International Conference explores Hongshan culture's role in Chinese civilization

The International Communication Conference on Hongshan Culture and the "Vision China" event, jointly organized by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, China Daily, the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Liaoning Provincial Committee, and the Publicity Department of the CPC Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Committee, was held on Saturday in Chaoyang, Liaoning province.

Under the theme "Tracing the Origins of Chinese Civilization: Focus on Hongshan Culture", the event brought together professionals in archaeological studies, cultural relics protection and civilization research to share their insights of Hongshan culture, a prominent Neolithic culture known for its exquisite jade. It encompasses today's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Liaoning and Hebei provinces.

Scholars from Liaoning and Inner Mongolia presented the latest discoveries related to Hongshan culture, and the official logo for Hongshan culture was unveiled.

Wang Xinwei, governor of Liaoning province, said Liaoning will take comprehensive measures to better protect, inherit and develop Hongshan culture, so that the precious heritage can shine more brightly in the new era.

"We will enhance our commitment to the cultural mission in the new era, continuously deepen research on Hongshan culture, promote the application of Hongshan cultural Niuheliang site in Chaoyang, Liaoning, for World Heritage Site status and enhance the international outreach of Hongshan culture," he said.

Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said as Saturday marks this year's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in China, hosting such an event in a place where Hongshan culture originated about 6,000 years ago has special meaning.

"The West Liaohe River Basin, akin to the Yellow and Yangtze River basins, stands as a crucial cradle of Chinese civilization. The Hongshan culture cultivated in this place shines like a bright star among the ancient cultures of Chinese civilization, which just like stars shining all over the sky," Qu said.

Qiao Yunfei, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, urged continued efforts to explore the pivotal role of Hongshan culture in the origins and development of Chinese civilization, opening museums and archaeological site parks that serve as symbols of Chinese civilization with global influence.

Bao Xianhua, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Inner Mongolia autonomous region Committee, highlighted the cooperation between Liaoning and Inner Mongolia to deepen understanding of Hongshan culture.

Inner Mongolia will continue to work closely with Liaoning and Hebei to explore the value of Hongshan culture and promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, he said.

Guo Dashun, honorary director of the Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, discussed evidence of cultural communication, noting that the West Liaohe River Basin was a melting pot for East and West Asian cultures, as reflected in Hongshan's jade and painted pottery.

Dennis Schilling, professor of philosophy at Renmin University of China said Hongshan culture is an important part of the "world heritage of humanity".

"It has significance not only for later Chinese cultural history, but also for our knowledge of the cultural and social development of humanity itself," he said.

Scholar Elizabeth Childs-Johnson, a US Sinologist specializing in Chinese art and archaeology, Jiang Bo, professor at the Institute of Cultural Heritage at Shandong University, and Christian E. Peterson, professor of anthropology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, United States also gave speeches on their studies of Hongshan culture and the broader topic of cultural heritage.

Five young people from foreign countries, now based in China, shared their views on how to effectively tell the story of Hongshan culture and better promote Chinese culture during a follow-up roundtable discussion.

"Vision China", launched by China Daily in 2018, serves as a platform for dialogue between China and the world, inviting prominent Chinese and international opinion leaders to share their insights and ideas.