Jade Cong

Summary

In this discussion, Dr. Zucker and Dr. Harris explore the origins of history and civilization, highlighting the Neolithic Revolution around 10,000 BCE, which allowed humans to settle due to agriculture and animal domestication. They focus on the Liangzhu culture near the Yangzi River, renowned for its jade objects like cong and bi, which despite their artistic and symbolic significance, remain enigmatic due to the absence of writing in the culture. The conversation delves into the possible meanings behind these artifacts, suggesting they may symbolize power, the spiritual world, or the cosmos, with some scholars linking them to later Chinese symbols.

Takeaways

• 📜 History begins with the advent of writing, marking a distinction between prehistoric and literate cultures.
• 🌱 The Neolithic Revolution, starting around 10,000 BCE, allowed humans to settle due to advancements in agriculture and animal domestication.
• 🌍 The Neolithic Revolution occurred globally in disparate regions, leading to more stable societies.
• 🏙️ The end of the Neolithic period saw the development of early civilizations characterized by cities, farming, and writing systems.
• 🌾 In China, the Liangzhu culture near the Yangzi River delta was particularly advanced, becoming adept at rice cultivation and creating food surpluses.
• 🎨 The Liangzhu culture is renowned for its exquisite jade artifacts, especially the cong, which are square, hollow tubes with intricate designs.
• 🔍 The cong and bi (round disks) found in graves suggest ritual or symbolic significance, though the exact meaning remains a mystery.
• ✋ The creation of the cong required a high degree of skill and precision, given the hardness of nephrite, which was as hard as their carving tools.
• 🔮 The cong's design, with its rectilinear and circular elements, has been theorized to symbolize earth and heavens, respectively.
• 🤔 The Liangzhu culture's artifacts and practices raise enduring questions about power, nature, spirituality, and the afterlife.

Q & A

What does the term 'prehistoric' refer to in the context of the script?

In the script, 'prehistoric' refers to the time before the invention of writing, which is a period that lacks written records.

Why is the Neolithic period significant in the development of human societies?

The Neolithic period is significant because it marks the beginning of human settlement and agriculture, which brought stability and allowed for the development of more complex societies.

What is the Neolithic Revolution, and how did it change human interaction with nature?

The Neolithic Revolution refers to the period around 10,000 BCE when humans began to domesticate animals and cultivate crops, which allowed them to control nature to some extent and settle down instead of living a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

How did the environment after the last ice age contribute to the Neolithic Revolution?

The environment becoming more hospitable after the last ice age likely contributed to the Neolithic Revolution by providing conditions that were more suitable for agriculture and settlement.

What are the hallmarks of civilization mentioned in the script?

The script mentions early cities, farming techniques, and writing as the hallmarks of civilization that developed during the Neolithic period.

Why were river valleys significant in the development of early civilizations?

River valleys were significant because they provided water for irrigation, which was essential for farming and supporting the growth of early cities.

What is the Liangzhu culture, and where did it develop?

The Liangzhu culture is a sophisticated Neolithic culture that developed around what is today Shanghai and the Yangzi River, particularly at the delta.

How did the Liangzhu people's rice cultivation impact their society?

The Liangzhu people's expertise in rice cultivation allowed them to create a surplus, which freed certain members of society to develop in more sophisticated ways, such as creating art and culture.

What are the cong and bi, and what do they represent in the Liangzhu culture?

The cong are square, hollow tubes with decorative lines and circles representing faces, and the bi are round disks with holes in the center. Both were found in graves, but their exact meaning is unknown, as the Liangzhu culture left no written records.

How did the Liangzhu culture's jade carving techniques differ from what was expected given the hardness of the material?

The Liangzhu culture's jade carving techniques were remarkable because they were able to create very fine, precise lines on nephrite, which is an extremely hard material that they理论上 could not carve with tools available at the time.

What are some theories about the symbolic meanings of the Liangzhu jade objects?

Some scholars suggest that the rectilinear quality of the cong symbolizes Earth, and the round interior symbolizes the heavens, the sky, or the sun, possibly linking this Neolithic culture with later Bronze Age cultures in China.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Origins of History and Writing

Dr. Zucker and Dr. Harris discuss the inception of history, which is marked by the advent of writing. They delve into prehistoric times, emphasizing the desire to comprehend preliterate cultures. The Neolithic Revolution, occurring around 10,000 BCE, is highlighted as a pivotal period where humans began to domesticate animals and cultivate crops, leading to settled societies. This period's end, around 3,000 BCE, saw the emergence of writing in various cultures worldwide. The conversation also touches on the development of early cities and farming techniques, with a focus on the great river valleys of Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and China.

