or combination of
king
wizard
and
King
of
Shu
State.
Regardless
of
any
conclusion about his personal identification, it is quite certain that he is absolutely
not
a
lower
class
people;
on
the
contrary,
he
should
be
a
noble
in
a
tribe
or
kingdom with both religious and administrative power.
Group 2
Ivory
Ivories
are
most
important
offerings
to
heaven
and
earth
gods
contributed
by
ancient
Shu
people.
The
ivory
quantity
and
its
ways
of
use
in
each
sacrificial
activity are diversified.
In some cases, large volume ivory are used in complete to be displaced all to one
direction,
and
sometimes,
they
only
use
the
head
of
ivory
or
cut
ivory
in
to
cake-shape, or make it as column or stick-like ivory.
These diversified ways to use ivory as offerings represent strong religious color
possessing specific religious beliefs. You may ask why so many ivories have to
be
used
in
ancient
sacrificial
activities?
What
ivory
is
sacrificed
for?
Chinese
ancient magician has supernatural power to kill river evil with the magic power of
ivory.
According
to
note
in
Zhou
Li?Qiuguan?Huzhuoshi:
“Huzhuoshi
is
responsible to perish river evil by beating-up it with gun earth and shooting it with
burning stone. If killing its soul, muguwu with ivory must be used to sink it and kill
37
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
its soul to die”. Before the existence of Dujiangyan Irrigation System in Chengdu
Plain,
flood
caused
by
uncontrolled
rivers
were
common
natural
disasters
and
frequently met. Due to the magic power to kill river evil that ivory only has, ivories
were widely and frequently used as a kind of unique offering in sacrificial events.
Group 3
1.
Stoneware
Stone Qing (a kind of sound resonator)
On June 10, 2006 when CCTV was live broadcasting Jinsha Site archaeological
excavation, two pieces of stone resonators were unearthed in a check square
located in the northwest corner of the sacrifice area. Qing represents one of the
oldest
Chinese
percussion
instrument.
It
may
originate
from
a
kind
of
stone-made chip-like instruments of labor, such as stone shovel.
When
our
ancient
people
found
that
stone-made
tools
were
able
to
making
tunefulness sound in production practice, they were used as music instrument
accompanying their dance, hence Qing was produced.
The
most
common
stone
Qing
in
ancient
time
is
arc-shaped
on
the
top
and
slightly arc shape or nearly a straight line on the bottom; or arc-shaped both in
the top and the bottom. Majority of Qing are made of stone, and some are made
of jade or copper. According to knowledge at hand, the earliest primitive made
stone
Qing
was
unearthed
in
Dongxiafeng
Site
in
Xiaxian,
Shanxi
Province,
which
was
made
by
stone
carving.
The
stone
Qing
unearthed
in
Shanxi
Xiangfendaosi Site
was
also
made
by
stone
carving.
These
mentioned
Qings
are heritage of the Xia Dynasty, which is about 4000 years ago.
Stone Qings
made in the Shang Dynasty are diversified in shape and form, and one stone
Qing
unearthed
in
Erlitou
Site
in
Yanshi,
Henan
was
made
in
early
Shang
Dynasty. Some Qings engraved with animal decorative patterns also were found
in
tombs
of
the
Shang
Dynasty.
Shi
Jing(Classic
of
Poetry)·
Shang
Song
has
lines describing Yan people sacrificial dance: “Drum and flute are harmonized
and
rhymed
only
with
stone
Qing
It
proves
that
Qing
is
the
key
music
instrument at that time. A single-tone stone Qing made in the Shang Dynasty is
38
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
called “special Qing” by later generation. The Shang Dynasty also produced a
series of Qings organized by musical scale, which is called “Bianqing”, 3 pieces
as 1 group is most seen.
Zhou Li·
Kaogongji
also records the process of Qing
making
and
methods
of
tuning,
which
indicates
that
each
part
of
Qing
has
unique name and fixed proportion. They are conclusion of experience of ancient
craftsmen
accumulated
from
long
time
Qing
fabrication.
In
later
generations,
Qing
was
mainly
used
by
the
ruling
class
in
their
ancestral
temple
memory,
court and banquet events. Functioning as musical instrument and ritual articles,
Qing
and
Zhong
(bell) are
symbols of
the
ruling
class
identity.
