Hunan’s efforts to explore Chinese civilization
2024-03-18
Key projects promote the high-quality development of archaeological work.
Through the archaeological and protection project of cultural relics, the rich archaeological resources in Hunan will be systematically sorted out, and the protection and display of various projects will be implemented, such as cultural relics unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tombs, important archaeological sites, and historical and cultural landmark buildings in Hunan.
Interdisciplinary research will also be carried out in the field of archaeology to promote the establishment of a world-class archaeological work organization by the Hunan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.
In 2023, the Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Promoting the Protection and Utilization of Cultural Relics in Hunan was signed by the Hunan Provincial Government with the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA). NCHA will further increase its support for Hunan in cultural relics policies and regulations, the construction of archaeological bases, the creation of world-class museums to promote the protection and utilization of cultural relics.
After the Spring Festival, Hunan announced the first batch of provincial-level great sites in Hunan Province, with 17 ancient sites such as the Mawangdui Han Tombs and Gaomiao Site included, and 12 ancient sites such as the Hengshan Kiln Site were selected into the list of cultivated provincial-level great sites, in a bid to promote the protection and display of important archaeological sites.
The Implementation Plan for the Fourth National Cultural Relics Census in Hunan Province has been issued. In addition, Hunan plans to launch the Special Plan for the Protection of Historical Culture and Cultural Relics in Hunan Province in the near future.
Hunan makes more contributions to exploring the origins of Chinese civilization.
The Heiyuling Cemetery in Miluo City of Yueyang City is the largest cemetery of late Shang Dynasty in Southern China. The unearthed bronzeware and potteryware here are of great significance for studying the chronological sequence of archaeological culture in late Shang Dynasty in the east bank of Dongting Lake. The tomb structure has provided important materials for exploring the source of Baiyue culture.
In 2023, the Hunan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and the Archaeological Research Center of the National Cultural Heritage Administration began to jointly build the Hunan Archaeological Base, a project to explore the origin of Chinese civilization. The archaeological excavation and data collection of the Heiyuling Cemetery is the first cooperative project. At present, both sides have planned to cooperate in archaeological projects, scientific research cooperation, co-construction and sharing of scientific research platforms, and talent cultivation.
In recent years, the achievements of the major projects of “Chinese Civilization Exploration Project” and the “Archaeological China” have demonstrated China’s a-million-year human history, 10,000-year cultural history, and over 5,000 years of civilization history. A series of important archaeological achievements in Hunan show the important role of Hunan in the formation and development of Chinese civilization in history. Archaeological evidence shows that Hunan is an important element of the diverse and integrated Chinese civilization.
As of now, the Jijiaocheng Site, Sunjiagang Site, as well as Lijiagang Site in Lixian County of Changde City, the Qixingdun Site in Huarong County of Yueyang City, Heiyuling Cemetery in Miluo City of Yueyang City, Dutou Site in Linwu County of Chenzhou City, and Liling Kiln in Liling City of Zhuzhou City have been included in the two major projects.
Archaeological workers are focusing on the archaeological exploration of agricultural civilization with the theme of the origin of rice agriculture, and carrying out the archaeological work on the origin of diverse and integrated Chinese civilization with the theme of urban civilization in the Liyang Plain.
Cultural relics are better utilized to inherit civilization.
Visitors can buy antique bronze mirrors, Han Dynasty decorative fabric tassel bamboo fans, as well as a wrist bag with a physical exercise chart of Mawangdui, and enjoy the restored dynamic exhibition combining Peking Opera to learn about the Mawangdui Han Tombs in Changsha.
To make people better understand the value of Mawangdui Han Tombs, The Hunan Museum published a series of books about the Changsha Mawangdui Han Tombs and showcased cultural relics information, existing research results, and the latest research results of the Mawangdui Han Tombs through 80 to 100 volumes of books.
As of the end of December 2023, 134 cultural and creative products and 15 digital products related to the Mawangdui Han Tombs have been developed, with a sales revenue of 6.4346 million yuan.
At present, the Phase II of the protection project for the Mawangdui Han Tombs, located in the Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital, is under construction and is expected to reopen in April this year.
On the premise of ensuring the safety of cultural relics, Hunan makes efforts to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional Chinese culture.
Bamboo slips are an important carrier of excellent traditional Chinese culture, and the number of bamboo slips unearthed in Hunan ranks first in the country.
The image data collection and decolorization as well as dehydration protection of more than 15,000 bamboo slips unearthed from the Rabbit Mountain Site in Yiyang City have been completed. The Western Han Dynasty Bamboo Slips from Seventh Well of Yiyang Rabbit Mountain and Excavation Report on Ninth Well of Yiyang Rabbit Mountain have been published.
More than 8,000 Wu bamboo slips from the Ancient Dutou Town in Linwu have been cleaned, and the image data collection of more than 2,000 have been completed.
The sorting and protection work of Chu bamboo slips in Sanyanjing of Xiangxiang City, Xiangtan City has begun. Text interpretation and collection of graphic data about the first batch of 1,000 bamboo slips are currently underway.
Special funds of 63.73 million yuan have been invested to promote the construction of 22 projects, including the Phase I of the environmental improvement and protection facilities construction at the Changsha Tongguan Kiln Site and the exhibition project of the Longshan Liye Ancient Town Site.
Besides, special funds of 139 million yuan were invested for 68 projects in key areas such as traditional villages, Confucian temples, academies, ancestral temples, stone carvings, wind and rain bridges, and world cultural heritage sites.
These measures aim to explore the origin of Chinese civilization and continue the historical context.