🌾 The Neolithic Culture of Liangzhu

The dialogue shifts to the Liangzhu culture, a sophisticated Neolithic society near present-day Shanghai and the Yangzi River. Similar to other ancient civilizations, Liangzhu's location at the river delta facilitated agriculture, particularly rice cultivation, which created a surplus and allowed for societal development. The culture is renowned for its exquisite jade objects, especially the 'cong,' square, hollow tubes adorned with lines and circular representations of faces. The absence of writing in Liangzhu suggests they were either preliterate or used perishable writing materials. The significance of the cong and other jade artifacts like 'bi,' round disks with holes, remains a mystery, with theories suggesting they symbolize spiritual or societal concepts.

🔍 The Enigma of Liangzhu Jade Carving

Dr. Zucker and Dr. Harris marvel at the precision and craftsmanship of the Liangzhu jade artifacts, noting the difficulty of carving nephrite, a material as hard as the tools available to the culture. The fine lines and careful execution of the jade pieces indicate a high level of skill and intentionality. The artifacts' uniformity and clarity suggest they were symbols of power, nature, spirituality, or the afterlife. The scholars speculate on the possible symbolic meanings of the cong's rectilinear and circular elements, drawing parallels to later Chinese bronze age symbols, although the exact origins and meanings remain conjectural.

Keywords

💡Prehistoric

The term 'prehistoric' refers to the period before the existence of writing systems. In the context of the video, it is used to describe the era before the advent of recorded history, which is significant as it sets the stage for discussing the development of human societies and the eventual invention of writing.

💡Preliterate

A 'preliterate' culture is one that has not yet developed a system of writing. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding preliterate cultures to gain a comprehensive view of human history. It contrasts with literate societies that have the ability to document their knowledge and history.

💡Neolithic Period

The 'Neolithic Period' marks the end of the last ice age and the beginning of settled human life due to the domestication of animals and the development of agriculture. The video discusses this era as a pivotal moment in human history, leading to the establishment of stable societies and the eventual creation of writing.

💡Neolithic Revolution

The 'Neolithic Revolution' is a term used in the video to describe the transformative period when humans transitioned from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a settled, agricultural one. This revolution is highlighted as a key factor that allowed for the development of more complex societies and the conditions necessary for the invention of writing.

💡Civilization

In the video, 'civilization' is characterized by the development of early cities, farming techniques, and writing systems. It is seen as a hallmark of societies that have progressed beyond the basic needs of survival to create structured communities and record their history.

💡Liangzhu Culture

The 'Liangzhu Culture' is a specific Neolithic culture mentioned in the video, known for its sophisticated jade objects and rice cultivation. It is situated in an area that would later become part of China, and the video discusses its significance as an example of a preliterate society that achieved a high level of cultural development.

💡Jade

Jade, specifically nephrite, is highlighted in the video as a material used by the Liangzhu culture to create intricate and beautiful objects. The difficulty in working with such a hard material is emphasized, showcasing the skill and artistry of the culture. The video uses jade as an example of the advanced craftsmanship of preliterate societies.

💡Cong

A 'cong' is a type of jade object from the Liangzhu culture, described as square, hollow tubes decorated with lines and sometimes circles representing faces. The video discusses the cong as a symbol of the culture's artistic and possibly spiritual practices, despite the lack of a clear understanding of their meaning.

💡Bi

The 'bi' is another type of jade object from the Liangzhu culture, characterized as round disks with holes in the center. The video mentions these objects alongside the cong, noting the mystery surrounding their purpose and meaning, which is a common theme when discussing preliterate cultures.

💡Symbolism

The concept of 'symbolism' is discussed in relation to the Liangzhu culture's jade objects, suggesting that their designs and shapes held significant meaning. The video speculates on the potential symbolic meanings of these objects, such as representing power or the spiritual world, despite the absence of a written language to provide definitive answers.

💡Writing

Writing is presented in the video as a critical development in human history, marking the transition from preliterate to literate societies. It is seen as a key component of civilization, allowing for the recording of knowledge, history, and culture, which was a significant advancement from the preliterate era.

Highlights

History begins with writing, marking the transition from prehistoric to historic periods.

The desire to understand preliterate cultures pushes the study of history back further.

Society and stability are necessary for the invention of writing.

The Neolithic period starts around 10,000 BCE with the domestication of animals and the advent of farming.

The Neolithic Revolution allowed humans to control nature to some extent for the first time.

The end of the last ice age and a more hospitable environment may have contributed to the Neolithic Revolution.

The Neolithic Revolution occurred globally in areas that were not in contact with each other.

Around 3,000 BCE, many cultures developed writing, a hallmark of civilization.

Early cities, farming techniques, and writing developed in great river valleys worldwide.

Liangzhu culture in China developed sophisticated neolithic culture around the Yangzi River delta.

Liangzhu people became expert rice growers, creating a surplus and allowing societal development.

Liangzhu culture is known for producing beautiful jade objects, specifically 'cong'.

Cong are square, hollow tubes decorated with lines and circles representing faces.

The Liangzhu culture has no traces of writing, leading to theories about the meaning of their jade objects.

