Prehistoric China: Longshan Culture

Longshan Pottery
(Credit: Akorra)

Before the emergence of the dynasties, several cultures flourished in the lands of modern day China. The Yangshao Culture thrived in the central plains, while in the Northeast China, the Longshan (Lung-shan) Culture developed and expanded to neighboring regions.

Excavation

The Longshan Culture revealed its existence during the 1920’s just as the Yangshao Culture also had been excavated. In 1928, Wu Gin Ding discovered the culture in the village of Longshan in Chengziyai in Northwest Shandong Province. Extensive excavation, however, only initiated in 1930 by the Academia Sinica. Soon, additional sites with similar cultures to that in Longshan emerged in the Central Plains of China and even as far as Southeastern coast of the country. The site in Longshan paralleled the Tells of the Middle East where people lived above the ruins of the previous generation or inhabitance.

They flourished from 3,000 – 1,600 BCE along the Yellow River. They practiced agriculture that made them sedentary and settle in a land for generations. Due also to their success in agriculture, their population grew that resulted to migration, thus the culture spread further to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and even as far as Southern China.

Technology

The Longshan Culture exhibited capabilities that went along the trend of the so-called Neolithic Revolution. It meant that the Longshan people practiced agriculture, domesticated animals, and produced potteries. Moreover, they even showed some developments in the use of metals.

The people of the Longshan exhibited developments in the use of copper and bronze that enhanced the strength of their tools. From these metals, they made axes, chisels, and rakes. Metal tools also allowed them to increase their capability in agriculture as well as to wage war – a key development in mankind’s progress.

The culture, however, gained its uniqueness with its pottery. While the Yangshao Culture distinguished themselves with their red potteries, the Longshan did the same with their lustrous black and delicate wares. Their potteries glistened with black while the thinness of the wares measuring less than a millimeter amazed archaeologist. Initially, Longshan pottery lacked color, but with changes in the baking process, the wares became remarkably black. Moreover, the Longshan potters enjoyed the development of potter’s wheel that the Yangshao culture lacked. In addition, unlike the Yangshao that painted their wares, the Longshan made comb marks, incisions, and impressions in the potteries instead. Also they widely incorporated circular bases, tripods, and handles in their craft.

A Longshan Community

Economic and Political developments led to the progress of a typical Longshan community. With agricultural growth followed changes in society and politics. This political and social changes meant conflict for resources that required Longshan communities to be defensive. Thus, alongside the Neolithic revolution, a social development came along.

Development in agriculture paved way to greater progress of mankind. Increase in food production resulted to population growth which led to migration. After few generations, those who migrated had formed their own communities. In times of hardship, communities fought for resources, hence war began. Longshan communities then realized the need to protect themselves and did so by erecting walls. The site in Longshan revealed remains of a rectangular wall that surrounded the community. It measured 450 meters running north to south while having 390 meters length running west to east and soared as high as 6 meters. The Longshan built their walls through the ancient Hangtu technique where they pounded earth layer by layer until reaching the desired height. To further increase their defensive capability, they also dug a moat around the wall, using the nearby river as the source of water to fill the ditch.

Such undertaking, however, also meant that the Longshan began to socially organize. It meant the emergence of a leader to command labor and rationalize task. This led to improvements in infrastructure such as dirt streets and drainage.

On the other hand, the Longshan people lived in a house made of pounded earth – similar to the techniques they used in building their defensive walls. They coated their floors with lime and covered their heads with a thatched roof.

Social Development

Beyond the emergence of a leader, greater social difference also became evident in Longshan culture. Social differences that the people of the Longshan people experience remained even to this day. Divide between haves and have nots and women and men appeared.

The traditional divide between men and women emerged in Longshan culture. Men fought in wars and labored in the fields while women stayed home maintaining cleanliness and order.

Division between the wealthy and poor also appeared. The rich had access to more materials such as in terms of ceramics, than others. In death, the rich laid in rest in a tomb complete with coffin and treasures while the poor contented with a hole. Thus, social stratification began and to last even to this very day.

Economy

Like other Neolithic cultures, the Longshan culture diversified their source of food beyond hunting and gathering. They cultivated millet and rice which they complimented with husbanding pig and sheep as well as raising cattle and chicken. In addition, they also utilized the nearby rivers to fish to add as their source of food.

Religion

Religion and burial practice also showed considerable developments. As stated, burial of rich and poor differed in scale and grandeur. They also used jade as a treasure the rich brought with them to their graves. On the other hand, the Longshan culture tapped into the spiritual realm by practicing scapulimancy or the use of oracle bones in an effort to see into the future. The practice involved the use of animal bones (usually of oxen or horse) and inscribing chants to it which suggested the development of writing in form of square graphs. The bone then went into the fire before being taken out then stroke by a hot chisel or a pick. A priest or a shaman then interpreted the cracks created by the strike to create prophecies. This practice exhibited the emergence of a civilization in its modern sense.

Summing Up

The Longshan Culture displayed humanity marching onwards. They began to show signs that formed the basic foundation of a civilization – religion, social hierarchy, politics, and diplomacy. Though many speculated the Longshan Culture as the legendary Hsia Dynasty, whether yes or not, the culture revealed not just the advancement of Chinese civilization but humanity as a whole where we began to progress from a simple life of sustenance to a more complicated culture. 

Edited on August 21, 2020

See also:
Olmecs: Before the Aztecs and Mayans
Prehistoric China: Yangshao Culture
Prehistoric Japan: Jomon Culture
Prehistoric Japan: Yayoi Culture

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