Jinsha Archaeology: The Sun Bird God Reappears

Author: Huang Jianhua / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The ancient Shu people settled in the Jinsha Site may have initially had a small population and relatively weak tribes. They had to obey the jurisdiction of the early Doudun under the dominant political order in terms of both divine and royal authority. By the time of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the ancient Shu people at the Jinsha Site had become highly prosperous. Although the ritual artifacts they used were still low in rank and specifications, it is an undeniable fact that they had made significant progress in all aspects. Archaeological excavations reveal that during this period, the Jinsha Site had a relatively prosperous social life, with a ruling class formed by tribal shamans and tribal leaders. Large-scale ritual ceremonies were frequently held, clear division of labor had emerged across various trades, pottery production, jade crafting, and gold processing had reached a high level, and agriculture based on rice cultivation had greatly developed. Livestock farming and hunting activities were also considerable. The population within the Jinsha Site area (including the Twelve Bridge Site and surrounding regions) had greatly increased, and the entire society was full of vitality in both material and spiritual aspects. Whether from the vast scale of the site's distribution or the prosperity and development of its cultural content, the Jinsha Site exhibited a trend of gradual growth and eventual prominence. P126