The Comparison Between Jade Article In Shimao Culture And Erlitou Culture

Jade article, as the most important spirit culture remains in late Longshan period to Erlitou periods, has extremely important research significance to the recovery of development of Chinese ritual system and religious belief in the process of its formation.An overall comparison of jade article in Shimao culture and Erlitou culture will be carried out. The similarities between them are as follows: firstly, both of the two cultures share the same kind, such as jade knife, jade battle-axe, jade shovel, jade tablet、ancient stone ornament; Secondly, the two jade articles both are huge in shape and thin in body;thirdly, both are mainly about partial jade and relief sculpture jade. While the difference also exists concerning the following aspects. Firstly: jade annulus、tooth jade annulus have not been found in Erlitou site and annulus axe has not been seen in Shimao culture. Secondly, the former are mainly jade article decorations while the latter are characterized by turquoise ornaments. Lastly, the number of ritual jade are larger than symbolic jade in Shimao culture,which is contrary to Erlitou culture.Initially, jade articles of Shimao culture and Erlitou culture can be classified into three categories concerning their own shape : ritual jade, symbolic jade and single jade. Then, a comparison of jade in this two period can be implemented. As for the ritual jade, ancient stone ornament in Shimao presents a large number with various shapes, but it is a llittle simple and unsophisticated. On the contrary, Ivory ancient stone ornament Erlitou are small in number with delicate decorations. There is only one Bingxingqi in Shimao culture while it is in great number in Erlitou culture, which occupies the most part. As for the symbolic jade has a uniform shape and form with little difference. It is often decorated by flyleaf tooth, which is similar to bronze in the same period. In the contrast, symbolic in Shimao culture bears more difference and it is scarcely decorated, which shows no regular pattern. As for the last category, single jade, whether in jade annulus or tooth jade annulus gains little attention in their own system. As the new article in Erliyou culture, jade axe shows its development in Erlitou culture. Jade articles in Erlitou culture are gorgeously shaped and decorated, which is related to the technological progress and development of culture transmission. The percentagedifference of Bingxingqi and ancient stone ornament in Shimao culture and Erlitou culture illustrates the concret difference in etiquette. The small species and little changes in Erlitou culture combining with the variety and big changes in Shimao culture may be related to the connected with the uniform etiquette system. Some jade articles such as dagger-axe and battle-axe wait in Erlitou culture are similar to bronze ware of the same kind, revealing that the bronze ware takes the place of jade article and it gradually becomes the implement defending a code of etiquette.