Preface

Chapter I: Discovery and Awareness

1. Let's start with the Qianlong Emperor's collection

2. Archaeological discoveries and perceptions

3. Class and society in the cemetery

4. Discovering the vanished kingdom

Chapter II: Religion and Arts

1. Discovery and interpretation of the emblem

2. The gods and birds of Liangzhu culture

3. Liangzhu culture's dragon pattern

4. The transmission and evolution of culture

Chapter III: Power and Faith

1. The wizard's divine crown and comb

2. The jade of the surrender of the gods

3. The scepter of arms and the king

4. Types and functions of jade

Conclusion

Bin Liu, Head of Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and Director of the Conservation Center for Liangzhu Archaeological Site, has participated in several archaeological excavations at well-known sites, such as Fanshan and Yaoshan in Yuhang, Zhejiang Province, and Zhongbao Island in Yichang, Hubei Province. He has also presided over excavations of various Neolithic heritage sites, like Heye Land and Shedun Temple in Haining, Huiguan Mountain in Yuhang, and Nanhebang in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. From 2006 to 2007, he led the drilling survey at Liangzhu site and discovered the ancient city of Liangzhu. His major works include Nanhebang: Report on Excavation of Songze Cultural Heritage (Cultural Relics Press, 2005); Complete Collection of Chinese Unearthed Jade Artifacts, Zhejiang Volume (Science Press, 2005); and Liangzhu Culture: World of Sorcerer (Zhejiang Photography Press, 2007).