Gong Dazhong

Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural

DOI: 10.64212/EVZJ6137

Abstract
Dating back as early as 8,000 to 9,000 years ago, the Central Plains region had already witnessed the emergence of an advanced cultural nucleus epitomized by the Peiligang Culture, renowned for its remarkable inclusivity and inventiveness. The early settlements were characterized by semi-subterranean dwellings, a flourishing population, and a well-defined gender-based division of labor. People engaged in agricultural activities, cultivating millet and rice alongside fishing, hunting, and animal husbandry (raising pigs and sheep). They also utilized stone, bone, and pottery tools. The Neolithic era in this region was marked by distinctive artifacts such as stone millstones, stone grinding rods, serrated stone sickles, and stone pestles and mortars. Additionally, the inhabitants were skilled in crafting fishing and hunting implements from bone, as well as inventing the bone flute, a musical instrument. They also created pottery tripods, painted pottery, and pottery sculptures. Notable decorative items included turquoise bead strings and ivory carvings. Furthermore, this period boasts the earliest carved symbols and oracle bone inscriptions in Chinese history, along with the discovery of Jiahu wine solid residue, often hailed as the “originator of human winemaking,” and Jiahu silk protein residue, indicating the use of silk. Given these findings, the history of Chinese civilization could potentially be extended from the conventionally acknowledged 5,000 years to an impressive 8,000 years, corresponding to the Peiligang Culture era, or more broadly, the era associated with Fu Xi. Art and the origins of humanity are intrinsically linked. The history of art in the Central Plains and, indeed, the broader tapestry of Chinese art history, can be said to have commenced with the practical arts and crafts, pottery sculptures, carved symbols, and oracle bone inscriptions of the Peiligang Culture in the Central Plains.

Key Words
Peiligang Culture in the Central Plains, stone millstones, stone grinding rods, bone flute, pottery sculpture, turquoise bead strings