The Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu, China, boasts an array of artifacts that transport us back to the city’s ancient past. Three seemingly ordinary bronze artifacts have become a focus of fascination for many. Originating from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), these relics bear the inscription “Chengdu,” signifying that the name of the capital of Sichuan Province has withstood the test of time, enduring for over two thousand years.
Located on the fertile Chengdu Plain, a region long renowned as a ‘Land of Abundance,’ Chengdu has been a cradle of civilization since ancient times. Its rich soil and temperate climate have nourished a prosperous culture and fostered the flourishing of the ancient Shu civilization. The echoes of this civilization’s magnificence are still clearly discernible in famed archaeological sites such as Sanxingdui and Jinsha.
Today, museums and cultural heritage sites enable individuals globally to witness the remnants of this ancient civilization. A standout example is the “Sun and Immortal Birds” gold ornament excavated from the Jinsha Site. This millennia-old artifact has not only become an emblem of Chengdu’s history but has also been cleverly integrated into the city’s modern urban life.
In the summer of 2023, Chengdu will proudly host the 31st FISU World University Games. The city’s main stadium will prominently feature the pattern of the “Sun and Immortal Birds” gold ornament atop the building. This golden symbol from 3000 years ago, embodying the Chinese reverence for light and symbolizing freedom, beauty, unity, and progress, will watch over athletes from across the globe. Zhu Zhangyi, the curator of the museum, highlighted how this ancient motif aligns with the spirit of modern sports.
Driven by the prosperity of agriculture in the fertile plains, Chengdu evolved into a bustling commercial hub. The revered Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Du Fu painted a vivid picture of Chengdu’s vibrancy, describing it as a “famed bustling metropolis.”
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties (581-907), Chengdu emerged as one of China’s premier commercial cities, experiencing unparalleled prosperity. A key contributor to this prosperity was the city’s renowned Shu brocade. This exquisite textile became a highly sought-after commodity along the Silk Road and earned Chengdu its nickname, the “city of brocade.” This fusion of the city’s rich past and vibrant present positions Chengdu as an enchanting metropolis where ancient civilization intertwines with modern urban life.
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