A gripping mystery

The bird

One of the few consensuses reached on the Sanxingdui culture is that it worshipped the sun. And one artifact considered central to this belief is a giant 4-meter-tall bronze tree unearthed from the site, upon the branches of which are perched nine bronze birds. (Other bronze trees have also been found, but this is the only one that has been restored so far.)

"A mythic geography book named Shan Hai Jing (The Classic of Mountains and Seas) and dated to before the 4th century BC told about giant trees, upon which sun-carrying black birds reside. Keeping in mind that the words 'Chengdu' appeared multiple times in the book, some have suggested a direct link between the book's description and the bronze trees and birds of Sanxingdui," says Hu.

"There's no denying a bird's place in the cultural and artistic vernacular of Sanxingdui," he says, referring to the many bronze bird sculptures unearthed from the site.

Back in 1986, within the same pit that had yielded the bronze tree — and the grand standing man — archaeologists discovered a bronze bird-man complete with an equine nose, a spread-out tail and talons belonging to a bird of prey.

During more recent excavations between 2020 and 2021, other bird-men were found, one of whom sustains a tall ritual bronze artifact on his head, with his tail dramatically upheld to reach the rim of the bronze.

However, it was the discovery of a small bronze standing man around the same time that had caused a flurry of excitement. Measuring about 20 centimeters high, the man, with similar clothing, facial features and hand gestures, amounts to a miniature version of the giant upright figure, minus the headgear.

Yet, this smaller fellow was holding something: a bird, who had traded its fluffy plume for a more streamlined, easily gripped design, the only whimsical touch of which was a fanciful, ascending decoration on the bird's beak.

"Finally, here's the answer! That was how many people genuinely felt at the time," says Hu, who shares the feeling, if only half-heartedly.

"The smaller figure has certainly provided a key, pointing us in a direction to which little thought had been given previously. But, the discovery has in no way ruled out other possibilities," he says. "In fact, as we speak, a batch of new findings have been made on the site, which hopefully will shed more light on this eternal myth of Sanxingdui.

"Whatever has been, or will be, unearthed from the land always conceals as much as it reveals."

Contact the writer at zhaoxu@chinadaily.com.cn