The Ritualization of Jade in Late Neolithic Loess Plateau with Dr. Tianlong Jiao | Distinguished Lecture & Book Signing

Presented by Dr. Tianlong Jiao, Chief Curator, Bowers Museum

Discover the fascinating evolution of jade in ancient China from personal adornment to powerful ritual object. This talk explores how jade became a bridge between the living and the spiritual world, with a spotlight on extraordinary practices in the Loess Plateau, where jade tools were used to build elite structures and sacred walls. Learn how sites like Shimao and Sanxingdui reveal the rich diversity of jade’s meaning in early Chinese civilizations.

The function of a certain variety of jade objects was transformed in several regions in China since the 4th millennium BCE. From pure decorative jewelry to the agent of ritual ceremony, these jades served as medium to connect the living with the spirits. However, the most conspicuous change happened in the Loess Plateau in the late third millennium BCE, as represented by Lushanmao and Shimao. Jade axes and knives were used in the ritual to build elite buildings and defensive walls, a unique practice among all contemporary societies in Neolithic China. Comparable practice to use jade in ritual activities can also be observed in Sanxingdui, a political and cultural center in southwest China during the late 2nd millennium BCE. The meaning and significance of this kind of practice reflect the diversity of the ritualization of jade in early China.

Purchase the World of the Terracotta Warriors catalog in the Gallery Store and get your copy signed after the lecture!