The Yangtze River Civilization Exhibition Kicks Off

Human civilization often developed along waterways and China is no exception. The Yangtze River Civilization Exhibition gathers some 199 cultural relics and, explains the historical significance of this cradle of Chinese civilization.

Set up with the cooperation of 15 museums, this exhibition started on July 25 and will run through October 14.

Bronze head with gold mask

Late Shang Period (About 1300-1046 B.C.)

Excavated in 1986, from Pit 2 at Sanxingdui, Guanghan, Sichuan Province, this gold mask was finely made with a gold sheet and hammered, to fit the bronze head figure, while covering the forehead, chin and ears. The earlobes were socketed and the eyebrows and eyes hollowed out. The bronze head figure with gold mask is identical, almost in all details, to the others without a mask. The mask was joined to the bronze head by mixing an adhesive of raw lacquer and lime.

The gold mask stuck on the bronze head figure found at Sanxingdui suggests that gold was already valued and worshipped by the ancient Shu people in the Shang Dynasty. In addition to being more beautiful, the gold mask may also have had some specific functions in religious activities.

Bird-shaped Zun (Drinking vessel)

Warring States (475-221BC)

Unearthed in Xiaotianxi, Fuling, Chongqing

With a wide and short mouth, round eyes, big ears and broad neck, this fat bird-figured Zun may look a bit weird. Decorated with a crest on its head and plume like pattern on its body, this zun is regarded as an excellent work of ancient Shu people (mostly in Sichuan Province).

Tiger-shaped Semicircular jade pendant

New Stone Age (about 5500-5300 BC)

Unearthed in Lingjiatan, Anhui Province

As an ancient city in China, Lingjiatan site is a renowned excavation site revealing numerous exquisite jade wares. These wonderful jade wares reflect the skillful craft of making jade and betray some religious evidences of primitive times. Ancient city and jade wares are distinctive cultural symbols, making the ancient culture of Linjiatan play an important role in Chinese civilization. For this reason, Linjiatan site was selected as the top 10 Chinese archaeological discoveries in 1998. This Tiger-shaped Semicircular jade pendant is a typical representative of Linjiantan culture.

Bronze Drum Decorated with Cloud Pattern

Late Shang Dynasty (About 1600-1100BC)

Unearthed in Baini village, Chongyang, Hubei Province

The culture of rite and music along the region of Yangtze River has been developed very mature in Shang and Zhou Dynasties (About 1600-221BC). With a number of varieties, bronze musical instruments emerged earlier in there than in other regions of China, demonstrating the highly developed Yangtze River civilization of Bronze Age. This drum is vertical with its base and this figure is similar to the ancient Chinese character “鼓”. It is the earliest drum unearthed in China, which is very precious in the research of Chinese ancient music.