The precision and care in the creation of jade objects suggest a deep symbolic meaning.

The hardness of nephrite jade suggests that the Liangzhu people had advanced techniques beyond carving.

The uniformity and intentionality of the jade objects indicate a human mind trying to convey complex ideas.

The verticality and parallel lines of the cong may symbolize power and spiritual concepts.

Scholars have suggested that the cong's design may symbolize Earth and the heavens.

The Liangzhu culture's symbols might be the origin of later bronze age symbols in China.

Transcripts

(jazz music)

Dr. Zucker: Where does history begin?

Dr. Harris: History begins with writing.

That's how we use the term "prehistoric", before writing.

Dr. Zucker: But of course we're not satisfied

with only knowing literate cultures.

We want to push back further and understand

the cultures that are preliterate.

In order to invent writing, you have to have a society,

you have to have some stability.

We find that at the end of the neolithic period.

Dr. Harris: The neolithic period begins

around 10,000 BCE, when we have human beings

who can settle down because they've figured out

how to domesticate animals, they figured out

how to farm, how to raise crops, and that brings

some stability.

They don't have to live

a hunter-gatherer existence anymore.

Dr. Zucker: This is known as the Neolithic Revolution.

Dr. Harris: And it really was a revolution.

It completely changed human beings' way

of relating to nature.

We could, for the first time, control nature

to some degree.

Dr. Zucker: This takes place after the end

of the last ice age and it may have to do

with the environment becoming more hospitable.

We see this Neolithic Revolution in areas

all over the world that were disassociated

from each other.

Dr. Harris: Sometime around 3,000,

many of those cultures also developed writing.

Dr. Zucker: Writing is seen as one of the hallmarks

of civilization and we see the development

of what we recognize as civilization.

That is, early cities, farming techniques, writing,

developing in the great river valleys around the world.

Most famously, in Egypt, in Mesopotamia,

in the Indus Valley, and in China.

Dr. Harris: There are several areas in China

that had sophisticated neolithic culture.

One in particular is called Liangzhu.

This culture developed around what is today Shanghai

and Yangzi River.

Dr. Zucker: Right at the delta of the Yangzi River.

Dr. Harris: Just like Egypt developed right around

the delta of the Nile and ancient Mesopotamia developed

between the Tigris and Euphrates River.

It made sense.

These were places where you could irrigate crops.

Dr. Zucker: In fact, the Liangzhu people seemed

to have become expert rice growers and were able

to create a surplus, which allowed them not to worry

about eating, not to worry about feeding themselves.

It allowed at least certain elements of society

to begin to develop in more sophisticated ways.

Dr. Harris: Liangzhu culture was especially known

for producing beautiful jade objects,

specifically something that we call cong.

Square, hollow tubes that are decorated with lines

and sometimes circles that represent faces.

Some of them are short and some of them seem

to be stacks that are quite tall and we're looking,

actually, at several examples here at the

British Museum.

Dr. Zucker: These were found in graves.

Sometimes there were many cong in graves.

There were also objects called bi.

These are round disks, also with holes in the center.

We have no idea what any of this means.

This is a culture where we have found no traces

of writing.

It's possible that they were preliterate or it's possible

that they wrote on a material that didn't survive,

but the result is all of the ideas that surround

these objects are theories.

Dr. Harris: Because they clearly represent faces,

whether they're monster faces or animal faces

or human faces, this clearly meant something.

Dr. Zucker: And there's a great degree of regularity

and specificity.

Now this jade is true jade, or nephrite,

and it is extremely hard.

This culture did not have tools that were harder

than this nephrite.

That is, they couldn't carve it.

Dr. Harris: You can't incise into it.

You can't take a knife and cut into it.

It's just too hard.

Dr. Zucker: You can't even really scratch it.

So when you look at these objects that are so precise,

it's almost impossible to imagine

that they were produced by rubbing sand.

Dr. Harris: Some of the lines are very, very fine

and run parallel to each other.

It's important to think about the care with which

these objects are made.

Dr. Zucker: They are clearly symbols.

There's a uniformity, there's an intentionality,

there's a clarity, and there is tremendous effort.

Though we don't speak this language, we recognize it

as the product of a human mind.

Dr. Harris: A human mind that was trying

to say something about power, perhaps,

about our relationship to nature,

about the spiritual world, about what happens

after death.

The kinds of questions that human beings ask

all the time still.

Their verticality, the repetition of these parallel lines,

it's hard not to think about these in relationship

to issues of power.

Dr. Zucker: Some scholars have suggested

that the rectilinear quality of the cong is a symbol

for Earth.

That the round interior is a symbol of the heavens,

of the sky, of the sun.

These are symbols that develop later in China

and it's very seductive to link this neolithic culture

with later bronze age cultures.

Dr. Harris: To read that definition back into time,

it's definitely tempting.

Dr. Zucker: It is possible that this is the origin

of those symbols, but we can't really know.

(jazz music)