The Liangzhu culture is a late Neolithic culture located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China, which existed about 5300 to 4000 years ago. This culture is characterized by black pottery and polished jade, which was first discovered in Liangzhu, Zhejiang Province in 1936, hence the name. The existence time of Liangzhu culture is about 1300 years, from 3300 BC to 2300 BC, during this period, the production and living standards of human beings gradually improved, and primitive agriculture and handicraft industry began to develop professionally.
The characteristics of Liangzhu culture are reflected in many aspects, the most significant of which is its fine jade manufacturing technology, and the unearthed jade artifacts include bi, cong, crown, jade bracelet, cylindrical jade and jade Yue and other types of ware, showing a high level of craftsmanship and profound cultural connotation. In addition, the Liangzhu pottery also shows exquisite craftsmanship, reflecting the degree of civilization of the society at that time. The Liangzhu culture also exhibited a certain degree of religious belief and social stratification, for example, the jade ritual vessels in its tombs may represent a certain identification of social identity and belief.
The Liangzhu culture is not only the peak of Chinese prehistoric jade craftsmanship, but also an important site for the study of the development of ancient Chinese society. Its discovery and research provide us with a window into the origin and development of ancient Chinese civilization, which is of great significance for exploring the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization. The successful inscription of the Liangzhu Ancient City Site on the World Heritage List further proves its important status as a world cultural heritage.
The discovery of the Liangzhu culture began in 1936 in Hangxian County, Zhejiang Province (now part of Yuhang County), and after several archaeological excavations, a series of important sites were revealed, including the cemetery of the dignitaries of the Anti-Mountain, Yaoshan Mountain, the altar and cemetery of Huiguanshan, and the foundation site of the giant building of Mojiao Mountain, showing the complexity and high development of the Liangzhu culture. The discovery of the Mojiaoshan Palace and its surrounding city walls in 2007 provides key evidence for understanding the social structure and urban planning of the Liangzhu civilization.