Worship Of Phoenix May Have Started 7,400 Years Ago In Central China

People's Daily - Xinhua ^ | 2-22-2006

[blam]

Worship of phoenix may start 7,400 years ago in central China

New archaeological discoveries show that the worship of the phoenix by ancient Chinese can be dated back as early as 7,400 years ago in central China.

A large amount of pottery, decorated with the patterns of beasts, the sun and birds have been excavated at the Gaomiao relics site in Hongjiang, Huaihua City of central China's Hunan Province, according to a report by the Guangming Daily.

"The patterns of birds should be the phoenix worshipped by ancient Chinese," said He Gang, a researcher with the Hunan Institute of Archaeology.

The worship of the phoenix, an imaginary totem like the dragon, originated in ancient people's praying for sunshine, rain and harvest, said He.

The phoenix patterns at the Gaomiao ruins were some 400 years older than the phoenix patterns on ivory objects, unearthed from the 7,000-year-old Hemudu Neolithic site in east China's Zhejiang Province.

Archaeologists said they have found a sacrificial altar, the earliest sacrificial site in China, at the Gaomiao site, covering an area of 1,000 square meters.

The bones of dozens of animals including deer, pigs, cattle, bears, elephants and rhinoceros have been excavated from the 39 sacrificial pits at the site.

"The discovery of the altar and phoenix patterns are of great importance to research into the origin of religion and ancient civilization," said He.

Source: Xinhua

[blam]

GGG Ping.

[ARCADIA]

I heard they built and launched the moon 5,000 years ago. (and it was made out of cheese...)

[MrEdd]

Arizona hadn't even been founded yet :)

[D_Idaho]

The down of the Phoenix is most useful. ; )

[ClearCase_guy]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam. Dan Fogelberg ping.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[John O]

Worship of phoenix may start 7,400 years ago

It fits. 7,400 years ago is old and old people seem to worsjip Phoenix. But how did they know that all those retirement communities would spring up so far in the future?

[Graymatter]

How much is that in phoenix years? 15 generations?

[JimSEA]

Interesting post!! We just got back to USA after a short trip which included Taipei and its National Palace Museum. It is worth a trip all by itself!!!!

[blam]

"We just got back to USA after a short trip which included Taipei and its National Palace Museum. It is worth a trip all by itself!!!!"

Hey Jim. I've been wondering about you, glad to hear you're okay.

I was just viewing some pictures yesterday of me at Chan kei check's (sp) palace, in Kaoshoung, when I was there in the mid-'60's.

[JimSEA]

Sightseeing during the day and Beef Noodle Soup for dinner, hard to beat.

[blam]

"Sightseeing during the day and Beef Noodle Soup for dinner, hard to beat."

What a life!!

[S0122017]

Worship Of Phoenix May Have Started 7,400 Years Ago In Central China"

So how it ended up in Egypt? I know chinese traveled but still, how do you explain youre religious believes to someone who doesnt speak youre language?

Paint an image of a bird and burn it and paint it again? Theres something not convining about one origing for the phoenix myth. Unless they knew eachother better than we think.

[S0122017]

Worship Of Phoenix May Have Started 7,400 Years Ago In Central China"
BR<> So how it ended up in Egypt? I know chinese traveled but still, how do you explain youre religious believes to someone who doesnt speak youre language?

Paint an image of a bird and burn it and paint it again? Theres something not convincing about one origin for the phoenix myth. Unless they knew eachother better than we think.

[Hank Rearden]

I can see why it's an icon of worship:

[blam]

"The Chinese dragon is water-dwelling and every once in a while would ascend into the sky. A kind of rain-myth."

I've read that dragons are/were often related to comets too.

[Ciexyz]

We just got back to the USA

Welcome home!

[Ptarmigan]

Lot of interesting archaelogical finds in China.