Study On Hongshan Culture

Hongshan Culture got its name because of the excavations of Hongshanhou site in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia. It’s one of the most famous New Stone Age archaeological culture in Northeast of China, and occupies an important position in the origin of Chinese civilization and early social development process. The main distribution of this culture is in the southeast of Inner Mongolia and Liaoxi area 6500 to 5000 years ago.This paper systematically organized the field archaeological surveys and excavations and research materials of Hongshan Culture. To deeply investigate the researching process, characteristics types and stages, the arrangement of settlements, burial customs, sacrifice remains, economic form, original religion, specialization and division of labor in society of handicraft production, social differentiation and hierarchy, the archaeological culture relations between local area and related areas. According to the burial and sacrifice remains of the accumulate stone tombs of upper stage in the Niuheliang site, Xinglonggou site, Nasitai site, Haminmangha site and others, we draw the final conclusion that late period of Hongshan Culture, dating back 5300 to 5000, Liaoxi area was entering the primary civilization society. Hongshan civilization eventually formed and has become an important part of Chinese civilization, has a far-reaching influence on the formation and development of the ancient civilization of the Central Plains region.The Hongshan Culture lasted more than 1500 years, divided into early stage, middle stage and late stages, each stage can also be divided into early period and late period.In early stage, 6500 to 6000 years ago, it on behalf of the Hongshan Culture period of gestation and formation. Low number of sites. The cultural landscape was more reflecting the continuation of local traditional culture in early period of early stage. It absorbed the culture factors in the Central Plains area in late period of early stage, painted pottery began to appear, cultural landscape had changed, and officially formed into Hongshan Culture in Liaoxi area.In middle stage, 6000 to 5500 years ago, Hongshan Culture comprehensive developing, and creating a prosperous period of Neolithic cultural development in Liaoxi area. The site number was increasing, the distribution was dense, the population was increasing rapidly. There are large central settlement, middle subcentral settlement, ordinary small settlement, the distribution of the group is obvious. The structure of the society had changed. The different levels of community appeared in the same settlement. The social stratification intensified. Handicraft production technology and agricultural production technology had been improved. The pottery types and number was increasing. Pottery pattern was rich, the pottery kiln sites distributed in group. Stone processing and the manufacture technology increased significantly, digging tool like stone spade’s improvement was helpful to improve production efficiency. Stone knives with two holes as a major grain harvesting tools had emerged in a large number of, thereby improving farm tools’ functions in agricultural production process for grain planting, harvesting and processing in Liaoxi area. Established the leading position of agricultural economy since the middle stage of the Hongshan Culture. At the same time, fishing and hunting economy of Hongshan Culture period remained very developed. In the middle stage of Hongshan Culture triangular flat and a concave bottom stone arrowheads began to popular, represented the highest level of processing production of microlith in Liaoxi area. This stage prevailed the concept of ancestor worship. Discovered larger number of small pottery portraits, with prominent features of women. The tradition of carving and using jade was continuity. Jade carving techniques improved significantly. Jade dragon in C-shaped appeared. The customs of dragon worship had formed.In late stage, 5500 to 5000 years ago, development of Hongshan Culture entered the peak period. Internal social of Hongshan occured great changes. Hongshan civilization had been formed in late period of late stage. With a total area of one million square meters of ultra large scale settlement had appeared. High grade community had appeared in internal settlement. Social stratification was more obvious. The privileged and the king who was domination had emerged. Niuheliang site main distribution area is 50 square kilometers, and arranged orderly. The architecture was magnificent, including the altar, temple of the goddess and the accumulate stone tombs. Pottery industry is highly developed, in addition to daily used pottery, a considerable number of exclusive pottery for worship. There were big stones accumulated tombs, big subcentral tombs and marginal tombs. caste system had established. Jade became the main funerary objects. Most of the Jade was used by the owner when he was alive. Jade became the the symbol and markers of social hierarchy and status during the owner’s lifetime. It had formed the uniqueness of jade ritual system. Jade carving technology obtained the unprecedented development and progress. It had appeared a number of jade which had clear exclusive function of the device, unique and rich connotation. Ancestor worship, heaven and earth worship, animal worship with the dragon worship as the main line had became a common belief in ancient Hongshan people. Cultural exchanges among different regions had injected new meaning for Hongshan civilization, also expanded the influence.Hongshan civilization formed in the late period of late stage of Hongshan Culture 5300 to 5000 years ago. Liaoxi area formed civilization first, and became an important element of Chinese civilization.