Transcript

00:03

This mysterious Jade cylinder called song is 5000 years old. These intricately carved objects excavated in Liangzhu are symbolically significant as they extend the span of Chinese civilization from 4000 to 5000 years. After decades of excavation and radiocarbon carbon dating, Liangzhu was designated by UNESCO world heritage committee as a new world heritage site in 2019.

00:53

The discovery of this godlike figure with a feather crown riding a wild beast is found throughout liangzhu culture. This indicates they worship the same deity. Liang Zhu is a civilization on par with the ancient Egypt. When the Egyptians were building the pyramids along the Nile river valley, the Liangzhu civilization was developing a large walled city with the earliest dated water projects, including waterways, dams, canal and a highly sophisticated agriculture. They cultivated rice on a large scale. A storage granary was discovered in Liangzhu that held more than 15000 kilos of rice.

01:44

Liang Ju was a highly organized society. These finely crafted discs are called b. The best ones are made from fine Jade. These mysterious disks along with the Tom cylinders were placed in tombs. The fact that only the highest quality Jade objects were found in the tombs of people with high rank and importance, while commoners only had pottery or stone objects show that Liangzhu was a highly stratified society. Jade is extremely hard and difficult to be carved. It must be worn away with using drills or sores. Jade such as this would have taken a long time to create. How did liang Ju people make these exquisite Jade objects? It's still a mystery. But there is no doubt that these jades carry the power and faith of liang Ju people and occupy an extremely important position in their spirit. The Chinese people's love for Jade has lasted for thousands of years. Jade is strong, gentle and restrained, just like the characteristics of a gentleman.

03:05

Yangzhou is the beginning of Chinese Jade culture. Yangzhou is located 16km from Hangzhou in the northern province of Zhejiang, around Taihu lake near Shanghai. It is said that Chinese civilization stretches back uninterrupted for 5000 years. Now, in the day and age of mega cities and bullet trains. Liang Ju stands as a witness and testament to that.