Author(s)

Jinwu Ma ¹, Yuting Li ², Sijie Ji ³

Affiliation(s)

¹ Faculty of History and Culture, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
² Faculty of History and Society, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
³ Faculty of History, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China

Corresponding Author

Jinwu Ma

ABSTRACT

The jade artifacts buried with the deceased in the Zaolingang Cemetery exhibit advanced jade craftsmanship during the later Shijiahe Culture period. Based on the unearthed burial jade artifacts, it is evident that craftsmen of the time selected jade materials according to different shapes and, depending on their significance, crafted them into religious and ceremonial accessories as well as numerous tool-like jade artifacts using techniques such as round carving, relief carving, and openwork carving. Analysis of the types of burial jade artifacts from the Zaolingang Cemetery suggests that the jade craftsmen in this region were likely organized and led by individuals of considerable authority. This core group of craftsmen constituted a small community with a social status slightly higher than that of the common people. Additionally, these individuals were permitted to use some jade artifacts and jade materials as burial items upon their death.

KEYWORDS

Late Shijiahe Culture, Jade Artifacts, Urn Burial, Zaolingang

CITE THIS PAPER

Jinwu Ma, Yuting Li, Sijie Ji, A Brief Analysis of the Jade Artifacts Unearthed from the Zaolin Gang Cemetery in Jingzhou. Journal of Sociology and Ethnology (2024) Vol. 6: 156-161. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/jsoce.2024.060423.

REFERENCES

[1] Hubei Jingzhou Museum: Zaolin Gang and Duijintai, Beijing: Science Press, 1999.
[2] Hubei Jingzhou Museum: Shijiahe Cultural Jade, Beijing: Cultural Relics Publishing House, 2008.
[3] Wang Jin, "Reflections on the Naming of Later Shijiahe Culture", Jianghan Archaeology, No. 1, 2007.
[4] He Xuan, "On the Roof Culture of the Xiao Family and Its Related Issues", Xia Shangzhou Archaeological Research Office, Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: Three Generations of Archaeology (II), Science Press, 2006.
[5] Jingzhou Museum, Department of Archaeology, Peking University, Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology: The Roof of the Xiao Family, Cultural Relics Publishing House, 1999.
[6] Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology: "The Main Harvest of the 2015 Excavation of Shijiahe Site", Jianghan Archaeology, 2016.
[7] Du Jinpeng, "A Brief Introduction to the Jade Carving Statue of Shijiahe Culture", Jianghan Archaeology, No. 3, 1993.
[8] Liu Tingting, Guo Rongzhen, Cao Lingzi, "Archaeological Observation of Shijiahe Cultural Jade Carving Figures", Cultural Relics Identification and Appreciation, No. 4, 2017. 
[9] Yang Jianfang, "Exploration of the Origin of Jade in Daxi Culture: A Discussion on the Research Methods of the Spread and Influence of Neolithic Culture", Southern Ethnic Archaeology, No. 1, 1987.
[10] Ju Rongkun, "Imitation and Transformation: Exploration of Prehistoric Jade and Animal Worship", Central Plains Cultural Relics, No. 4, 2022.
[11] Mu Chaona, "Jade Cicada in Prehistoric Period", Cultural Relics Spring and Autumn, No. 6, 2006.
[12] Guo Jingyun, "The Heavenly Gods and the Way of Heaven and Earth: The Origin of Witchcraft Belief and Traditional Thought", Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 2016, p. 419.
[13] Song Yixiao, "The Shape of the "Eagle Accompanying Human Head" on Ancient Jade and the Myth of Shang Ancestors", Art Research, No. 4, 2021.
[14] Deng Shuping, "A Preliminary Study on Jade Ritual Vessels and Jade Ritual System", Southern Cultural Relics, No. 1, 2017.
[15] Cai Qing: "The Characteristics and Origin of Jade in the Later Shijiahe Culture", Ph.D. dissertation, Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts, 2019.
[16] Banpo Museum et al.: Report on the Excavation of • Neolithic Ruins in Jiangzhai, Beijing: Cultural Relics Publishing House, 1988.
[17] Cultural Relics Working Group of Henan Provincial Bureau of Culture: "Excavation of Qiu Gongcheng Ruins in Lushan, Henan", Archaeology, No. 11, 1962.
[18] Linru Museum: "Neolithic Site of Linru Yan Village", Central Plains Cultural Relics, No. 1, 1981.
[19] Guo Lixin, "Research on Urn Coffin Burial in the Late Shijiahe Culture", Sichuan Cultural Relics, No. 3, 2005.
[20] Wang Jin, "Discussion on the Jade Urn Coffin at the Roof of Xiaojia Ridge Site", Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, 2004. 

Sponsors, Associates, and Links

---

• Journal of Language Testing & Assessment
  
  
• Information and Knowledge Management
  
  
• Military and Armament Science
  
  
• Media and Communication Research
  
  
• Journal of Human Movement Science
  
  
• Art and Performance Letters
  
  
• Lecture Notes on History
  
  
• Lecture Notes on Language and Literature
  
  
• Philosophy Journal
  
  
• Science of Law Journal
  
  
• Journal of Political Science Research
  
  
• Advances in Broadcasting