Professor Lothar von Falkenhausen discusses the artistic significance of stone sculptures from the Shimao site.

Professor Lothar von Falkenhausen, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, delivered a lecture at Wuhan University (WHU) on June 12 to discuss the artistic significance of stone sculptures from the Shimao site in Shenmu, Shaanxi province.

Falkenhausen detailed the archaeological characteristics and cultural attributes of the Shimao site, highlighting the stone sculptures embedded in the walls of the eastern gate of Huangchengtai.

By comparing these sculptures with Neolithic cultures from Northeast China, contemporaneous Eurasian steppe cultures, and Neolithic jade artifacts from central China, he explored the connections between Shimao's stone carvings and the bronze art of the Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties.

He emphasized the continuity of artistic traditions from the late Longshan culture through the Erlitou culture, which continued to influence subsequent civilizations, challenging the notion that Shang and Zhou art styles were novel creations.

However, he also noted that these interpretations are preliminary and require further systematic excavation reports and interdisciplinary research to validate them.

Professor Zhang Changping from WHU’s School of History praised Falkenhausen's incorporation of an art-historical perspective, noting its broad vision and relevance to Chinese archaeology.

He emphasized the importance of understanding the stylistic continuity of Shimao's stone sculptures and their artistic traditions, and integrating this understanding into traditional Chinese archaeological studies.

Falkenhausen is renowned for his extensive research in bronze studies and the social structures of ancient China. Fluent in multiple languages, he has made significant contributions to Sino-American academic and cultural exchanges and is recognized as a leading scholar in the international academic community.