When ancient ancestors first touched the warm radiance of jade among rough stone tools, a civilization story spanning 8000 years quietly began. Jade has always flowed quietly in the texture of Chinese civilization, from decorative objects to ritual vessels, from divine mediums to symbols of noble character. Recently, the "Jade Culture and Chinese Civilization - Exhibition of Treasured Jade Artifacts from the Chinese Academy of History" opened. Entering the China Archaeological Museum is like encountering a history of Chinese civilization engraved on jade. Here, 155 precious jade artifacts are gathered, including the simple and clumsy jade dagger from Xinglongwa culture, the solemn jade cong from Taosi culture, and the agile jade horse from Fuhao tomb. These artifacts span from the beginning of the Neolithic Age to the Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, and Ming and Qing dynasties, systematically explaining the origin, formation, and development of jade culture in Chinese civilization, and connecting jade and Chinese civilization to form a magnificent scroll of mutual brilliance. When was the birth of Chinese jade culture in the East? Entering the "Jade from the East" exhibition area, visitors can clearly understand the origin of Chinese jade culture. In the exhibition hall, jade rings and dagger shaped utensils from the Xinglongwa culture, dating back about 8000 years, are the earliest known real jade artifacts in China. They witness the crucial leap of our ancestors from "stone making" to "jade carving". In the process of making stone tools, our ancestors distinguished the "beauty of stone" with its tough texture and warm color. About 8000 years ago, the true jade culture of China was formed. At this time, in the Xinglongwa culture in the northeast region and the cross lake bridge culture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, almost simultaneously, different traditions of jade use were bred: jade jue was preferred in the western Liao River basin, while jade huang was popular in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. In the exhibition hall, there is a pair of jade rings from Xinglongwa culture, which are circular in shape with a gap on one side. They are small in size, warm and cute. It is reported that these types of jade rings are often found in tombs, placed next to the ears of tomb owners, and should be the "earrings" of the ancestors of Xinglongwa culture. In addition to being used as a decoration, jade has deeper meanings in the Xinglongwa culture. The reporter noticed that in the exhibition hall, a unique jade pendant was embedded in the right eye socket of a person's skull. After looking at the exhibition board, I realized that this is a special burial custom of "showing the eyes with jade", which was first discovered in Chinese Neolithic archaeology and can be regarded as the earliest evidence of prehistoric ancestors endowing jade with humanistic concepts and religious connotations. About 5000 years ago, the Yujian civilization, jade artifacts were no longer just used as decorations, but also became material carriers for building social hierarchy, expressing identity and power, and communicating with gods and humans in heaven and earth. In the exhibition hall, the jade tablets of the Erlitou culture from 1800 BC to 1500 BC are in the shape of long strips, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, presenting a sense of solemnity and solemnity. Yuzhang is the most representative artifact among the jade artifacts in Erlitou. It is reported that its front teeth may represent the image of a dragon with a mouth open. During the Erlitou Culture period, Yuzhang eventually developed into a core ceremonial vessel representing the identity of the dynasty and the power of conquest. These standardized jade pendants subsequently spread southward, influencing Lingnan, Sichuan Basin, and northern Vietnam, vividly demonstrating the strong cultural radiation of Erlitou as a wide area royal state. Represented by important artifacts such as Yuzhang, Yugui, and Yuyue, Erlitou has established a set of ceremonial systems centered on jade ritual vessels to represent levels and identities, while inheriting, absorbing, and innovating jade culture. At this point, jade spears, jade swords, and other weapons no longer have practical functions, but instead serve as symbols of military command, hierarchical identity, and national etiquette, becoming important tools for strengthening ruling authority. This transformation marks the shift of jade artifacts from primarily serving the worship of gods to becoming material carriers of royal power and aristocratic hierarchy. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the civilization of ritual system gradually matured, and the use of jade objects formed strict norms of ritual system. The ceremonial jade used to worship the gods of heaven and earth, the ceremonial jade symbolizing military expeditions, and the jade used to identify noble status have all been clearly regulated according to their levels. In the exhibition hall, jade weapons such as jade knives and jade daggers from the tomb of Fu Hao in Yin Ruins in Anyang, Henan, were quietly displayed, echoing the identity of the legendary "female god of war". Upon closer inspection, these finely crafted jade weapons are not meant for practical use, but rather serve as symbols of military command and royal authority, vividly illustrating the early national governance philosophy of "national affairs lie in sacrifices and military honors". In sharp contrast to the solemnity and solemnity of jade weapons, there is a lively jade "zoo" in the tomb of Fu Hao: jade bears, jade eagles, jade cows, jade monkeys, jade mantises, jade parrots... Although these jade objects are simple and simple, they capture the dynamic and divine appearance of animals. For example, a jade tiger with two ears folded behind it, a raised back, a slightly upturned short tail, and four limbs bent forward in a walking posture, as if inspecting its territory with great majesty, showcasing the exquisite jade carving techniques of the late Shang Dynasty. Among them, a jade horse unearthed from the tomb of Fu Hao was awarded the honor of living in a "single room" - its jade quality is warm and shiny, its shape is elegant and vivid, coinciding with the Year of the Horse, adding an auspicious meaning. This little horse is also the earliest known horse image in China. In the exhibition hall, the group jade pendant unearthed from Zhangjiapo Western Zhou Tomb attracted the attention of reporters. A long jade pendant made of agate and jade, which was once tied to the waist of an unknown nobleman. It rings with a ding sound while walking, emitting a clear and melodious sound? Exhibition plaque introduction: During the Western Zhou Dynasty, the group jade pendants buried with the tomb were mostly worn by the tomb owner during their lifetime, symbolizing their aristocratic status. At first, the jade pendant was hung around the neck, but it was not until the late Spring and Autumn period that it was changed to be tied around the waist belt. This elegant jade pendant bears witness to the cultural transformation of jade from "serving gods with jade" to "carrying gifts with jade". Since the Western Zhou Dynasty, jade artifacts have been associated with emotions and personality traits, that is, 'a gentleman's virtue lies in jade'. The physical properties of jade are endowed with noble virtues such as benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, courage, and purity, making it a personification symbol of Chinese moral ideals and deeply integrated into the spiritual foundation of the Chinese nation. From the Qin and Han dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties, jade gradually lost its early mysterious and royal colors, evolving from sacrificial heavy objects and grade markings to cultural symbols and spiritual carriers that permeated social life. A delicate and lovely round jade ornament with translucent carving caught the attention of the reporter. The front of this Western Han jade ornament is engraved with a standing unicorn goat, which is particularly special. The goat also has wings and is decorated with cloud patterns, indicating that it may be soaring in the sky. The translucent carving technique used in this jade ornament is a traditional Central Plains jade treatment technique, while the image of the winged goat has a Western cultural color, vividly reflecting the inclusiveness of Chinese jade culture in absorbing the strengths of others and embracing all rivers. At the exit of the exhibition hall, visitors can also experience the mixed reality (MR) interactive experience project "Magical Archaeological Team's Search for Jade". As long as you wear the device, you can become an archaeological team member in the virtual space and "travel" to the tomb of the legendary woman Fu Hao from the Shang Dynasty. In the virtual space, you can also use the "Golden Hand Shovel" to excavate and interact with the "resurrected" Jade Bear, Jade Kneeling Man, and Jade Flying Horse, immersing yourself in the fun of archaeology. It is reported that this exhibition will last until October 31st. (New Society)