Fanshan Royal Cemetery: Pyramid of the East - Paperback

by Xiangming Fang (Author), Lingli Wang (Translator)

Chapter 1. An Overview of Fanshan Site

I. The Construction and Development of Fanshan Royal Cemetery

II. Major Relics from Fanshan Royal Cemetery

Chapter 2. Restoration of Burial Objects and Funeral Rites

I. Restoration of Fanshan M14

(i) Restoration of coffins and burial articles

(ii) Restoration of Burial Rites

II. Restoration of Fanshan M12

III. Restoration of Fanshan M22

Chapter 3. Funerary Objects

I. Pottery

II. Stoneware

III. Jade ware

(i) Ritual Jade ware on Funerary Objects

(ii) Theocracy: Jade Cong and Cong-like Jade Ware

(iii) Royalty: Jade Yue and Other Scepters

(iv) Wealth: Jade Bi &nbsp

Back Jacket

This book outlines the latest research in Fanshan by the archaeologist, a man-made hathpace cemetery, on which is located the inner city of Liangzhu historical site at northwest area. There are 11 tomb locations discovered in Fanshan as built based on mutual dependency while and after excavation and were found continuously more than 1200 pieces (assemblages) of burial accessories, while at least 1100 pieces of jades were among the unearthed items. In view of the above-mentioned background, Fanshan as royal cemetery is well known for the largest number and variety of exquisite highly polished jades. In addition to prehistoric art, the work also explores the traces of Fanshan royal cemetery in conjunction with a substantial number of photos taken by expert of the historical site, restores the crucial burial objects and funeral rite as well as interprets burial accessories in different ways to discover the identity of the tomb's occupants such as social class and status and moreover the interlocking system of an organization.

Author Biography

Xiangming Fang, Researcher at Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, has participated in several archaeological excavations at well-known sites, such as Mingshanhou in Fenghua, Kuahu Bridge in Xiaoshan, Qiucheng in Huzhou, Pu'an Bridge in Tongxiang, and Yaoshan in Liangzhu. He has also taken charge of the compilations of reports on Fanshan, Miaoqian, and Xiaodouli. Besides, he is most famous for his works which include The Real Truth: Animal-faced God (Hangzhou Publishing House, 2014); General History of Chinese Jades: Jades in the Southern Part of China during Neolith Age (Haitian Publishing House, 2014); General History of Chinese Jades: Jades in the Northern Part of China during Neolith Age (Haitian Publishing House, 2014); and Illustration of Liangzhu Jades (Zhejiang Ancient Books Publishing House, 2018).