On October 17th, the Yangshao Culture Discovery and the 100th Anniversary Commemoration Conference of the Birth of Modern Chinese Archaeology were held in Sanmenxia City, Henan Province. The conference read out a congratulatory letter from Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
Hu Heping, Deputy Minister of the Central Propaganda Department and Minister of Culture and Tourism, Xie Fuzhan, President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Lou Yangsheng, Secretary of the Henan Provincial Party Committee, attended the conference and delivered speeches. Li Qun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Director of the National Cutural Heritage Administration, presided over the meeting. Chen Xingcan, representative of experts in archaeology and director of the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, made a speech. Wang Kai, Governor of Henan Province, Gao Peiyong, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Song Xinchao, Deputy Director of the National Cutural Heritage Administration, and Li Ya, Mu Weimin, Dai Baihua and He Jin, leaders of Henan Province, attended the conference equally.
Hu Heping pointed out in his speech that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to archaeological work, and has made important statements and instructions multiple times. In particular, the special congratulatory letter sent this time has provided us with fundamental guidance for doing a good job. We must thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter and the important discourse on archaeological work, enhance our sense of responsibility and mission, and shape the correct historical cognition of the whole nation and build a shared spiritual home for all ethnic groups with scientifically credible archaeological achievements; Firmly establish the concept of the great responsibility of protecting historical and cultural heritage, actively mobilize and gather forces from all aspects, strengthen the discipline and team of archaeology, and create favorable conditions for the healthy and sustainable development of archaeology in the new era; Promote the utilization of archaeological achievements, transform them more systematically and vividly into valuable resources that strengthen cultural confidence, and better play the role of educating people through history and culture. Hu Heping emphasized the importance of fully recognizing the significant role that archaeological work in China has played over the past century in showcasing the development trajectory, brilliant achievements, and global contributions of Chinese civilization. We need to increase the intensity of archaeological excavation work, strengthen the research and interpretation of archaeological results, promote the utilization of archaeological results, and solidly promote archaeological work in the new era. We need to improve the policy and regulatory system, strengthen the construction of archaeology discipline, build and make good use of talent teams, enhance scientific and technological innovation capabilities, and effectively safeguard the development of archaeology.
Xie Fuzhan, on behalf of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, extends warm congratulations to the vast number of archaeologists. He said that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter has lofty intentions, profound thoughts, rich connotations, and profound language, fully reflecting General Secretary Xi Jinping’s high attention to archaeological work and his earnest hope and trust for the vast number of archaeologists. Archaeologists should actively respond to the call, consciously shoulder the noble mission entrusted by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and continuously create a new situation for the prosperity and development of archaeological work. Xie Fuzhan pointed out that this year is the centennial of the founding of the CPC, and Chinese modern archaeology has also gone through a century of history, becoming one of the fastest growing disciplines in philosophy and social sciences since the 20th century. Looking back at the century long history, the brilliant achievements of Chinese archaeological work are the result of several generations of rigorous and pragmatic ancient researchers, hard work, dedication, and sweat. We must strengthen the construction of archaeological capabilities, disciplines, and teams, strive to create a new atmosphere for Chinese archaeology and archaeological work, and work hard to realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Lou Yangsheng expresses his gratitude to the central ministries, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and all sectors of society that care about and support the reform, development, and cultural relics work in Henan Province. He said that General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to archaeology and cultural relics work. The special congratulatory letter sent this time reflects the Party Central Committee’s high attention to archaeology work and its warm care for archaeologists. It will surely promote the continuous innovation of archaeology work and cultural development in the new era. Lou Yangsheng pointed out that Henan is a province of cultural relics and archaeology. Starting from the excavation of the Yangshao site, Henan’s archaeological work has ushered in a significant opportunity and achieved fruitful results. On this fertile land, a series of significant archaeological discoveries have been made, important archaeological methods have been developed, the basic temporal and spatial framework of archaeology has been established, and a group of famous archaeologists have emerged, laying a solid foundation for the development of modern archaeology in China and contributing Henan’s strength. Conduct research and interpretation to better trace the roots and reveal the cultural context; Promote rational utilization, strengthen dynamic display, and drive innovative development; Adhere to open cooperation, deepen cultural exchanges, promote mutual learning of civilizations, and gather spiritual strength to accelerate modernization construction and realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Li Qun made arrangements for the implementation of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions in the national cultural relics system. Request the cultural relics department to promptly convey and deploy the congratulatory letter from General Secretary Xi Jinping, effectively understand and thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important statements and instructions on archaeology and cultural relics work, and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s requirements in detail. Strengthen the research on the origin and development of Chinese civilization, based on major projects such as “Comprehensive Study on the Origin and Early Development of Chinese Civilization”, “Archaeology of China”, and national important archaeological sites, expand the breadth and depth of archaeological research, explore the unknown, and reveal the origin. Strengthen industry capacity building and talent team building, support the construction and development of national level scientific research institutions and archaeological institutions in major cultural relics provinces, support more universities to create world-class archaeological disciplines, and promote the emergence and healthy development of talents in the field of archaeology.
The commemorative conference was jointly hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the National Cutural Heritage Administration and the People’s Government of Henan Province. Relevant responsible comrades of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the National Cutural Heritage Administration, the Henan Provincial Party Committee and the provincial government, some responsible comrades of provincial cultural relics departments, representatives of cultural and museum research academic institutions, university archaeology experts, and representatives of the Third China Archaeology Congress attended the meeting. The 3rd China Archaeology Conference and the opening of Yangshao Village Archaeological Site Park were held in conjunction with other events. (Text: Wang Zheng; Image: Lu Xu)