Timeless Treasures: Archaeological Relics and Gems

Author: Feng Puren
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features:
Antiquities embody the wisdom and toil of our ancestors and also carry the spirit of the nation. When facing artifacts buried for thousands of years, people often experience a profound sense of temporal journey. When reading ancient poetry, it is often difficult to grasp its deep meaning, but the dazzling array of unearthed artifacts before us frequently helps us unravel its mysteries.
Through artifacts, we can appreciate the elegance of Yue ware celadon, as described in "The autumn wind and dew open the Yue kiln, capturing the verdant hues of a thousand peaks." Through artifacts, we can understand the vibrant colors of embroidered robes and textiles, as depicted in "Embroidered silk garments shine in the twilight of spring, with golden phoenixes and silver qilins." Through artifacts, we can reconstruct the captivating scene of court dances during the Tang Dynasty's Qianqiu Festival, as mentioned in "With cups in hand, they dance till the banquet ends, their heads bowed, tipsy and muddled." Through artifacts, we can grasp the customs of drinking games, as expressed in "In flower season, we drink to break springtime worries, snapping flower branches to use as drinking tokens."
Facing these artifacts and tracing the long history of the Chinese nation, we feel proud and of our ancestors. History constantly creates and simultaneously loses and obscures. Many ancient tools and daily utensils were abandoned due to wear and tear from use, while others were hastily buried underground as storage jars or used as burial goods. It is the archaeologists who follow the traces of ancient human activities, searching for the relics and artifacts left by our ancestors, that bring buried artifacts back to light and restore lost history.
This book introduces China's archaeological artifacts, including ceramics, jade and stone wares, bronze wares, gold and silver wares, lacquered and wooden wares, and textiles.