Sheng Shuyan from Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins Park
Liangzhu Ancient City, a cultural site of the same age as ancient Egypt, was first discovered in 1936 after being buried underground in the Loess Plateau for over 5000 years. It underwent 86 years of archaeological excavation and 25 years of World Heritage application. From the national to local level, party committees and governments at all levels attach great importance to the protection and management of the Liangzhu Site. In 2001, the Liangzhu Site Management Area Management Committee was officially established. Since then, the committee has always fulfilled its responsibilities, continuously raised its requirements, and promoted the complete and effective protection of the Liangzhu Site with a scientific spirit, a global perspective, and positive actions.
Three years ago, on July 6, Liangzhu Ancient City Site successfully applied for the The World Heritage List. UNESCO commented that “Liangzhu Ancient City Site represents the outstanding contribution of the Yangtze River Basin to the origin of the” diversified and integrated “Chinese civilization, is the highest achievement of rice cultivation civilization in East Asia and China more than 5000 years ago, and is an outstanding example of early urban civilization in the history of human civilization.”
It is the highest achievement of prehistoric rice farming civilization in East Asia and China over 5000 years ago, and an outstanding example of early urban civilization in the history of human civilization
It is the highest achievement of prehistoric rice farming civilization in East Asia and China over 5000 years ago, and an outstanding example of early urban civilization in the history of human civilization
Liangzhu is like jade, and although the rough stone has no light, it has been honed for thousands of years and is gentle and square. The Liangzhu civilization has gone through time and has accumulated a profound cultural heritage. It allows us to know where we come from and where we will go in the vast dimensions of time and space, and also sets up a spiritual banner and guides us in a clear direction in the new journey of struggle.
Exploring the Origin of Chinese Civilization
Throughout the Chinese civilization, one of the core ideas is the “Great Unity” ideology. Da refers to a high degree of national unity. Once upon a time, people recognized that Chinese civilization originated from the Xia and Shang dynasties and established political power in the Yellow River Basin. What is the ranking of the Liangzhu civilization in the sky? In 2002, the archaeological community launched the Chinese Civilization Exploration Project, with the aim of understanding the initial form of civilization.
As a major national scientific research project, over the past 20 years, the Chinese Civilization Exploration Project has focused on four urban sites from 3500 BC to 1500 BC, including Liangzhu in Yuhang, Zhejiang, Taosi in Xiangfen, Shanxi, Shenmu Shimao in Shaanxi, and Erlitou in Yanshi, Henan, as well as other central sites in the Yellow River Basin, Yangtze River Basin, and Liaohe River Basin. It has also carried out large-scale archaeological investigations of the surrounding settlement groups.
The Liangzhu Site, as one of the four central sites for the exploration of the source of Chinese civilization, has undergone multi-disciplinary, multi-angle, and comprehensive excavation and research. Its grand palace and ancient city, complex water conservancy system, developed rice farming, advanced handicrafts, and unified religious beliefs have confirmed the emergence of an early state here.
The Project of Exploring the Origin of Chinese Civilization has clarified the process of the origin, formation, and early development of Chinese civilization, and has demonstrated the civilization history of China for over 5000 years. On July 6, 2019, news came from Azerbaijan that the successful application for the World Heritage Site of Liangzhu Ancient City has pushed the conclusion of the Chinese civilization exploration project to the world stage. This means that Yuhang’s protection and management of the Liangzhu Site has entered an international perspective of fulfilling international obligations and standards.
How to scientifically and effectively protect this treasure and promote the splendid Liangzhu culture is an important issue currently facing us and an important responsibility entrusted by the times.
The successful inclusion of the site of Liangzhu Ancient City in the The World Heritage List is widely recognized by the international community for China’s 5000 year history of civilization. The successful completion of two national brand tasks has also thoroughly established the cultural brand of “Holy Land of Chinese Civilization”.
Cultural relics protection benchmark
All things have their roots, but only know how to keep them.
For many years, the protection work of the Liangzhu Site has always been guided by the principle of “protection first, rescue first, reasonable utilization, and strengthened management”. In line with international standards for world heritage protection, special legislation has been issued – the “Hangzhou Liangzhu Site Protection and Management Regulations”; Planning First – Complete the revision of the “Overall Plan for the Protection of Liangzhu Site”, establishing a more comprehensive legal basis for the overall protection and effective utilization of Liangzhu Site in the “post World Heritage application era”.
The protection of archaeological sites is a global challenge. Adhering to the concept of openness, cooperation, and sharing, on the day of Hangzhou Liangzhu Day on July 6th this year, the Management Committee of Hangzhou Liangzhu Site Management Zone signed a strategic cooperation with the Dunhuang Research Institute, and established the Southeast Branch of the National Center for the Protection of Ancient Mural and Earth Site Engineering Technology. The cooperation was carried out to protect the archaeological excavation profiles of the Laohuling Site and the Nancheng Wall Site, and to repair the surface cracks of the archaeological profiles of the Nancheng Wall Site, Develop a biological disease prevention and control plan and a monitoring plan for the protection of the South City Wall site, providing effective cases for the global challenge of protecting soil sites in humid environments.
Taking advantage of the digital reform in Zhejiang Province, the Liangzhu Site has also taken a big step on the path of digital reform in cultural relic protection: the establishment of the Liangzhu Ancient City Site World Heritage Monitoring and Management Center, promoting the iterative upgrading of the “heritage digital brain” of the Liangzhu Ancient City Site under the background of digital reform. On the basis of being selected as the pilot “unveiling and commanding” project for the construction of “cultural relic safety” application scenarios in the province, The reform project of “Liangzhu Site 5000+Digital Intelligence Application Platform” has been planned, and the protection of the site has entered a new era of “digital intelligence governance”.
