On December 14, the exhibition “Vanguard of Civilization: Jade Artifacts from the Lingjiatan Culture” opened at the Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian) of the Palace Museum. The exhibition is jointly hosted by the Palace Museum, Anhui Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism (Anhui Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau), and Ma’anshan Municipal People’s Government. It is co-organized by the Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Anhui Museum, Hanshan County People’s Government, Hanshan County Lingjiatan Site Administration, and Hanshan Museum, with full support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club and exclusive sponsorship from the Institute of Philanthropy.

The opening ceremony was attended by Wang Xudong, a member of the CPC Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the Palace Museum, Liu Yuzhu, chairman of the China Cultural Relics Protection Foundation, Qiao Yunfei, a member of the CPC Leadership Group and deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, Song Xinchao, chairman of ICOMOS China, Yan Yalin, director of the Archaeology Department of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, Yuan Fang, secretary of the CPC Ma’anshan Municipal Committee, Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum, Fan Ronghui, executive deputy director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee, and He Changfeng, a first-level inspector of Anhui Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, as well as officials from the Social Development Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, departments and agencies under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and experts and scholars in the field. The ceremony was presided over by Ren Wanping, deputy director of the Palace Museum.

In his speech, Du Haijiang highlighted General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important statements that cultural relics and cultural heritage carry the genes and lifeblood of the Chinese nation, and they are non-renewable and irreplaceable civilizational resources. The Palace Museum, as a guardian of Chinese civilization, houses 104 jade and stone artifacts unearthed from the Lingjiatan site. This exhibition, jointly organized with Anhui Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and Ma’anshan Municipal People’s Government, is the first time that the excavated jade artifacts from the Lingjiatan site over the years have been displayed together in their entirety. Du expressed the Palace Museum’s steadfast commitment to its mission of “authentically and comprehensively protecting and responsibly passing on the outstanding traditional Chinese culture embodied by the Palace Museum,” adding that it will continue to use exhibitions to better tell the story of China in the new era.

Yuan Fang emphasized that Ma’anshan is a city where ancient and modern civilizations shine together, with the Lingjiatan Culture being especially remarkable. Noting that General Secretary Xi Jinping has placed great importance on protecting and inheriting cultural heritage, Yuan commented on remarks made by Xi during his visit to Anhui in October this year. Xi called for the further integration of culture and tourism, the development of cultural tourism into a pillar industry, the strengthening of cultural heritage protection and inheritance, and the transformative and innovative development of fine traditional culture. This exhibition, Yuan said, supports the implementation of the principle of “protection first, strengthened management, value discovery, effective utilization, and breathing new life into cultural relics”, which will ensure that the ancient Lingjiatan Culture blooms anew with vitality and splendor in the new era.

The Lingjiatan site, located in Hanshan County, Ma’anshan City, Anhui Province, dates back approximately 5,800 to 5,300 years and is one of the landmark Neolithic sites in China. As a crucial piece of evidence for over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, the Lingjiatan site serves as a crucial relic, key chronological marker, and critical region in the formation of civilization in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, providing tangible evidence for research into the origins, formation, and development of Chinese civilization. Since its discovery in 1985, the site has yielded numerous important jade artifacts. As the largest and best-preserved settlement site of its era in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, it stands alongside the Hongshan Culture and Liangzhu Culture as one of the “Three Great Jade Culture Centers” of prehistoric China.

As the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the Lingjiatan site approaches, the exhibition presents 399 pieces (sets) of important artifacts from five museums and archaeological institutions across China. The exhibits include jade, pottery, and bone artifacts. Among the highlights are an engraved jade plate which is rich in philosophical implications, a double-ringed jade bi (a circular Chinese jade artifact) that inspired the design of the medals for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, and a jade tortoise representing nature worship in the Neolithic Age. Many of these invaluable artifacts are on public display for the first time. As a significant Neolithic archaeological achievement profoundly influenced by jade culture, the Lingjiatan site offers new perspectives on exploring the origins of Chinese civilization.

This exhibition, which brings together important artifacts from the Lingjiatan site with both longstanding and recent archaeological findings, presents the “Lingjiatan chapter” of China’s civilizational origin story to the world. The exhibition, themed “Vanguard of Civilization,” is divided into six sections: “Seeking the Heavens and Exploring Origins,” “Axes of Power and Prestige,” “Ancient Hearths of Civilization,” “Divine Shamans and Royal Authority,” “Masterpieces of Craftsmanship,” and “United in Brilliance.” Through an in-depth exploration of the site’s abundant archaeological findings, advanced jade craftsmanship, mysterious religious beliefs, and dynamic cultural exchanges, the exhibition aims to bolster confidence and pride in Chinese civilization and illustrate its continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and peaceful nature.

The exhibition that opened on December 15 this year at the Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian) of the Palace Museum will run until March 16, 2025.