A towering 3-meter bronze figure offers rare clues to a lost civilization uncovered in Sanxingdui. Its detailed robes, topknot hairstyle, and ceremonial pose suggest a powerful religious leader. Archaeologists believe these artifacts reveal a complex elite class and belief system unlike any other in ancient China.
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TRANSCRIPT
Experts believe Sanxingdui's elite class was divided.
Most wore a braid, but a smaller group wore topknots.
♪ Chinese American Jay Xu, who studies Sanxingdui bronzes, has spent the past 40 years trying to unravel their significance.
♪ -Sanxingdui is extraordinary because it's overwhelmingly striking in its sculpture tradition.
That's distinguished Sanxingdui from any other cultures during ancient China.
-One of the tallest bronze relics is this standing statue, which is nearly 3 meters tall.
The two slots at the back of the head show it once wore a topknot, suggesting he was part of the elite.
-This is one and only full-length bronze figure from Sanxingdui, from ancient times in China and in the world.
-The detail of the clothing on the statue indicates this person was important in the Sanxingdui society.
-You can see those three layers very clearly on the right side of the figure.
The outermost layer of garment, which is a mantle, has four beautiful dragons.
But he is barefooted, which suggests he is standing on a piece of sacred ground.
-With such lavish clothing, this important figure was probably one of the highest-ranking religious leaders in Sanxingdui.
The position of the hand suggests an offering gesture.
Several other statues support this theory.
-Clearly, this figure represents power.
Probably the highest power of the local society.
And he here is in a very ceremonial stance, either making an offering or displaying insignia of power.
♪ -But these statues reveal only a fraction of Sanxingdui society.