Abstract

Author:
Jiujiang Bai*, Liyuan Yang

Doi: 10.7508/jra.01.2023.01.20

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

“Bayang Petroglyph C” is one of many ancient petroglyphs in Bayang Gorge, Yunyang Section, Chongqing, Yangtze River. The petroglyph consists of 45 monomers, including rib boats, stags, human heads, wizards, vertical eyes, hoof prints, owl birds, giant fish tails/ladders, sacred trees and pavilion-shaped buildings. Its production methods include grinding, line carving, chiseling, land reduction, etc. Generally speaking, it was carved multiple times between the Xia Dynasty and the early Shang Dynasty, showing the scene of the deceased soul ascending to heaven under the protection of the ancestor gods, divine beasts, and divine birds during the ancient ritual of offering and sending souls, and looking forward to resurrection. “Bayang Petroglyph C” is unique in southwest petroglyphs, and its symbols are related to archaeological cultures such as Erlitou and Sanxingdui, which has important research value.

KEYWORDS:
Three Gorges, Petroglyph, Soul-sending, Shaman