ROM博物馆文物研究之Jar 陶器：浅析半山段马家窑彩陶的审美文化意义

Analyzing the Aesthetic and Cultural Significance of Ma Jia Yao Colored Pottery in Ban Shan Phrase————Jar(ROM object number 2000.106.1011)

The ceramic jar displayed in the China Gallery of the Royal Ontario Museum is a prime example of Ma Jia Yao Ban Shan prase pottery. Measuring 41.9 x 41.7cm, the jar is adorned with red, black, and white geometric designs. Due to its size and sturdy construction, it was likely used for storing or transporting goods.

This essay aims to explore the aesthetic and cultural significance of coloured pottery from the Ma Jia Yao culture in China's Neolithic Age and Ban Shan Prase. Specifically, this essay will focus on a ceramic jar from the Ma Jia Yao culture, dated to the mid-3rd millennium BCE， which witnessed the emergence of various distinctive pottery traditions, one of which is the Majiayao culture (Li, 2014: 2). It's currently on display in the China Gallery of the Royal Ontario Museum in the Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Chinese Gallery with an index of 2000.106.1011. This essay will provide an overview of the Ma Jia Yao culture and its ceramics, discuss the historical and cultural context in which the ceramic jar was produced, and analyze the object's physical characteristics, decorative elements, and symbolic meaning.

The Ma Jia Yao culture was a Neolithic Age culture that thrived in China's upper Yellow River region from around 3300 BCE to 2000 BCE. It is best known for its coloured pottery, which holds great artistic and cultural value. The pottery from the Ban Shan phase is characterized by intricate geometric patterns and a distinctive colour scheme of red, black, and white. These colours were often used symbolically, representing ancient Chinese gods and cultural traditions. The designs, such as spirals and diamonds, may have held symbolic meaning related to fertility and prosperity, which were essential themes in the Ma Jia Yao culture's agricultural society.

The Ma Jia Yao culture is renowned for its pottery, characterized by using red, black, and white pigments to create intricate geometric designs. In addition, its culture is known for its fine-quality pottery, characterized by its thin walls, burnished surface, and colourful decoration. My example of the ceramic jar displayed in the China Gallery of the Royal Ontario Museum is a prime example of Ma Jia Yao Ban Shan prase pottery. Measuring 41.9 x 41.7cm, the jar is adorned with red, black, and white geometric designs. Due to its size and sturdy construction, it was likely used for storing or transporting goods.

This ceramic jar is made of pottery, a material widely used in Chinese culture for thousands of years. Pottery is produced by firing clay at high temperatures until it hardens, creating a durable material that can be shaped and decorated in various ways. This rare and valuable artifact offers insight into the culture's artistic and cultural accomplishments, characterized by its intricate geometric designs and the use of three-colour pigments. Through typological analysis, scholars have classified this jar as belonging to the semi-mountainous phase of the Ma Jia Yao culture. Moreover, at the site in Tongchuan, Shaanxi Province, China, various similar pottery types have been discovered in different site layers. The pottery types include bowls, jars, pots, and other vessels, each with its unique shape, decoration, and purpose. Through stratigraphic analysis, researchers can determine the relative dating of each pottery type and its association with other cultural artifacts, such as stone tools, animal bones, and architectural remains.

The ceramic jar's intricate geometric designs reflect the aesthetic values of the Ma Jia Yao culture. The bold geometric shapes and contrasting colours create a visually striking design that is both beautiful and practical. In addition, the use of red, black, and white pigments may carry symbolic significance, as these colours are often associated with specific deities and cultural traditions in ancient China. This corresponds to analyzing the pottery's physical properties, such as its mineral composition, microstructure, and firing temperature, to determine its production technique and geographical origin.The stylized patterns on the ceramic jar, such as spirals and diamonds, may carry symbolic meaning related to fertility and prosperity, which were essential themes like fish, birds, and frogs (figure 6). Moreover, the geometric patterns and symbols on the jar convey significant symbolic meanings. The use of contrasting colours, such as red, black, and white, in the jar's design, along with stylized patterns like spirals and diamonds, suggest that the jar was more than just a practical object but also a vessel for conveying cultural and social messages.The colour red, black, and white, particularly, have significant cultural and symbolic associations in ancient Chinese culture:

1. Red is associated with fire, transformation, vitality, and life force; it symbolizes blood as life's essence, representing life's energy and importance in the Ma Jia Yao culture.

2. Black is associated with the earth, the void, darkness, and the unknown; it symbolizes potential for growth, renewal, and fertility, reflecting the culture's connection to the earth and agricultural cycles.

3. White is associated with purity, simplicity, and new beginnings; it represents the absence of colour, a blank slate, and the potential for clarity and renewal in the Ma Jia Yao culture.On the other hand, the stylized patterns on the jar also carry significant symbolic meanings.

The spiral design, for instance, may have been meant to convey the idea of growth and development, as well as the cyclical nature of life. The diamond pattern, meanwhile, may have been told to represent the earth and its fertility, as well as the idea of balance and harmony. Moreover, the zigzag lines represent movement, change, or energy flow, signifying water's importance in agriculture and its adaptability to changes and challenges. Last but not least, symmetry on the Jay conveys balance, order, and harmony; it reflects the natural order of the universe and the importance of maintaining balance within society and nature.

The Ma Jia Yao culture was a complex and sophisticated society that developed its unique cultural and social practices. The use of pottery in the Ma Jia Yao culture was an essential aspect of their material culture, and the jar from the Ma Jia Yao culture Ban Shan Period provides valuable insights into their social and cultural practices (Goldin, 2018: 4). For example, pottery was used for various purposes in the Ma Jia Yao culture, including storage, transportation, and ritual purposes. After analyzing, I also know that the jar from the Ma Jia Yao culture, with its large size and sturdy construction, was likely used for storing or transporting goods. In addition, the complex designs and symbols on the jar suggest that it may have also been used in ritual contexts.

The decoration of pottery in the Ma Jia Yao culture was a highly skilled art form that required significant expertise and knowledge. The use of contrasting colours, stylized patterns, and symbols in the jar's design suggests that it was more than just a useful object but also a reflection of the social and cultural values of the Ma Jia Yao culture.The use of pottery in the Ma Jia Yao culture also had significant social and economic implications. The use of decorated pottery, such as the jar from the Ma Jia Yao culture, was likely an indicator of social status and wealth. The production and distribution of pottery also played an essential role in the economy of the Ma Jia Yao culture.

In conclusion, the Ma Jia Yao jar is a valuable artifact that reveals insights into this ancient Chinese society's social and cultural practices. By analyzing its symbolism, I can understand its significance and pottery's role in the Ma Jia Yao culture, shedding light on early Chinese artistic heritage. The jar exemplifies the culture's unique style, symbolism, and sophisticated pottery. Through various analyses, I can comprehend the role of ceramics in rituals, ceremonies, social status, and power. The jar's decoration carries symbolic significance, with red, black, and white colours and stylized patterns like spirals and diamonds representing fertility and prosperity.

After combining archaeology, anthropology, and art history will comprehensively understand the Ma Jia Yao culture. Examining pottery within the broader context of society and culture, we can gain deeper insights into people's lives in the upper Yellow River region during the Neolithic Age. After research, my understanding of this ancient civilization and its symbolic pottery will deepen, illuminating the complexities of human history and the development of art and culture in early China. Future research could explore relationships between the Ma Jia Yao culture and neighbouring cultures, their influence on pottery-making traditions, and artistic styles. In addition, new archaeological discoveries may provide information about daily life, religion, and social organization.

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