Two
piece
of
stone Qing out of earth in Jinsha Site reveals the ceremonious atmosphere and
solemnity of sacrifice activities in ancient Shu Kingdom, also negates our past
knowledge of “non existence of ritual music in ancient Shu State”. (noted in
Shu
Wang Ben Ji
(Biography of King of Shu State) by Yang Xong) One of those two
has a length of 106cm, width 56cm and thickness 4cm, and is the biggest stone
Qing of the Shang and Zhou Periods found as of today in China. Even today,
these
two
pieces
of
stone
Qing
are
able
to
enunciate
pure
and
arioso
sound
when striking.
2.
Stone Bi (a round flat piece of stone with a hole in it)
Bi
was
once
one
of
most
important
ritual
articles
used
in
Chinese
ancient
sacrificial activities. A large number of stone Bi with similar design and shape and
diversified size for earlier sacrificial activities have been unearthed in Jinsha Site.
The biggest one both in volume and weight has a diameter up to 84cm, while the
smallest one has only 4cm. Many stone Bi are painted with cinnabar at hole wall.
Some small sized stone Bi is made of just drilling a hole upon the core from a
bigger
one,
which
still
can
be
matched
each
other.
This
is
much
similar
with
founding in Sanxingdui Site in terms of package stone Bi out of earth together.
The stone Bi burying ways are also diversified: some are sequenced from big to
small.
Some
are
placed
along
with
stone
kneeling
sitting
human
figure,
stone
tigers
and
stone
snakes;
the
stone
Bi,
cake-like
stone
wares
and
stone
Zhang
deposit is northwest high and southeast low shaped, where they are piled layer by
layer and slantways placed to form a fan-like ringy pattern. The inclining direction
39
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
is
exactly
the
same
with
that
of
graves
placement
in
Jinsha
Site,
implying
something special. According to legend, ancestors of ancient Shu people came
from the Minshan Mountain in the northwest. If such direction in sacrificial offering
placement
expresses
the
respect
and
memory
of
ancient
Shu
people
to
their
ancestors?
3.
Cake-like stone ware
This
kind
of
cake-like
stone
wares,
simple
and
roughly
made,
is
the
prevailing
sacrificial offerings in its earlier stage. This kind of stone ware has a large quantity
out of earth, normally, it has a small size, thin edge and unpolished virgin sides
without
any
polishing
trace.
Therefore,
both
sides
are
uneven
with
sags
and
crests, and some even have non-penetrated drill hole. Though cake-like ware has
always a sharp and thin edge, trace from polishing has not been found. It seems
to
be
a
direct
use
of
a
kind
of
body
stock,
and
mostly
they
are
found
being
co-buried with stone Bi and stone Zhang.
4.
Display of No.43 Remains’ original state
In No. 43 Remains, size varied cake-like stone wares are plied up in a uniform
style
to
a
tortoise-like
top,
symbolizing
something
special. What
does
it
imply?
Tortoise
is
an
animal
symbolizing
longevity
in
ancient
belief,
a
totemic
animal
worshipped by our ancestors for expecting immortal living. Besides, tortoise is the
son
of
dragon,
this
is
believed
in
ancient
folk
culture.
Worship
to
tortoise
and
snake
is
one
of
main
religions
in
traditional
Chinese
culture.
The
saintly
and
highly respected tortoise in the mind of ancient people was gradually becoming a
witchcraft and divination tool for forecast evil and good. The shape of Chengdu
City also has something to do with tortoise. An ancient literal book named Sou
Sheng
Ji
(Search
for
Immortals)
tells
us
a
story
that,
in
the
Qin
Dynasty
(221~206BC) when Zhangyi was building up Chengdu City, every buildings would
be collapsed upon completion. One day a big tortoise suddenly sank into the river
and died in the east corner of Dongzicheng. Zhangyi asked wizard for the reason
and was replied with this suggestion to build the city just along the tortoise, hence
the name of tortoise city came from.
40
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
Group 4 Relic spots
Spot
for
sacrifice
purpose
in
Jinsha
Site
is
found
having
functional
partitions
judging from the distribution of sacrificial offerings. Different offerings are buried in
different
partitions
and
different
types
of
offerings
have
different
compositions.
