Ancient Sichuan

Treasures from a Lost Civilization

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by Robert Bagley

Princeton University Press

Due/Published March 2001, 359 pages, cloth

ISBN 0691088519

This extraordinary catalogue accompanies a major traveling exhibition of 128 works of bronze, jade, and clay dating form the thirteenth century B.C. to the second century A.D. The majority of these stunningly sophisticated works of art—among the most unusual and spectacular produced anywhere in the ancient world—all come from a startling archaeological discovery made just fourteen years ago at a previously unknown site of Sanxingdui in Sichuan province. The discovery of this Bronze Age civilization fundamentally changes our understanding of Chinese history.

Representing 1500 years of cultural production, these striking objects are extraordinarily varied, ranging from a monumental standing figure and an almost life-size bronze horse to ritual vessels, masks, and bronze heads of fantastic-looking supernatural beings, finely honed jade knives and ritual blades, and marvelous clay statuettes. Most have never before been seen in the United States. The exibition and catalogue represent a unique international effort to continue the study of ancient Sichuan.

Under the leadership of Robert Bagley, an international team of scholars contributes eight essays on the archaeological discoveries in Sichuan, the art historical importance of these objects, and the new history of ancient China they tell. In addition to the essays, there are individual entries for each object, nearly all of which have been newly photographed for this publication.

Ancient Sichuan contributes to a revolutionary change in perceptions of ancient Chinese civilization, providing an unprecedented opportunity to explore the art, material culture, and spiritual life of ancient China.