7,400-year-old jar gives clue to phoenix-worshipping history

[Alcibiades]

7,400-year-old jar gives clue to phoenix-worshipping history

A 7,400-year-old pottery jar stamped with the design of two flying phoenixes has been excavated recently in central China's Hunan Province, helping archaeologists unveil the secret of the "birth" of the sacred bird. 


The two phoenixes have the typical characteristics of the legendary phoenix, which has a crest on its head, a long beak, a long neck and a long beautiful feathered tail.

The phoenix and the dragon are the most worshipped legendary creatures in China since ancient times.

The discovery showed that ancient Chinese myths relating to phoenixes dated back at least 7,400 years, said He Gang, head of the Hunan provincial archaeological research institute.

He headed the excavations at the Gaomiao Culture Ruins, covering 15,000 square meters, a Neolithic age site near Yanli Village of Chatou Township, Hongjiang City, unearthing a great deal of relic items that relate to religious rituals. in Yanli Village.

"I couldn't believe that the jar was made by ancients 7,400 years ago if I hadn't taken it myself," said He. "It's proof that there were special artisans, artists, at that time."

"The designs of the phoenix on the jar are far more delicate than of two similar birds on an ivory dish, unearthed several years ago from a site of the Hemudu Culture, dating back 4,000 to 7,000 years ago, in Yuyao County, east China's Zhejiang Province."

The phoenix is an imaginary bird, a creature resulting from primitives' piety, adoration and worship of gods, He said.

Chinese people have endowed the phoenix with many fine characteristics: beautiful, auspicious, kind, peaceful, and boasting lofty natural virtues. "Although the phoenix doesn't livein reality, it's in the heart of the Chinese people," He said.

"However, the phoenix was not created out of pure imagination,"said He. "Phoenix designs unearthed from the Gaomiao Culture ruinsshow that the original shape owed a lot to the peacock."

Discovery of the phoenix designs also provided important evidence that prove the Yangtze River valley was a major cradle ofChinese civilization, He said.

Moreover, discoveries of religious and sacrificial items at thesite provide material for studying the religious awareness, beliefand art of the prehistoric people, he said.



Source: Xinhua


http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200403/26/eng20040326_138617.shtml

[Alcibiades]

First pottery with human-body design unearthed in Gansu
An ancient earthen jar with a human-body design painted on it, the first of its kind ever discovered in China, has been unearthed in Lintao City, northwest China's Gansu Province. 
 
An ancient earthen jar with a human-body design painted on it, the first of its kind ever discovered in China, has been unearthed in Lintao City, northwest China's Gansu Province.

The 30-cm-tall jar, discovered by local peasants, has a pair ofasymmetrical handles and a fish-type mouth, which is common in ancient pottery unearthed in Gansu, says Wang Haidong, vice president of the provincial Research Institute of Ancient Painted Pottery.

The jar dated back about 3,200 years ago, belonging to the Majiayao culture type (about 3300 B.C. to 2050 B.C.). The design of two human bodies, painted in black pigment, was the first ever seen in China, Wang Haidong says.

Clearly painted and lifelike, the two figures are in different postures, with intact trunks, legs and arms, heads and facial features.

Designs related to human bodies had been found on pottery unearthed in China before, yet all of them were clay figures, different from the two figures depicted in lines, according to Wang.

The discovery of a human body design on ancient pottery indicates that the ancient Chinese people were skilled in drawing and proves that pottery designs are the origin of traditional Chinese paintings, Wang says.

Source: Xinhua

 http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200403/22/eng20040322_138141.shtml