Unveiling the Enigmatic Sanxingdui: Unraveling the Secrets of an Ancient Kingdom
Unveiling the enigma of the Shu kingdom: A farmer's astonishing discovery of ancient relics reveals a civilization shrouded in mystery for over 3,000 years Delve into the captivating world of the Shu and their extraordinary artistic prowess
In the darkness, a luminous golden face with weathered turquoise eyes gazes ahead. Encircling it, three other bronze heads in varying shapes—a few with flat surfa ces, others perfectly round—stand illuminated. They are observed by a colossal bronze statue towering nearly 9 feet tall. All possess the same penetrating and sharply angled eyes.
There is an intriguing quality to the "Faces of Sanxingdui," as this curated assortment of sculptures has been aptly named. Currently exhibited at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, these ancient artworks, over 3,000 years old, may initially evoke thoughts of Mayan or Aztec influence to those unacquainted with their origins. However, these remarkable sculptures were not unearthed in the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica; rather, they were discovered on the Chengdu Plain in China, at a renowned archeological site named Sanxingdui, meaning "three star mound" in translation.
Sanxingdui, believed to be the largest and oldest site left by the Shu kingdom, an ancient civilization in southwestern China mentioned only in myths and legends, was unearthed in the 1920s. It was accidentally discovered by a farmer who stumbled upon artifacts while digging an irrigation ditch. The excavated site reveals the remnants of a bygone era – an ancient city comprising residences, sacrificial pits, and tombs, all surrounded by imposing earthen walls. According to archaeologists from the Sanxingdui Museum, this city was established between 4,800 and 2,800 years ago, until it was mysteriously abandoned around 800 BC.
A gold mask is among the thousands of ancient artifacts discovered at Sanxingdui in what is, today, in China's Sichuan province.
Noemi Cassanelli/CNN
The Chinese government has extensively promoted Sanxingdui as proof of the nation's enduring and continuous history, featuring the findings in history textbooks for over a decade. While the groundbreaking exhibition in Hong Kong has attracted numerous visitors, certain analysts propose that these artifacts are also being utilized to bolster the Chinese government's perception of national identity.
The mysterious and talented Shu
The Shu kingdom, which arose in the Sichuan basin during the Bronze Age, is thought to have evolved separately from the societies in the Yellow River Valley, which are traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Chinese civilization. The people of Shu skillfully crafted intricate bronze, jade, gold, and ceramic items, featuring representations of mythical creatures, rulers, deities, and shamans with exaggerated eyes and ears.
An 11th-century monastery's journey to recover artifacts from the United States led to the remarkable discovery of a hidden cache of precious treasures.
Around 120 artifacts are currently exhibited in Hong Kong, marking the first instance of many of these objects being displayed outside Sichuan province. Most of these items were unearthed between 2019 and 2022.
Many of the artifacts from Sanxingdui were found buried in a series of sacrificial pits.
Shen Bohan/Xinhua/Sipa USA
The sculptures, remarkably, predate the Terracotta Army of China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang by at least 1,000 years. Wang Shengyu, an assistant curator at the Palace Museum, stated that these objects are more advanced, imaginative, and artistic than any other sculptures produced in China during that period. Wang pointed to a bronze figure, approximately 1-foot-tall, with intricately braided hair that extends three times the length of its body. The figure would have been even more magnificent, reaching a height of over 4.9 feet, based on the fragments found. The pigtail extends onto the figure's shoulder.
Little is known about the Shu kingdom besides what has been unearthed on the 3.6-square-kilometer (1.4-square-mile) site located outside Chengdu. There is a lack of evidence regarding a written Shu language, and historical literature provides only meager details about its culture, apart from a few myths and legends. Among these is a reference to Can Cong, a Shu king believed to have had noticeably protruding eyes, which may explain the prevalence of numerous artifacts with bulging eyes among the 13,000 relics recovered from the site.
'Kneeling figure with a twisted head', bronze, at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in Hong Kong, China on September 26, 2023.
Noemi Cassanelli/CNN
According to a 2013 UNESCO submission, the Shu culture was overshadowed by the mainstream culture that emerged on China's central plain after the Qin dynasty conquered the Shu state in 316 BC. Currently, the Sanxingdui site, along with two nearby archaeological sites, is under consideration to become World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, as they are on the organization's tentative list.
Starting in 1986, eight excavated pits at Sanxingdui have revealed significant discoveries. These include enormous masks depicting gods with insect-like eyes and prominent ears, mythical creatures with wide-open mouths, and a bronze sculpture known as the "tree of life," standing nearly 13 feet tall. The sculpture is adorned with ornaments resembling a Christmas tree. Archaeologists found these artifacts in a shattered, burned, and buried state, leading experts to believe that the pits were utilized for ritual sacrifices. Some of these items have been meticulously reconstructed over a period of 10 years by archaeologists. Wang Shengyu, an assistant curator at the museum involved in curating the exhibition, mentioned the extensive effort it took to rebuild the tree.
That tree is too precious to be shown outside of Hong Kong, but the museum has a display showcasing a section of one of six other trees discovered. Along with this section, there are ornaments and a 3D holographic projection depicting how experts believe the tree would have appeared. The branches and layers of the tree were adorned with various decorations such as birds, flowers, fruit, dragons, bells, as well as jade and gold foil ornaments. These artifacts are believed to have been used in a theater space.
A mythical creature depicted in bronze.
Noemi Cassanelli/CNN
Historical myth of a continuous civilization
The exhibition showcases these artifacts within the broader framework of ancient civilizations, shedding light on the rich history of China spanning 5,000 years. Emphasizing the enduring qualities of Chinese culture, museum and Hong Kong government officials highlighted its continuity, inventiveness, unity, inclusiveness, and steadfast commitment to peace and harmony.
Henry Tang, the chairman of the governing body responsible for the West Kowloon Cultural District (which houses the Palace Museum) and a former contender for Hong Kong's top leadership position, stated that the district and museum aim to enhance cultural and artistic dialogues between China and the global community, effectively portray China's story, and bolster the cultural self-assurance of the public.
However, Ian Johnson, a senior fellow for China Studies at the US-based think tank, the Council on Foreign Relations, argues that the notion of the Shu kingdom being inherently Chinese is a matter of dispute.
A figure on display at the Hong Kong Palace Museum.
He informed CNN via email that the Chinese Communist Party has been attempting to propagate a historical falsehood claiming that all individuals residing within the current boundaries of the People's Republic are of Chinese origin.
The Peoples Republic of China, established in 1949, argues that the continuous history of China supports the notion that ethnic groups like the Tibetans and the Uyghurs have historically been part of the nation.
Vessels found at Sanxingdui.
Noemi Cassanelli/CNN
Johnson said that there was little support for the idea that civilizations along the Yellow River had much in common with those in the Sichuan Basin.
"They share commonalities, but they are distinct entities, much like ancient Assyrians, Phoenicians, and Greeks who, despite certain commonalities, were not identical," he stated, further remarking, "Sponsoring such exhibitions tends to be well-received and earns favorable recognition from the government."
The Hong Kong Palace Museum responded stating that the exhibition was curated through extensive academic and archaeological research. It further expressed its commitment to enhancing the audience's comprehension of the lives and cultures of different regions and ethnic groups in ancient China. Additionally, it emphasized that these exchanges have played a significant role in the development and diversity of China's civilization.
