gems, jade, China, nephrite, archaic jade

This bilingual exhibition catalogue accompanied the 2024 exhibition at the Shanghai Museum East and presents the ancient Shu civilization centered on the Sanxingdui and Jinsha archaeological sites. Through 363 objects from 28 Chinese museums and archaeological institutions—including recently excavated and newly restored material—it examines the development, religious beliefs, political authority, ritual practices, social organization, and artistic achievements of the ancient Shu kingdom. The catalogue is organized around three themes: Tianxing Qiandao, concerning cosmology, mythology, and religious belief; Dishi Kunwu, addressing political power, ritual order, material culture, and geographical connections; and Renhe Mingde, exploring society, dress, ceremonial customs, and cultural interaction. Bronze masks, sacred trees, human and supernatural figures, gold masks and ornaments, jade cong, bi discs, stone sculptures, and other ceremonial objects demonstrate the distinctive imagery and sophisticated technologies of Sanxingdui and Jinsha. Particular attention is given to the continuity between the two sites and to ancient Shu contacts with the Central Plains, the middle and lower Yangtze Valley, the Gansu–Qinghai region, and neighboring cultures. The catalogue presents ancient Shu as an innovative and culturally open regional civilization that formed an integral part of the diverse yet interconnected development of early Chinese civilization.