On Majiayao Cultural Painted Pottery

China is one of the world-famous birthplaces of pottery, and the emergence of pottery is seen as a great improvement of human's development, as well as the witness of human's civilization. Pottery is the most important invention of our ancestors, which reflects our forefathers' material and mental world in the long history. Furthermore, the emergence of painted pottery is a most splendid page in China's history, which reflects its profound meaning of Chinese pottery. The painted pottery of Majiayao Culture is renown for its great wonder among all the pottery around the world. These painted potteries are beautifully shaped, bright-colored, elaborately made and specially ornamented. Besides, the varieties of potteries are widely dispersed. Hence, it is undoubtedly a bright pearl in Chinese history.The emergence of painted pottery changes our ancestors'simple way of aesthetic judgment, expressing their complicated appreciation for beauty. Pottery is not only beautiful, but also practical. People draw pictures and carvings on it, through which our ancestors expressed their unique way of aesthetic judgment systematically. Thus, the painted pottery acts like a mirror which reflects our ancestors'strong desire for beauty.We can tell from the archaeological data that most of the painted pottery buried pieces have been found along the upper river banks of Huanghe River. Majiayao Culture has obvious geographical features and its painted pottery is very rich both in quantity and styles. It can be proved through archaeological research that the painted pottery in Yangshao Culture and Majiayao Culture is the most in the area of Huanghe River. And Majiayao Culture is the most representative culture in the upper reaches of Huanghe River. The art of patterns in the painted pottery of Majiayao Culture ranks the highest in the remote ancient culture of China. After Majiayao Culture, the painted pottery declined little by little.The painted pottery consists two parts: the pottery itself and its pattern, which shows the main difference between the painted pottery and the common pottery in its property and function. That is to say, the painted pottery is the unity of daily utensil and handicraft article, the unity of practical function and art. The painted pottery shows us its profound meanings through its different kinds of decoration for(?) combinations. And this essay will focus on the study of the patterns of painted pottery in Majiayao Culture, trying to tell its rich connotations. My study aims at the following four points:...