Liaoning's Hongshan Culture sites seen as one of birthplaces of Chinese civilization

Editor's note:China Daily launched Vision China in 2018 to play its role as a bridge for communication between China and the rest of the world. Focusing on developments in both China and abroad, Vision China invites well-known Chinese and overseas opinion leaders to give talks and share their ideas on forums focusing on a wide range of topics. In this event on Thursday, we gathered in Chaoyang, Liaoning province, a place where Hongshan Culture thrived more than 5,000 years ago. With the theme "Tracing the Origins of Chinese Civilization and Passing it on to Future Generations", experts shared their thoughts on the inspiration provided by ancestors and called for exchanges and mutual learning among various cultures. Let's hear what they said at the forum.

Liaoning province in July features a vast sky and stunningly verdant fields and mountains. In this beautiful season, we have gathered in Chaoyang, Liaoning, to hold the Vision China lecture themed "Tracing the Origins of Chinese civilization, Passing it on to Future Generations". We will discuss Chinese civilization with its glorious history of more than 5,000 years, feel the magical meaning of Hongshan Culture, and listen to the sounds of civilization from ancient ancestors.

Here, entrusted by Party Secretary Hao Peng and Governor Li Lecheng, and on behalf of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Liaoning provincial government, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all government leaders, guests and media friends; express my admiration to the experts and scholars who have been committed to the exploration, research and promotion of Hongshan Culture for a long time; and express my heartfelt thanks to friends from all walks of life who have always been concerned about Hongshan Culture.

Liaoning has a long history and profound culture. Since ancient times, it has cultivated farming culture, fishing and hunting culture and nomadic culture; witnessed the harmonious co-existence of multiethnic groups; and given birth to the unique Sanyan culture, Liao and Jin culture, and the culture of the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

It is also home of World Cultural Heritage sites including Jiumenkou Great Wall, Wunyu Mountain City, Shenyang Imperial Palace, and Fuling and Yongling Qing royal mausoleums.

Liaoning has a unique Red culture. It is the origin of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and saw the turning point of the War of Liberation (1946-49). It is also the source of the national anthem of New China; a departure place of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea; an important industrial base of China; and the birthplace of Lei Feng's spirit.

Among the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Liaoning, Hongshan Culture stands out with inestimable historical and contemporary value.

In the early 1980s, the Hongshan cultural sites in Niuheliang in western Liaoning amazed the world with their large altars, goddess temples, the stone tombs and large number of precious jade articles.

This great discovery not only expanded the scope of the archaeological study of ancient Chinese history from the Yellow River Basin to the West Liaohe River Basin in the north of the Yanshan Mountain, but also extended the recorded history of Chinese civilization by 1,000 years, providing real archaeological evidence of the over-5,000-year-long Chinese civilization.

The discovery also opened a new chapter in the archaeological investigation of Hongshan Culture and sparked a new surge in interest to study it, which has resulted in new achievements, one after another.

The series of archaeological discoveries including altars, temples, tombs, jade ware, painted pottery and goddess statues have proved that Hongshan Culture had progressed far beyond disparate clans and tribes, and it was the prototype of a country. It shines among the diversified ancient Chinese cultures.

Our Hongshan ancestors worshipped dragons and jade, as well as Heaven and Earth, which had an important influence on the formation of jade culture, dragon worship culture and the etiquette civilization of later generations.

President Xi Jinping has stressed that archaeology is indispensable to understanding the long history of Chinese civilization and the extensive and profound Chinese culture. He has also called for the implementation of major projects such as "comprehensive research on the origins and early development of Chinese civilization" and the establishing of a "modern archaeology in China" with high standards, and stressed a good job should be done in studying and explaining the origin of Chinese civilization.

In recent years, the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the provincial government have attached great importance to the archaeological study, research and publicity of Hongshan Culture.

They have increased investment, improved relevant laws and regulations, held academic activities, strengthened publicity and promotion, and also made great efforts in the application of world heritage sites for Hongshan Culture, together with the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Since 2017, generations of archaeologists in Liaoning have been carrying out special archaeological investigations to further unveil the mysteries of Hongshan Culture. By 2022, the number of Hongshan cultural sites in the province had increased from around 90 to more than 500.

Guided by the important speech made by President Xi and his instructions, Liaoning will make scientific planning and concentrate strength and resources to conduct further archaeological investigation, exploration and interpretation of Hongshan Culture and promote the findings.

The province will also proactively participate in Chinese civilization research projects, promote the joint application of World Cultural Heritage sites, and organize multidisciplinary research.

It aims to expand the research direction of Hongshan Culture, continuously explore the culture's rich connotations and deepen understanding of its cultural value, promote the integration of culture and tourism, and push forward the development of Chinese cultural heritage.

I sincerely hope that the National Cultural Heritage Administration and China Daily give greater guidance and support, and that experts and scholars will continue to pay attention to Hongshan Culture, further clarify the origin and formation process of Chinese civilization, show the evolution process of the diversified but integrated Chinese culture, and promote the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese culture.

Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee, head of the Committee's Publicity Department