Gallery Review:YangShao Ceramic

      The Yangshao culture was a Neolithic culture that existed extensively along the central Yellow River in China. It existed from around 5000 BC to 3000 BC. The culture was discovered in 1921 in Henan Province by the Swedish archaeologist Johan Gunnar Andersson and it was flourished mainly in the provinces of Henan, Shaanxi and Shanxi. The Yangshao culture is specialized in crafting pottery. Yangshao artisans created fine white, red, and black painted pottery with human facial, animal pattern, and geometric designs. Their stone tools were polished and highly specialized. There are about seven ancient Chinese ceramic objects of the Victor Shaw’s collection place in the Museum of Anthropology in University of British Columbia. The Victor Shaw’s collection is placed in the ancient culture area where also placed Korean and Japanese culture heritages. Those seven ceramic objects among the Shaw’s collection are put on the top level of the glass cupboard. Under the soft light spot, the red color looks more shinny and also reflect the good preservation. To many Chinese, collecting antiquities is a means to preserve and worship the past. Staring at Shaw’s collection of beautiful old objects creates a bridge to China’s golden past and antiquities. In addition, his collection of these ancient ceramic objects is a great representation that reflects Chinese cultural value and its long history.