History and Literature

Standing Bronze Figure

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: The Yangjiawan terracotta army near the Changling Mausoleum of Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu of the Han...

: Early in the 8th century B. C., Zhao Shudai went to the Jin State to seek shelter.

The standing bronze figure in Sanxingdui Ruins is 262cm high consisting of a 172cm figure and 90cm base. The design pattern resembles a monument, which is rarely seen in other works of the same period, a proof to the fact that large sculpture works had appeared as early as in the Shang Dynasty. The figure shares the same facial design with a large batch of other figures unearthed here, featuring dark brows, diamond eyes and wide mouth. It wears flower-shaped high crown and gorgeous robe engraved with dragon and exotic animal patterns. It has extraordinarily big hands, barefooted with anklets. Under the feet is the high base decorated with grotesque grooved animals.

Guanghan Sanxingdui Ruins

Sanxingdui, also called Guanghan Sanxingdui, which is situated in Southwest China's Sichuan Basin, is the ruins of the Bronze Age in the middle and late Shang Dynasty.

Sanxingdui Bronze Heads

Sanxingdui Bronze Heads

The Sanxingdui ruins are the earliest and largest Shu culture site found so far.
Golden Sticks

Golden Sticks

There are also two golden sticks excavated from the Sanxingdui Ruins boasting the earliest pieces in the world.
Bronze Animal Masks

Bronze Animal Masks

Some of the bronze animal masks of Sanxingdui were painted with black glaze on the eyes, forehead and mouth at the time of excavation.
Bronze Holy Tree

Bronze Holy Tree

An amazing bronze holy tree as high as over four meters is also unearthed from the Sanxingdui Ruins.
Human-Head and Bird-Body Adornment

Human-Head and Bird-Body Adornment

The patterns on its wing are quite similar to that in the central land.
Tiger-Shaped Gold Decoration

Tiger-Shaped Gold Decoration

Unearthed from Sanxindui historical site, the tiger-shaped gold decoration holds up high its head and stands erect, assuming a quite mighty look.
Jade Zhang

Jade Zhang

As a kind of Rite ware, it derives its form from such weapons as dagger, tomahawk and qi (a certain kind of axe).
Cattle Bone

Cattle Bone

It notes down the method of recording days using Ganzhi which originated in Xia dynasty and followed up by Shang and Zhou dynasties.
Bronze Mask with Vertical Eyes

Bronze Mask with Vertical Eyes

The bronze mask with vertical eyes is arguably the "king of masks".
Jade Axe

Jade Axe

This is a representative ritual article of the Shang Dynasty.
Jade Battle-Axe

Jade Battle-Axe

The battle axe was a weapon held by ancient rulers.
Tongue-Shaped Jade Article

Tongue-Shaped Jade Article

This exquisite tongue-shaped jade article is a typical sacrificial vessel of the late Shang Dynasty.
Jade Jin

Jade Jin

It's a kind of sacrificial vessel symbolizing the status and position of the owner.
Wheel-Shaped Bronze Ornament

Wheel-Shaped Bronze Ornament

This bronze ornament is about one meter in diameter.
Bronze Openwork

Bronze Openwork

The striking feature of this bronze article is its "S"-shaped openwork design, which is in bilateral symmetry, presenting the smooth and balanced geometric beauty.