Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 1, 2023

The Archaeology of Sanxingdui and Ancient Chinese Civilization

SunHua, Huo Wei, Shi Jingsong, Lei Xingshan, Wang Yang, Ran Honglin and Wang Xianhua

Editor’s Note: General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, “Chinese civilization is extensive and profound, and has a long history stretching back to antiquity. It is the cultural identity of the Chinese nation, the foundation of the contemporary Chinese culture, the cultural bond holding all Chinese around the globe together, and it is the treasure trove inspiring cultural innovation.” It is important for us to gain a deeper understanding of the more than 5000 years of history of the development of Chinese civilization, to take the study of the history of Chinese civilization to a deeper level, to promote greater historical awareness and cultural confidence throughout the Party and society, to steadfastly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and to unite and strive for the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Over the past hundred years, China’s archaeological work has made a series of significant achievements in many fields, including prehistoric archaeology and the archaeology of historical periods, which have confirmed China’s million years of human history, 10000 years of cultural history and 5000 years of civilizational history, demonstrating the historical lineage of the origin, development and splendid achievements of Chinese civilization and its significant contribution to world civilization. The site of the Sanxingdui ruins, located in the northwest of Guanghan City, Sichuan Province, was discovered in the late 1920s and is by far the most widely distributed, long-lasting and culturally rich ancient culture site found in the southwest of China. In 2021, it was named one of the “Hundred Top Archaeological Discoveries of the Century in China.” What are the main qualities of the Sanxingdui culture? Where did it originate from? And which culture does it belong to? As a valuable case study in terms of origins of Chinese civilization, cultural exchange, as well as history of cultural development, academic answers to these historical puzzles are of great significance for a more accurate understanding of the historical process and plural development pattern of Chinese civilization and its unique development path in the context of world history of civilization.

To further study and implement the spirit of a series of important speeches of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the editorial board of Social Sciences in China has organized a special issue on “The Archaeology of Sanxingdui and Ancient Chinese Civilization,” to demonstrate the important achievements of China’s archaeology in the past century, explain in depth the rich connotations of Chinese civilization, profoundly reveal the evolution of Chinese history in a more specific and detailed way. We hope that this may be of some help for Chinese archaeologists and scholars to follow the spirit of the General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speeches as guidance, to enhance the sense of historical mission and responsibility, to carry forward the fine traditions of being rigorous and realistic, hardworking and dedicated, and strive to build an archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style and Chinese ethos, for a better understanding of Chinese civilization and Chinese traditional culture, thus to make their own contribution to the realization of the Chinese dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation.