Mutual connectivity and inclusiveness reflected through Sanxingdui

Editor's note: Yan Defu, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate researcher at the National Museum of China. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

A landmark archaeology exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing has been drawing enthusiastic crowds since the beginning of the year. Titled "Twin Stars Illuminating the World," it presents the ancient Shu civilization that arose in the Yangtze River basin in southwest China, flourishing from around 2000 BCE to 316 BCE.

Sanxingdui and Jinsha, two excavation sites in southwest Sichuan Province, are the most representative sites of this civilization. The exhibition displays over 200 precious artifacts obtained from these sites, presenting a comprehensive panorama of the life and spiritual world of the ancient Shu people. The Shu Kingdom, once known only through historical texts, emerges from the mists of history, sparking boundless imagination.

The Sanxingdui artifacts are unique. The intricately decorated gold crowns, gold foil‑covered bronze masks, imposing bronze figures, and a Sunbird gold ornament have a strikingly distinctive style from the more familiar cultures of the Central Plains in north China and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze. This unique cultural expression once led some to speculate whether the Sanxingdui civilization originated from outside regions. However, the archaeological findings corroborate the cultural integration that has always been a feature of Chinese civilization.

The jade items unearthed from Sanxingdui's sacrificial pits are typical ritual objects associated with Central Plains religious traditions. The bronze and jade artifacts together construct a ritual and music system, clearly reflecting its indigenous Chinese civilization attributes.

In early Chinese civilization, bronze ritual vessels and jade objects served as the core medium for expressing the highest authority in ritual, religion, and politics – a feature unique in the world.

Ancient Eurasian civilizations emphasized bronze but lacked jade ritual items, while the Americas and Pacific Rim cultures emphasized jade but lacked a bronze ritual item system. Only the Chinese civilization organically integrated both.

From this perspective, the ancient Shu civilization, represented by Sanxingdui's bronze culture, shares bloodline connections and a common origin with early Central Plains civilizations.

Sanxingdui's turquoise-inlaid bronze plaques show remarkable similarity with artifacts from the Erlitou culture prevalent in the Central Plains around 1900-1500 BCE. Gold-working techniques – such as hammering, gilding and engraving – as well as the types of gold artifacts and gold ore sources share numerous commonalities with Central Plains practices.

These findings demonstrate that the ancient Shu civilization did not develop in isolation but absorbed and integrated advanced cultures from various regions, forming its own system of sacred authority, artistic symbols, and spiritual pursuits.

Sanxingdui's splendor was built upon early cross-regional resource circulation, complementary industries, and civilizational cooperation. During the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC) and Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC-256 BC) China's core copper and tin production regions and smelting centers had already developed large-scale mining, smelting, and circulation. These resources were not solely for local use but served broader demands.

Many artifacts unearthed at Sanxingdui and Jinsha, like seashells, were not sourced locally, showing engagements and exchanges with other cultures and regions. This model of mutual benefit, complementarity, and reciprocity underpinned the resilience and cohesion of early Chinese civilization.

Sanxingdui eloquently demonstrates that Chinese civilization has never been monolithic or insular; it is a community formed by multiple regional civilizations over long-term exchange, interaction, and integration. The charm of Chinese civilization lies in appreciating the beauty of each and harmonizing diversity.

Traversing millennia through the exhibition, the ancient Shu civilization conveys a profound insight: Civilization thrives through exchange, prospers through inclusiveness, and strengthens through mutual learning. From early civilizational interaction to contemporary cultural dialogue, openness and tolerance have always been the right path for human progress.

As a world-class archaeological discovery, Sanxingdui is not only a treasure of Chinese civilization but also a vivid example of equal dialogue among different civilizations and shared human heritage. It reshapes our understanding of the origins of Chinese civilization and provides a solid foundation for enhancing cultural confidence and telling China's story compellingly.

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