Treasure of Chengdu-the Sun Bird Excavated in Jinsha
Release Time: 2017-10-24
On Feb. 25, 2001, a piece of mud with diameter of about 10cm aroused the attention of archaeologists on the Jinsha Site at the northwestern Chengdu. Slightly a gold corner showed up under the sun. After removing the soil and packing it with bamboo chips and paintbrush, archaeologists finically got a gold ingot which was unable to tell its type. Further cleaning and soaking in drugs were carried out before the workers unfolded it with tweezers to show its original face. With a round contour, the gold foil consists of two layers processed by hollowing. On the inner layer, 12 rays of the sun are equally arranged and surrounded by 4 birds of equal spacing on the outer layer. Naturally the archaeologists were reminded of the legend of the Sun and the Holy Bird. Therefore, it was named the “Sun Bird”. As measured, the foil weighs 20g, OD: 12.5cm, ID: 5.29cm, thickness: 0.02cm.
An analysis on the traces proved that the Sun Bird was shaped by processed including hot forging, hammering, shearing, grinding and hollowing. Natural gold was hot forged to shape a circle which was hammered repeatedly to make its thickness basically the same. The ragged edges were sheared to make the circle much more round. According to lines (including the sun, its rays and the four birds), the foil was cut, sheared and hollowed.
The sun with 12 rays at the four directions looks quite dynamic as the symbol of light, life and eternality. 12 and 4 are two figures often used in China, for example, the 12 months, 12 animals representing the twelve Earthly Branches, 4 seasons and 4 directions, reflecting how much the ancient people knew about the law of nature. The 4 holy birds flying around the sun are an indication of duration for better life, freedom and union. As a whole, the round pattern is also a mark of union, harmony, tolerance and protection. Designed in a strict manner with flow lines and rhythm, the Sun Bird sees alive that the 4 birds fly around the sun endlessly and full of implications. What is embodied through it not only includes the philosophy and religious thinking and rich imagination of the ancient people, but also their extraordinary creativity and workmanship. It is an outstanding representative of goldware in ancient Shu.
As a key discovery in China in the 21st century, the “Sun Bird” witnessed our efforts on cultural relics protection. On Aug. 16, 2005, it outrivaled the other 1600 competitors and became the logo of China cultural heritage as well as a core element of the city image. Its mystery and delicacy show the intelligence and charms of ancient Shu people, the cohesion and union of traditional national culture. In 2013, “Sun Bird” was listed in the cultural relics forbidden to be loaned overseas and the nine treasures of China. The expert Ding Meng once commented in this way: “as the logo of China cultural heritage, the Sun Bird marks the pursuit of the Chinese nation after light and progression; its traveling in the space with Shenzhou VI has realized the flying dream of China for thousands of years.”
