Damaidi (simplified Chinese: 大麦地; traditional Chinese: 大麥地; pinyin: Dàmàidì; literally: Big wheat field), is the location of 3,172 sets of early Chinese petroglyphs, carved into the cliffs which feature 8,453 individual figures. Cliff carving expert Li Xiangshi stated that "The pictographs are similar to the ancient hieroglyphs of Chinese characters and many can be identified as ancient characters," Another expert said "Through arduous research, we have found that some pictographs are commonly seen in up to hundreds of pictures in the carvings," said Liu Jingyun, an expert on ancient Oracle Bone characters. The size, shape and meanings of the pictographs in different carvings are the same." These pictographs may be the origin of Chinese characters.[1]
Damaidi itself is a small village located in Zhongwei in Central China, set amid the Weining Mountains on the north bend of the Yellow River.
Cliff carvingsEdit
The dates of these carvings is uncertain. The latest were made during the Western Xia dynasty (1032-1227). Dates for the first carvings are disputed, with Zhou Xinghua from the Ningxia Museum suggesting a paleolithic date and Professor of Archaeology at the Central University of Nationalities in Beijing suggesting 3,000 years, adding that modern technology was needed to be used to prove any dates.[2] They feature environmental as well as social themes. There are carvings of the sun and moon along with other celestial bodies as well as of people hunting, herding and fighting. Archaeologists believe that some of these symbols (over 1,500) bear a resemblance to ancient hieroglyphs of Chinese characters. If dating estimates of the carvings are correct, this would push back the origins of Chinese writing (previously dated only as far back as the JiaguwenOracle Bone inscriptions found at Anyang) from 1250 BC to 6600 BC-6200 BC.[3]
ReferencesEdit
^. Xinhua. 18 May 2007. Archived from the original on July 8, 2007. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
^"Mystery of Ancient Carvings Lives On". www.china.org.cn. 8 Jan 2005.
^"Chinese writing '8,000 years old'". BBC News. 18 May 2007.
External linksEdit
Cliff Carvings May Rewrite History of Chinese Characters – another copy of the Xinhua article, with images.
October 22, 2023
damaidi, simplified, chinese, 大麦地, traditional, chinese, 大麥地, pinyin, dàmàidì, literally, wheat, field, location, sets, early, chinese, petroglyphs, carved, into, cliffs, which, feature, individual, figures, cliff, carving, expert, xiangshi, stated, that, pict. Damaidi simplified Chinese 大麦地 traditional Chinese 大麥地 pinyin Damaidi literally Big wheat field is the location of 3 172 sets of early Chinese petroglyphs carved into the cliffs which feature 8 453 individual figures Cliff carving expert Li Xiangshi stated that The pictographs are similar to the ancient hieroglyphs of Chinese characters and many can be identified as ancient characters Another expert said Through arduous research we have found that some pictographs are commonly seen in up to hundreds of pictures in the carvings said Liu Jingyun an expert on ancient Oracle Bone characters The size shape and meanings of the pictographs in different carvings are the same These pictographs may be the origin of Chinese characters 1 Damaidi itself is a small village located in Zhongwei in Central China set amid the Weining Mountains on the north bend of the Yellow River Cliff carvings EditThe dates of these carvings is uncertain The latest were made during the Western Xia dynasty 1032 1227 Dates for the first carvings are disputed with Zhou Xinghua from the Ningxia Museum suggesting a paleolithic date and Professor of Archaeology at the Central University of Nationalities in Beijing suggesting 3 000 years adding that modern technology was needed to be used to prove any dates 2 They feature environmental as well as social themes There are carvings of the sun and moon along with other celestial bodies as well as of people hunting herding and fighting Archaeologists believe that some of these symbols over 1 500 bear a resemblance to ancient hieroglyphs of Chinese characters If dating estimates of the carvings are correct this would push back the origins of Chinese writing previously dated only as far back as the Jiaguwen Oracle Bone inscriptions found at Anyang from 1250 BC to 6600 BC 6200 BC 3 References Edit Carvings may rewrite history of Chinese characters Xinhua 18 May 2007 Archived from the original on July 8 2007 Retrieved 8 July 2010 Mystery of Ancient Carvings Lives On www china org cn 8 Jan 2005 Chinese writing 8 000 years old BBC News 18 May 2007 External links EditCliff Carvings May Rewrite History of Chinese Characters another copy of the Xinhua article with images Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Damaidi amp oldid 1168004902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