Tell the story of Liangzhu well
Carefully guarding cultural treasures and allowing cultural imprints to permeate every aspect of contemporary life.
The Liangzhu Ancient City Site showcases a comprehensive and authentic history of ancient and modern China to the world. It belongs to history, the present, and even more to the future.
On the basis of the archaeology of our predecessors, the Good Management Committee continuously delves into the connotation of cultural values, adheres to putting academia first, deepens academic exchanges, and strengthens social education. Six important archaeological sites including Fanshan and Mojiaoshan in the Liangzhu Site have been selected as one of the top ten new archaeological discoveries in China; The Liangzhu Site has been selected as one of the “Top 100 Archaeological Discoveries of the Century” and excellent projects for archaeological site protection and display (only 5 in China); The Liangzhu Museum has been awarded the titles of National Patriotic Education Demonstration Base and the 9th batch of Chinese Overseas Chinese International Cultural Exchange Base.
The display of civilization in the new era should also have a comprehensive pattern. Adhering to diversity and integration is the essence of Liangzhu Cultural Brand’s continuous success. In the path of showcasing innovative heritage, the Good Governance Commission continuously breaks through inherent boundaries. The Liangzhu Museum presents the value connotation of Liangzhu culture and Liangzhu ruins in a three-dimensional and complete manner through the display method of “exhibition of cultural relics+technological demonstration”. The Liangzhu Ancient City Heritage Park, Yaoshan Heritage Park and Laohuling Heritage Park have been built and opened to the public. By means of environmental remediation, green plant identification, sculpture sketches, digital display and other means of expression, they not only preserve the natural environment of the Liangzhu Ancient City Heritage Site with abundant water and grass, but also solve the worldwide problem of the connotation display of the earthen heritage site.
The promotion of Liangzhu culture in the new era requires efforts in precision and influence. With Hangzhou Liangzhu Day series activities as the core, the Liangzhu Management Committee, in combination with International Museum Day, Cultural and Natural Heritage Day and other important nodes, has created a “1+N” activity system of Liangzhu culture, continued to carry out various external publicity activities, and has appeared in national brand programs such as China Archaeological Conference, large-scale cultural documentary “Liangzhu Civilization” for many times to coexist with contemporary youth through film and television works.
The protection and inheritance of cultural heritage is related to mutual learning among civilizations and is one of the best ways to showcase China. The Liangguan Committee actively utilizes important national strategic platforms and international events in external publicity, integrating the cultural elements of Liangzhu into it, deepening the interpretation of Liangzhu’s cultural values through communication and interaction, and allowing culture to take wings and move from its original place to the world stage.
Set sail for a further journey
History has given us wisdom and enlightenment, while the times urge us to be more passionate, more composed, and to forge ahead and persevere to create a new journey.
In the report of the 15th Party Congress of Zhejiang Province, cultural construction accounted for a considerable amount of space. The report proposes to create a new era cultural and artistic logo, promote high-quality and balanced development of public cultural services, and promote high-quality development of the cultural industry. In the post World Heritage application era, the Liangguan Committee should adhere to building the Liangzhu Ancient City Site into a “pilgrimage site” and “exhibition site” of Chinese civilization that integrates culture and nature, and highlights history and modernity. While firmly safeguarding the safety of cultural relics, it should use “culture+” as the entry point to promote the integration and development of Liangzhu culture and education, tourism, cultural and creative industries, and use the language that the people are willing to accept in a way that is popular with the people, Combining education with joy, we carry out the mass dissemination of Liangzhu culture, vividly telling profound and ancient stories, and making Liangzhu culture continuously become a spiritual force that inspires the Chinese nation to move forward.
Liangzhu Site, as a holy place to demonstrate the civilization history of China for more than 5000 years, should give full play to the powerful function of Liangzhu culture in shaping and empowering the soul in the process of creating a demonstration pilot area for common prosperity. In addition to accelerating the revision of Zonggui and Guangui, it should focus on building a new cultural landmark around “one museum, one corridor”; Establish a display window system for the most valuable Liangzhu Ancient City ruins, including the Laohuling Ruins Park, including the city site, altar, and water conservancy projects; Guided by the cultural industry, we will further promote the public sharing of development achievements in heritage sites. Efforts will be made to explore the cultural connotations of Liangzhu, enrich people’s spiritual life, and empower regional development through cultural empowerment, injecting unique cultural strength into the new journey of “two pioneers”.
The report of the Provincial Party Congress clearly proposes to promote digital reform at a high level and create a highland for digital transformation. A more efficient and precise platform for the full lifecycle protection and utilization of large sites, promoting the upgrading of heritage protection and management levels, and striving to form replicable and promotable new experiences in the protection and utilization of large sites.
The successful application for the World Heritage Site of Liangzhu Ancient City is a “relay race” for better protection and utilization, and the inheritance of historical and cultural heritage. Our generation has a long and arduous road to go. A new journey has begun, and the new blueprint is inspiring. On the new road to the exam, the Liangzhu Administration Committee will focus on the general goal of “the exhibition site of Chinese civilization, the benchmark site of cultural relics protection, the model site of cultural and tourism integration, and the demonstration site of common prosperity”, strive to build Liangzhu Site into a distinctive symbol of the “important window” of Chinese civilization, and strive to open up a new realm of being practical, leading and pioneering, Welcome the successful convening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China with practical actions, and make new and greater contributions to achieving the second centenary goal and realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
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