These
burying
types
have
profound
cultural
meanings,
which
are
beyond
our
capability
to
give
them
correct
explanation
today
besides
our
briefly
analyzing:
firstly, it may be caused by time sequence of the activities being held; secondly,
maybe
due
to
different
object
they
offer
in
different
sacrificial
activities.
The
exhibition
will
present
you
with
the
original
look
when
some
spots
is
being
excavated together with articles being unearthed right there.
1.
No.
8
Remains
belonging
to
late
Shang
Dynasty
to
early
Western
Zhou
Dynasty buried gold wares, jade wares and bronze wares as sacrificial offerings.
In this pit not so big, we see it buried a large number of articles; besides vermilion
is scattered covering the whole pit. Obviously, this phenomenon is closely related
to witchcraft sacrificial activities. Articles exhibited here are only part of the whole
deposit in this spot.
2.
No.
10
Remains
belonging
late
Shang
Dynasty
to
early
Western
Zhou
Dynasty
buried
several
entire
ivory,
underneath 24 pieces of
jade wares
and
1
piece of pottery ware are piled up one upon another. This style of offering burying
is very similar to Sanxingdui sacrificial pits.
3.
No.14 Remains belonging to the Western Zhou Dynasty has 384 pieces of
cultural
relics
unearthed,
a
spot
with
combination
sacrifice
of
small
sized
jade
Zhang,
turquoise
bead
ornamentals
and
gold
foils.
Sacrificial
offerings
combination is very special with singularity of offering varieties.
4.
No.
19
Remains
belonging
to
late
Shang
Dynasty
is
a
sacrifice
spot
with
offerings
of
stone
kneeling
sitting
human
figure,
stone
tiger,
stone
snake
and
stone Bi. When they were being unearthed, stone kneeling sitting human figure
and stone tiger were placed closely each other and the tiger mouth was facing
right
to
the
human
chest,
implying
strong
religious
meaning
with
this
special
41
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
placement. Is the stone kneeling human the substitution for alive man buried with
the death? Or religious meaning we don’t know? If our former guess is positive,
it
is really a fact of advance to bury stone for alive human keeping accompany with
the dead.
Group 5
Jade wares
Jade preference by Chinese can be traced back to remote primitive ages, from
which the long standing Chinese jade culture has been initiated. Among the world
family
of
culture,
Chinese
jade
culture
is
nationality
featured
unique
culture.
Owing
to
its
natural
beauty,
it
is believed to
be the
elite of nature
creation,
the
crystallization of the heaven and the earth and the most sanctity article; therefore,
jade
is
always
be
used
as
raw
material
making
ritual
articles.
In
sacrificial
big
events or other big events, Jade ware always plays an important role. Jade ware
is an important article used in state level ceremonial events to offer ghosts and
gods
and
to
communicate
the
earth
and
the
heaven;
besides,
it
is
a
material
object bearing social power and class identification. Jade preference by Chinese
represents
us
a
window
through
which
their
belief
of
love
to
nature
and
combination with the nature are displayed.
Over
2000
pieces
of
exquisite
jade
wares
have
been
unearthed
in
Jinsha
Site
sacrifice
spot,
showing
a
huge
number
among
archaeological
discoveries.
Majority
of
them
are
jade-made
ritual
articles
with
wide
varieties
and
fine
craftworks. These articles have no trace proving they have once been used as
living articles, which are superior to others in grade and more elegant in craftwork.
Viewing
their
basic
function
and
nature,
they
are
most
likely
used
in
religious
activities. In addition to
being a kind of material object carrying the ruling class
wealth, identity and social image, it was also functioning as a media and magic
weapon for wizard to communicate immortals and to memorize the heaven, the
earth, mountains, rivers and their ancestors.
1.
Jade Zhang (a kind of jade instrument)
Zhang is one of important ritual articles with diversified usages such as to worship
42
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
the
heaven
and
the
earth,
pray
for
a
year
of
abundance,
offer
sacrifices
to
mountains and river and present to friends as a gift, also it is symbol of social class
and
power.
Jade
Zhang
was
earliest
found
in
the
earlier
age
of
Shangdong
Dongshan Culture or the late age of Dawenkou Culture, prosperous from the Xia
Dynasty
to
early
Shang
Dynasty,
popular
and
development
to
north
Shannxi,
Sichuan, middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang River, Fujian, Guangzhou,
Hongkong
and even
to
Viet
Nam
with
the
prosperous
Erlitou
Culture
and
Shang
Culture.
