New books -Yangshao Era- and -Why China- were released in Sanmenxia, Henan
On October 14, in Sanmenxia, Henan Province, two new books inspired by the Yangshao culture, titled “The Yangshao Era” and “Why China,” were officially released.
The Yangshao Village site, located in the Mianchi County of Sanmenxia, is renowned as a “holy land of Chinese archaeology.” Its archaeological discoveries mark the birth of modern Chinese archaeology, and the Yangshao culture, dating back approximately 7,000 to 5,000 years, is the first archaeological culture recognized in the history of modern Chinese archaeology.
At the book launch event on October 14, Wang Renxiang, the author of “The Yangshao Era,” showcased the publication. Both titles were published by Henan Fine Arts Publishing House. “The Yangshao Era” is authored by Wang, a researcher at the Archaeological Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The book is designed to be both informative and engaging, featuring ten chapters, 47 themes, and nearly 200 exquisite images that translate the research findings of scholars on the Yangshao culture into a more accessible format, vividly narrating the history of this ancient culture. On the other hand, “Why China” is crafted by young cartoonist Zhou Fanshu, aimed at elementary and middle school students. This book uses 32 fun themes to illustrate the discovery processes of the Yangshao site and the vibrant lifestyle of its people through visual storytelling.
“I have made numerous pilgrimages to Yangshao Village!” Wang shared during the book unveiling. “In this book, I’ve restructured the insights collected over my extensive academic career, striving to use accessible language to convey engaging and substantial content. My goal is to rekindle public interest in the lives and beliefs of the people from the Yangshao era, which dates back 7,000 to 5,000 years, and to deepen their understanding of Chinese civilization.”
Zhang Huiming, deputy director of the Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, remarked on the significance of comprehensive research over the past century, stating that the Yangshao culture has become a treasure trove of Chinese culture. He expressed hope for more archaeological experts and cultural institutions to focus on the transformation and dissemination of archaeological achievements, providing the public with more professional, vivid, and readable literature and multimedia products.