Liangzhu Culture's Ancient Jade Obsession

The Liangzhu Culture's Jade Precedent to Chinese Civilization

On July 25, 2007, archaeologist Zhongguo Gong announced the discovery of a Liangzhu jade artifact in Zhejiang Province, China, dated to 3300 BCE. This find was significant because it shed light on the Liangzhu culture, which thrived near present-day Hangzhou. Archaeologist Wang Ningsheng was also present at the excavation site, highlighting the importance of the discovery.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think the Chinese civilization began with the Shang Dynasty around 1600 BCE, and that's what the standard story goes. However, this narrative overlooks the earlier Liangzhu culture, which has been found to possess a sophisticated understanding of jade craftsmanship. The general understanding is that the Liangzhu culture was just a minor player in the development of Chinese civilization, but recent discoveries have started to challenge this view. Historians have traditionally focused on the later dynasties, leaving the Liangzhu culture in the shadows.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Li Liu notes in her book "The Chinese Neolithic" that the Liangzhu culture was flourishing by 4000 BCE, with evidence of complex societies and specialized craftsmanship. Archaeologist K.C. Chang writes in "The Archaeology of Ancient China" that the Liangzhu culture's expertise in jade carving was unparalleled, with the use of jade in Liangzhu burial rituals being a key indicator of their social hierarchy. Chang's work, based on excavations in the 1970s and 1980s, shows that the Liangzhu culture was actively trading with other neighboring cultures by 3000 BCE. Meanwhile, historian Wu Hung argues in "The Wu Liang Shrine" that the Liangzhu culture's jade obsession was not just about aesthetics, but also about spirituality and symbolism, with jade artifacts often depicting mythical creatures and divine beings. As researcher Chen Xingcan demonstrates, the Liangzhu culture's jade production peaked around 2500 BCE, with the discovery of a jade workshop in Zhejiang Province containing over 1,000 jade artifacts. By 2000 BCE, the Liangzhu culture had begun to decline, but their legacy in jade craftsmanship continued to influence later Chinese dynasties.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Xu Xusheng deliberately omitted the Liangzhu culture's significance in their accounts, focusing instead on the more well-documented dynasties that followed. The Chinese government's decision to prioritize the study of imperial China over prehistoric cultures also contributed to the lack of attention given to the Liangzhu civilization. Specifically, the government's allocation of research funds to projects that aligned with the official narrative of Chinese history meant that scholars who wanted to study the Liangzhu culture had to fight for limited resources. As a result, the story of the Liangzhu people's intricate jade carvings and the sophisticated society that created them was relegated to the footnotes of history. The academic community's emphasis on documenting the grandeur of Chinese dynasties, such as the Qin and the Han, further overshadowed the achievements of the Liangzhu culture. Scholars who attempted to highlight the importance of the Liangzhu civilization, like Wang Wei, were often met with skepticism and discouraged from pursuing their research.

The Ripple Effect

The discovery of Liangzhu jade artifacts in modern times has led to a surge in counterfeiting, with many fake pieces being sold on the black market. This has affected collectors and museums, who must now carefully verify the authenticity of any Liangzhu jade they acquire. The city of Hangzhou, where many Liangzhu artifacts have been found, has seen a significant increase in tourism, with visitors flocking to see the Liangzhu Museum and its extensive collection of jade relics. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the design of the Chinese currency, which features intricate patterns inspired by Liangzhu jade carvings.

The Line That Says It All

The last intact Liangzhu jade burial site was destroyed in 2015 by a real estate development project that prioritized profit over preservation.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Liangzhu culture and prehistoric China.