Following
early
Western
Zhou
Dynasty,
Jade
Zhang
began
to
withdraw
from its historical arena. Upon its import to Sichuan Basin it has been popularized
and developed as the most important ritual article used in sacrifice in ancient Shu
culture. It has been greatly developed both in form and fabrication process. A large
number of Jade Zhang have been unearthed in Sanxingdui Site. In Pit 2, two jade
Zhang were found respectively in the outer sides of two mountains, which indicated
that jade Zhang was once used as ritual offerings to mountains and rivers.
In Pit 2,
a
kneeling
sitting
small
bronze
figure
was
also
found,
who
was
holding
a
edge
upwards jade Zhang, showing us another kind of jade Zhang usage.
As of today,
jade Zhang unearthed in Jinsha Site has amounted to over 200 piece, even more
than the total found in the whole country (approximately over 140 pieces). Majority
of Jinsha jade Zhang have bright color and diversified form and size with exiquisite
engraving and craftworks. Toothings in the belly band of Jinsha jade Zhang some
are
complicated
and
some
are
simple.
Some
are
protruded
to
be
animal
caput
shape,
some
ladder
shape,
some
platform
shape
and
some
cirrus
cloud
shape.
The jade Zhang belly band also is decorated with densely straight parallel lines or
curve patterns. Among them, two jade Zhang also are found having intaglio carving
hollow- out process for creating human face pattern.
This
kind
of
small-sized
jade
Zhang
seen
in
No.
14
Remains
also
has
been
found in other sacrifice spots which have similar form and shape. Small-sized
jade
Zhang
has
also
been
excavated
in
Sanxingdui
Site
belonging
to
the
Xia
and Shang Periods, but they are a little shorter. Though they are small both in
volume and weight, they are more exquisite in fabrication. They are believed by
some scholars to be articles to be for the dead, and some scholars would think
they are adornments rather than practical ritual articles. Viewing on the situation
43
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
in Jinsha Site, it has great possibility that they are used just as a kind of sacrifice
appliance
with
more
symbolized
meanings
compared
with
large-sized
jade
Zhang.
So
far,
jade
Zhang
exactly
like
this
kind
has
not
been
found
in
other
places within the country; therefore, it is believed to be unique for Sichuan Basin
Bronze Culture.
2.
Jade Cong (rectangular jade with round holes)
Jade
Cong
is
square
outside
and
round
inside
profiled,
symbolizing
ancient
Chinese cosmic view as “round sky and square earth” and “far and near”; a hole
is penetrating between the outside and inside, implying the profound meaning of
“sky and earth being connected”, a window proving th
e combination of kingship
and religious authority political and religious system in ancient society. Jade Cong
was
first
found
in
Majiabin
Culture
belonging
to
ages
of
5000-6000
BC,
and
prosperous in Liangzhu Culture to ages of 5500
—
4500BC and developed as one
of
most
important
ritual
articles
among
all
jade
ware
in
Liangzhu
Culture.
Following that, Liangzhu Culture began to spread and distribute to its neighboring
areas, and jade Cong has widely found in Longshan Culture covering Shangdong,
Shanxi
and
Hebei,
Xuejiagang
Culture
covering
Anhui,
Jijia
Culture
Graveyard
covering Shannxi Yan’an Lushanyuan and Gansu Huangliangliang (King’s Mother)
Mesa, Erlitou Site covering Qujiang Shixia and Henan Yanshi, Qianzhang Tomb
covering Jiangxi Xingan Dayangzhou and Tengzhou, Yidu Subutun Tomb, Yinxu
Fuhao Tomb, and Sichuan Guanghan Sanxingdui Site and other places. The late
Neolithic Age was a peak period in terms of jade Cong making, and it began to be
decayed following the Shang and Zhou Periods, which probably was caused by
the
fact
that
the
Shang
and
Zhou
ruling
class
put
more
and
more
concern
on
bronze ritual articles. Jinsha Site has unearthed 27 pieces of jade Cong, boasting
the
most
out
of
the
homeland
of
Liangzhu
Culture,
indicating
its
important
and
unique usage in Jinsha ceremonial rites and regulations system.
3.
Jade Bi (a round flat piece of jade with a hole in it)
In
ancient
literal
books,
jade
Bi
is
described
as
“ringy
like
the
sky”.
