The Sanxingdui and Jinsha Artifacts Make Their Debut in Ningbo

The bronze head of a human figure from Sanxingdui. (Huang Yinfen, Photographer)

The eye-catching high-nosed bronze human head from Sanxingdui is mysterious and fierce in its beauty; the curving Jinsha golden human head is abstract and profound in its beauty; the slender and symmetrical bronze sword from the Warring States period is sharp and simple in its beauty; the realistic bronze storage vessel from the ancient Dian Kingdom vividly represents the richness of beauty...

On July 22, the Ningbo Museum opened the “Jijin Wanli - Southwest China Bronze Civilization Exhibition,” where visitors saw the exhibition already set up. The exhibition, located in the East Special Exhibition Hall on the first floor of Ningbo Museum, gathers 165 pieces (sets) of fine artifacts from 17 cultural institutions in Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi. The exhibition focuses on the “Jijin” bronze artifacts, and also showcases jade, gold, pottery, and other types of cultural relics, offering a vivid and comprehensive presentation of the splendid bronze civilization in Southwest China from the Shang Dynasty to the Han Dynasty.

Southwest China, a multi-ethnic region, has a unique geographical position where the civilizations of the upper Yangtze River, the Central Plains, Southeast Asia, and even South Asia converge and merge, giving birth to either magnificent, mystical, or colorful bronze cultures. The three core areas of the exhibition, divided by geography, include Sichuan-Chongqing, Yunnan, and Guizhou-Guangxi. The first part showcases the ancient Shu civilization, represented by the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites. The second part highlights the distinctive religious and aesthetic artifacts of Dian culture. The third part presents the sophisticated and inclusive bronze artifacts from Guizhou and Guangxi.

From Legends to History: The Amazing Discovery of Bashu Bronze Artifacts

Upon entering the exhibition hall, the first artifact to catch the eye is an open display of a bronze human head, excavated from the No. 2 sacrificial pit at the Sanxingdui site, one of the most representative discoveries of Sanxingdui.

Behind it is a bronze medium-sized mask measuring 37.5 cm in length. Both the human head and the mask feature protruding large eyes, alien-like ears, high nose bridges, and wide lips with a cartoon-like smile. This form, never seen in the Central Plains, has sparked countless speculations and continues to intrigue and puzzle scholars to this day.

The exhibition displays 18 artifacts from the Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan, Sichuan, including the bronze human head and mask, as well as bronze eye-shaped objects, copper eyes, a ceramic bird-headed spoon handle, fish-shaped gold foil ornaments, jade artifacts, and others, reflecting the beliefs and worship of ancient Shu.

As Li Bai's “Shu Dao Nan” describes, “The country’s great matters are in sacrifice and war.” The mythical and historical aspects of ancient Shu, shrouded in mystery, have shocked the world through continuous archaeological discoveries.

Among the 39 artifacts displayed from the Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum, visitors can view exquisitely crafted gold foil ornaments, copper disks with collars, jade bi discs, practical weapons from the Spring and Autumn to Warring States periods, and more. One notable item is a crescent-shaped bronze seal from the Warring States period, about the size of a thumb, engraved with patterns of tree branches, hearts, and triangles—referred to as “Bashu symbols.” Various images and symbols appear on Bashu artifacts from the Spring and Autumn to Warring States periods, raising questions about their meaning and whether they replaced written language.

The discovery of Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites has not only reconstructed the cultural landscape of China's Bronze Age but also confirmed that, 3,000 years ago, the upper Yangtze River was home to a relatively independent regional civilization. “The mystery of these discoveries is captivating. Visitors will feel the shock of ancient civilizations and the joy of exploring the unknown,” said Xu Qin, deputy director of the Collection and Research Department at the Ningbo Museum.

From Sacred Sacrifice to Daily Life: The Transformation and Fusion of Ancient Culture

Continuing through the exhibition's narrative path, visitors are introduced to the rich and diverse bronze culture of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi. Yunnan's bronze culture began in the Xia and Shang Dynasties and reached its peak in the Western Han period, with the most concentrated archaeological discoveries in central Yunnan. “The country’s great matters are in sacrifice and war”—the exhibition displays many bronze artifacts from Jinming Shizhishan, Jiangchuan Lijiashan, and other sites, including copper swords, spears, and ceremonial bronze vessels.

One such item is the “storage vessel” used by the ancient Dian people to store seashells, acting as a kind of “piggy bank.” Its lid features vividly sculpted figures that depict sacrificial rituals and seed-planting ceremonies, serving as miniature “histories” recording important societal events.

Among the many significant artifacts from Guizhou in the exhibition are curved bronze weapons from the Warring States, as well as unique sheep-horned bronze bells from Guangxi, representing the regional characteristics of these cultures.

The diverse cultural influences in the Qianguang region have given rise to a distinct bronze culture, which retains local traditions while integrating the finest elements of surrounding cultures, showcasing remarkable cultural inclusivity and creativity.