Sanxingdui Bronze

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Located in the city of Guanghan in northern Chengdu Plain, Sichuan Province, Sanxingdui is the ruins of a prehistoric culture dating back 4,800-2,600 years.

 It is considered the origin of the Yangtze River Civilization and an outstanding manifestation of the zenith of Chinese bronze civilization.

Myriad artifacts have been excavated from Sanxingdui, most of which are bronze.

 In sharp contrast to the bronze ware discovered in the Central Plains, Sanxingdui bronze features distinctive local characteristics and a strong flavor of wizard culture, clearly exemplified by an astonishing group of standing human statues and masks.

These cultural relics are evidence of the political and religious power of the Shu, reflecting the spiritual values and social characteristics of the ancient kingdom ruled by religious authority.

This discovery is unparalleled in the world’s history of archaeology.

 The life-size standing figure unearthed from Sanxingdui's No.2 sacrificial pit, measuring 262 centimeters with its pedestal, is larger than any other contemporaneous bronze figure found so far in the world.

Dressed in a dragon robe, the enigmatic character stands on a high base in an awe-inspiring manner. Some archaeologists have asserted the figure's identity as a combination of god, wizard, and king, or the most authoritative leader, symbolizing the highest religious and political authority.  

 

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Designer: Qian Zhe, Zhang Qiang
Printing Process: Offset
Printer: Liaoning Post & Telecommunication Printing Works