Jade
Bi,
undoubtedly, is an important religious instrument used to “greet the heaven”. As
44
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
earlier as in the Neolithic Age, it came into existence in the middle reaches of the
Yellow River. Soon, it was developed as the top one important ritual instrument
among
other
six
and
mostly
widely
used
in
sacrifice
activities.
Over
200
piece
jade Bi has been unearthed in Jinsha Site sacrifice spot, showing its outstanding
usage in the sacrifice activities. Among those 200 jade Bi unearthed in Jinsha Site,
majority of them have bright color due to their favorable environment where they
are buried. In terms of out-look, they are classified into two kinds: with collar and
without collar.
4.
Jade dagger
“Ge” (dagger) is a kind of weapon to hook
-kill, sideswipe and peck- kill enemies.
However, jade dagger is far from practical use, instead, it is only functioning as a
kind of ceremonial appliance serving as a foil to heroes. Jade daggers unearthed
in Jinsha Site have diversified form and fine craftworks.
5.
Jade tomahawk, jade knife, jade spear and jade sword
The origin of “tomahawk” sh
all be a kind of ancient labor tool, which was gradually
developed
to
a
kind
of
practical
weapon
and
eventually
to
an
important
ritual
appliance. Tomahawk in the Xian Qin Period was functioning both as a religious
appliance and an object symbolizing the political and military power of the ruling
class. Shang Shu·
Mu Shi has some paragraphs noting Wu Wang fighting against
Shang Zhou with tomahawks. Several pieces of jade tomahawk
are exquisitely
made with high grade which is so equally corresponded to its users. Jade knife,
jade spear and jade sword are also important ceremonial appliances.
6.
Jade axe, jade adze and jade chisel
Jinsha Site also unearthed a large number of jade-made tools such as jade axe,
jade
adze
and
chisel,
etc.
They
always
have
fine
polished
sharp
edge
nearly
without any trace of being used. Obviously, they are no longer tools for practical
use and instead ceremonial appliances. A large number of jade-made tools are
used in sacrifice activities. This phenomenon is rare in other discoveries
within
45
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
the country; therefore, they are full of local identities.
7.
Jade concave-edge chisel-like ware
This kind of article called jade concave-edge chisel-like ware is commonly seen in
the sacrifice spot.
Its form is just like an “upper of a shoe”. Majority of this kind of
jade ware are made of fine-selected material with coloury surface and exiquisite
finishing, and also have no trace of once being used as well as no property for
real
use.
Most
probably,
they
serves
as
special
ritual
articles
copying
from
live
tools. This kind of article was firstly discovered in historical sites belonging to late
Neolithic Age in Chengdu Plain and minority was found in Sanxingdui Site. Jinsha
Site has found large quantity of this kind of articles, which are higher grated both
in
material
selection
and
fabrication,
indicating
it
became
an
important
ritual
article serving sacrifice activities in Jinsha Time. So far, people have not found its
existence in the Yellow River reaches and the middle and lower reaches of the
Changjiang
River;
however,
small
number
of
them
were
discovered
southeast
Yunnan, west Guangxi and Viet Nam, which is also known as the Bronze Culture
covering the area where the Honghe River upper reaches meet.
This may be
the
best
evidence
to
prove
the
cultural
exchange
and
ties
existed
between
ancient Shu State and Southeast Asia countries.
In
fact,
records
of
exchanges
and
ties
with
between
Chengdu
Plain
and
Southeast
Asia
before
the
Han
Dynasty
can
be
found
in
ancient
books.
For
example,
Shi Ji Xi . Nan Yi Lie Zhuan
(Historical Records of Chinese Southwest
Minorities)
has
a
paragraph
saying
commodities
of
Ba
Shu
being
far
sold
to
Bengal area.
Another ancient
book
named
Shui
Jing
Zhu
(Commentary
on
the
Waterways Classic) also recorded the story of Shu Prince conquering over Jiao
Zhi
to
be
King
An’yang
in
3
rd
Century
BC.
Even
thought
aforesaid
stories
happened later than Jinsha time, it may be true that close ties existed between
ancient
Su
in
the
Shang
and
Zhou
Periods
and
nowadays
Southeast
Asia
countries
viewed
based
on
material
discoveries
in
Jinsha
Site
and
Sanxingdui
Site.
