Chapter 2 Section 2 Colorful pottery painting

If the creators of petroglyphs were still in a state of boundlessness and no design awareness when they painted, then the creators pursued a design with a complete composition when drawing on tangible products such as pottery.Therefore, pottery painting has more artistic characteristics. In the history of primitive culture in the world, my country's pottery occupies an important position.The paintings and decorations on the pottery are colorful, with ever-changing geometric patterns, lively birds, wild deer, strange and mysterious mermaid fish, vivid and graceful dancers, and so on. "Human Face and Fish Pattern Basin" was unearthed at the Banpo site in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, about six or seven thousand years ago.The whole basin is ocher [zhe] color, and the inner wall of the basin is painted with human faces and fish.The human face is round, with a bun and crown on the head, and a small fish is drawn on the left and right ears.Between the two human faces, there are two swimming fishes with simple strokes and vivid lines, forming a balanced and dynamic picture.The academic circles have different explanations for the image of the human face, some think it is a totem mark; some think it is a portrayal of a tattoo;No matter what kind of opinion, it is affirmed that these creations are related to their life of fishing and hunting.The connection between man and fish probably expresses the desire to pray for more fishing.

"Stork [guan Guan] Fish Stone Ax Picture" was painted on a pottery jar unearthed in Yan Village, Linru County, Henan Province.The picture is 37 centimeters high and 44 centimeters wide. It is the largest original pottery painting discovered so far, and it is about 5,000 years old.On the left side of the picture is a white stork standing on one side, with a long beak, tall feet, and a short tail. It is all white and has no outline.A fish is held in its long beak. The outline of the fish is outlined with thick and neat black lines. The fins and tail are painted in heavy colors, and the body of the fish is filled with white.The fish is vertically stiffening its body, but the stork's eyes are wide open, and its body and neck are slightly tilted back, as if it is exerting force.On the right is a stone ax with a handle, which is outlined with thick black lines and painted white in the middle, which looks stable and powerful, and forms a dynamic contrast with the stork's slight backward movement.According to an archaeologist's analysis, this picture may have a symbolic meaning to commemorate the dead on the pottery jar (also called urn coffin) used as burial utensils.This urn coffin is large and special, and the deceased may be a chief of a tribal alliance.It can be inferred from this that the stone ax in the painting should be a symbol of power.The stork and fish may be the totem images of the clan.According to records, in the ancient Central Plains, there were indeed clans with storks as their totems.Although this work is a colorful painting on a pottery jar, it has a complete conception and expresses complex feelings and concepts. Its unearthed work provides extremely precious historical materials for studying the origin and development of traditional Chinese painting.

"Dancing Pattern Basin" was unearthed in Shangsunjiazhai, Datong County, Qinghai Province, about 5,000 years ago.There are three groups of dancers painted on the inner wall of the basin, each group consists of five people, holding hands, with their heads turned to one side, their legs slightly apart, braids on their heads and tail ornaments on their bodies.Due to the direction of movement of the braids and tailpieces, it is evident that the figures are dancing rhythmically.Some researchers believe that this is a joyous scene of primitive music and dance, while others believe that this dance is related to some kind of witchcraft ritual activities.But in any case, it gives us the first glimpse of a primitive dance scene painted by humans themselves.No matter in terms of subject matter or decoration, it is of non-negligible value for the study of primitive dance and painting.