Fanshan Royal Cemetery: Pyramid of the East

ISBN-13: 9789811665684 / Angielski / Twarda / 2021 / 174 str.

Xiangming Fang

Opis

This book outlines the latest research in Fanshan by the archaeologist, a man-made hathpace cemetery, on which is located the inner city of Liangzhu historical site at northwest area. There are 11 tomb locations discovered in Fanshan as built based on mutual dependency while and after excavation and were found continuously more than 1200 pieces (assemblages) of burial accessories, while at least 1100 pieces of jades were among the unearthed items. In view of the above-mentioned background, Fanshan as royal cemetery is well known for the largest number and variety of exquisite highly polished jades. In addition to prehistoric art, the work also explores the traces of Fanshan royal cemetery in conjunction with a substantial number of photos taken by expert of the historical site, restores the crucial burial objects and funeral rite as well as interprets burial accessories in different ways to discover the identity of the tomb’s occupants such as social class and status and moreover the interlocking system of an organization.  

Spis treści

Chapter 1. An Overview of Fanshan Site                                  

I. The Construction and Development of Fanshan Royal Cemetery

II. Major Relics from Fanshan Royal Cemetery

                                                                                                

Chapter 2. Restoration of Burial Objects and Funeral Rites   

I. Restoration of Fanshan M14                                                                

(i) Restoration of coffins and burial articles                                           

(ii) Restoration of Burial Rites                                                             

II. Restoration of Fanshan M12                                                                

III. Restoration of Fanshan M22                                                               

Chapter 3. Funerary Objects                                                        

I. Pottery

II. Stoneware

III. Jade ware                                                                                         

(i) Ritual Jade ware on Funerary Objects

(ii) Theocracy: Jade Cong and Cong-like Jade Ware          

(iii) Royalty: Jade Yue and Other Scepters                    

(iv) Wealth: Jade Bi                                                      

(v) Jade Ware for Ceremonial Apparels                        

(vi) Jade Ware for Ritual Instruments                           

IV . Lacquer Ware Inlaid with Jade                                       

 

Chapter 4. The Identity, Class and Status of the Tomb Owner Learned From the Jade Sets

I. Set of Awl-shaped Ornaments: Basic Identification of Class of Fanshan Tomb Owners

II. Close Relationship Between Fanshan M17 and M12

III. Possible Kings of Fanshan M12, M14, M23 and M20 Where Special End Ornaments and Semicircular Ware Were Unearthed

IV. The Identity and Status of the Tomb Owners Learned From Other End Ornaments of Fanshan Royal Cemetery

V. The Identity and Status of the Tomb Owner of Fanshan M23

 

Chapter 5. The Significance of Fanshan Archaeology

I. China's Earthen Pyramids

II. “Liangzhu Sites Group”                                                   

III. From “Burial in the Ground” to Burial Rites with Coffins  

IV. Set of Ritual Jade                                                           

V. The Jade Civilization and the Mode of Civilization of Liangzhu

Postscript 

O autorze

Xiangming Fang, Researcher at Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, has participated in several archaeological excavations at well-known sites, such as Mingshanhou in Fenghua, Kuahu Bridge in Xiaoshan, Qiucheng in Huzhou, Pu‘an Bridge in Tongxiang, and Yaoshan in Liangzhu. He has also taken charge of the compilations of reports on Fanshan, Miaoqian, and Xiaodouli. Besides, he is most famous for his works which include The Real Truth: Animal-faced God (Hangzhou Publishing House, 2014); General History of Chinese Jades: Jades in the Southern Part of China during Neolith Age (Haitian Publishing House, 2014); General History of Chinese Jades: Jades in the Northern Part of China during Neolith Age (Haitian Publishing House, 2014); and Illustration of Liangzhu Jades (Zhejiang Ancient Books Publishing House, 2018).