8.
Jade seashell, jade immortal figure, jade elliptic wares
46
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
A lot of Jade wares unearthed in Jinsha Site are bionic wares; some copy human
figure or simulate animals and plants. Though they are small, they have simple
design and vivid expression.
These jade seashells are extremely exiquisite in fabrication. Jade and shell were
once used as meanings of monetary currency in ancient Chinese societies. Jade
was
regarded
as
the
symbol
of
wealth
and
social
image
of
upper
class
and
cherished for collections and gifts purpose. Seashell is a kind of creature living in
seashores. Due to its advantages of small size and easy to carry, people liked to
put
it
into
service
as
a
commodity
exchange
equivalent
and
develop
it
as
the
symbol of wealth eventually.
This is a very exiquisite jade immortal portrait which has symmetrical two sides
with inscription of a side-glance face profile of an immortal.
This portrait has a
ferocious expression, long eyebrow, triangle eyes, hooknose, widely-open mouth
and
outcropped
three
teeth,
and
a
crown-like
ornamental
capped
in
its
head.
The lower part has been damaged and gone. It might have a long neck which was
originally mounted to an object as its accessory component. The portrait design is
nearly completely same with one side-glance portrait located in Article Pit 2, 3
rd
layer in Sanxingdui Site; besides, it has a lot of similarities with the large bronze
animal mask unearthed in Sanxingdui Pit 2. Large bronze animal mask has a Kui
dragon
with
an
exaggerated
look
vertically
mounted
to
the
right
middle
of
the
animal forehead. Though the forehead of this jade immortal was damaged, it may
have
a
Kui
dragon
judging
from
it
remained
trace,
but
this
one
is
transversal
placement. Consistency between jade immortal portraits unearthed in Jinsha Site
and many figures in Sanxingdui Site are found, indicating a close ties in cultural
inheritance between them.
Some ever unseen jade wares have been found in the sacrifice spot, representing
new products of ancient Chinese jade wares. There are four pieces of this kind of
elliptic wares unearthed, different size but similar design. The both sides of the
main body are flat with a sharp protruding respectively on each end. When they
were
unearthed,
a
big
piece
of
bronze
residual
was
attached
to
one
of
them,
which
was
caused
by
co-burying
with
bronze
wares
and
its
function
is
still
47
Tour Guide Wording for Jinsha Site Museum (English V.0)
unknown.
Some
scholars
believe
that
this
kind
of
article
is
the
simulation
of
human eye, which is always used by setting into bronze wares. Still this view is
lack of academic support. So, everyone can make a guess, what is it used for?
9.
Jade bracelets (28 pieces)
Decorative jade wares were mostly co-buried with jade ritual articles, gold wares
and bronze wares, indicating its function as an important ceremonial appliance in
sacrificial activities. Let’s take a look at these jade bracelets made in 3000 years
ago. There is no any difference compared with today’s jade bracelets no matter in
its design and fabrication craftworks.
10.
Jade ring, jade Jue, jade loop-like wares
Here, we also present you some small jade rings with high quality in material and
exiquisite in fabrication. The ring body is always flat and thin thickness, delicate
and nicety. It may not be used solely; instead, they are probably used as part of
jade pendant for ribbon or other ornamentals. This jade Jue is an ear pendant,
which is commonly seen in the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang River,
but rare in ancient Shu culture.
Jade
bracelet
and
jade
ring-like
wares
are
usually
excavated
Niuheliang
Hongshan
Culture
Relics
in
Liaoning
Province,
Longshan
Culture
in
Shandong
Province and Liangzhu Site in the lower reaches of the Changjiang RIVER. They
are always big in size, representing a common jade ware in the Xian Qin Period.
There are a lot of jade ring-like wares unearthed in tow sacrifice pits in Sanxingdui
Site. They are all ring-like wares with a collar and are not bracelets. Discovery of
large number of jade bracelets and rings has helped us a lot in research on the
decoration artwork at that time.
11.
Turquoise beads, tube-like ornamentals, jade pendant, spherical wares
The
unearthed
turquoise
beads
and
tube-like
ornamentals
are
always
small
in
size, and nearly all of them are scattered and co-buried with gold, bronze, jade
and
stone
wares
and
are
not
independently
existed.
Turquoise
beads
and
48
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