All throughout the lands of Asia, many different Neolithic and Bronze Age cultures grew, flourished and
died out. We are only now getting a good record of these cultures, as archaeology has not been a priority
for most of the governments in this area. However, more and more governments are allowing researchers
to come into their countries to conduct excavations and we will probably soon see an explosion of
information that will change all we know about Asian history.
Already, we know that an ancient “dynasty” of China that was once thought to be purely mythical (Xia)
really did exist. We know that rice was cultivated very early in Asia, but we don’t yet know the place
where rice cultivation began (the location and date changes too often as new finds come to light!).
The cultures seem to be geographically spread apart from each other. They probably had some sort of
trade relations with each other, but for the most part they remained independent of each other. Until the
Shang dynasty in the 1600s (BC), you could not really say that there was one big unified culture in China
(or in any of the other areas of Asia).
Some of the most recent findings (quotes from press releases):
Great White Pyramid located in the Qin Ling Shan mountains in Tibet is the "Worlds Largest Pyramid". It is reported to be about 300 meters
high. Estimates for an age are 4,500 years old. One person reports that there are over 100 pyramids, made of clay, that have become nearly
stone hard over the centuries. Many are damaged by erosion or farming. Most are flat topped, some have small temples on top.
A three-story pyramid dating 5000 years back was discovered in north China's Inner Mongolia Region. This is considered the best-preserved
pyramid built during the Hongshan Culture period that has been found so far, said Guo Dasun, an archaeologist in charge of the excavation.
Seven tombs and one altar were also found on the top of the pyramid. Archaeologists also discovered a number of pottery pieces with the
asterisk character inscribed on the inner wall. The asterisk character is believed to be related to the understanding of ancient people on
astrology. Among the culture relics excavated from one of the seven tombs are a bone flute and a stone ring and a full- sized stone statue of
Goddess unearthed from another tomb.
Archaeologists have found the world's oldest playable flute in China. The 9,000 year-old, 8.6 inch instrument in pristine condition has seven
holes and was made from a hollow bone of a bird, the red-crowned crane. It is one of six flutes and 30 fragments recovered from the Jiahu
archaeological site in Henan province.
Signs carved into 8,600-year-old tortoise shells found in China may be the earliest written words, say archaeologists. They predate the
earliest recorded writings from Mesopotamia - in what is now Iraq - by more than 2,000 years. The archaeologists say they bear similarities
to written characters used thousands of years later during the Shang dynasty, which lasted from 1700-1100 BC. The shells were found buried
with human remains in 24 Neolithic graves unearthed at Jiahu in Henan province, western China. The site has been radiocarbon dated to
between 6,600 and 6,200 BC.
A timeline with some of the cultures (and this is just a few!) that have been discovered in China:
c. 5000-3000 B.C. Yangshao culture
(harvested and wove silk, domesticated pigs and dogs, some lived in round houses built partly in the ground,
some lived in villages neatly built of baked bricks with surrounding defensive moats, pottery was painted in elegant
geometric designs)
c. 4800-4300 B.C. Banpo culture
c. 4700-2920 B.C. Hongshan culture
c. 4300-2500 B.C. Dawenkou culture
c. 3750-1950 B.C. Majiayao culture
c. 3300-2200 B.C. Liangzhu culture
(mortise and tenon joints in wood buildings, fine jade carvings)
c. 3300-2050 B.C. Majiayao culture
c. 3000-2000 B.C. Shandong Longshan culture
c. 2950-2550 B.C. Ouijialing culture
c. 2500-1900 B.C. Taosi Longshan culture
(may have descended from the Dawenkou, produced fine black lacquer pottery using the potters wheel, carved
jade objects, clay drainpipes in one city at least, copper working developed, bones used for divination)
c. 2100-1600 B.C. Xia (Hsia) Dynasty (probably descended from the Longshan culture)
(widespread flooding along the bigger rivers may have led to the demise of earlier cultures)
c. 2000-1500 B.C. Lower Xiajiadian culture
c. 1900-1500 B.C. Erlitou culture
c. 1600-1050 B.C. Shang Dynasty
Chinese legends of their beginnings tell of three semi-mystical beings who taught the Chinese how to be civilized:
Fu Hsi, the inventor of writing, hunting, trapping, and fishing; Shen Nung, the inventor of agriculture and
mercantilism, and the Yellow Emperor (around 2700 BC), who invented government and Taoist philosophy. After
this, China was ruled by Three Sage Kings, Yao (around 2350 BC), Shun (around 2250 BC), and Yu (rule began in
2205 BC). These Sage Kings ruled with perfect wisdom, clarity, and virtue, more than any other leaders in their
history.
When Yu the Great became old, he had planned to abdicate his throne to the worthy Boyi, who had assisted him in
his work of flood control. However, after Yu died, his son Qi, took advantage of his privileged situation and power,
killed Boyi and succeeded to the throne. The hereditary dynasty established by Qi is known as the Xia Dynasty,
which was the first dynasty in China. From that time on a Hereditary System replaced the system of choosing
leaders by merit.
The Chinese call themselves "sons and grandsons of the Yellow Emperor". According to modern archaeological
discoveries, the Huaxia nationality originated in the Yellow River valley. The Huaxia people were the ancestors of
the Han people, the largest nationality of China today (over 90% of the Chinese people). Thus the Yellow River
was regarded as the mother of the Han Nationality and the Yellow Emperor, the father, since he was the ancestor of
the Huaxia people. The Yellow Emperor (2698-2598 B.C.) was one of the legendary sovereigns who succeeded Pan
Gu, the offspring of yin and yang and the creator of the universe.