美国克利夫兰艺术博物馆藏红山文化牛首玉人

转自 齐云雅集

在美国克利夫兰艺术博物馆，收藏有一件精美的红山文化玉器，暂且根据馆方的介绍称之为牛首玉人。

我们看看馆方的介绍：

Amulet in the Form of a Seated Figure with Bovine Head

Northeast China, Neolithic period, probably Hongshan culture

(4700-2920 BC)

Jade (nephrite)

Overall: 13.2 cm (5 3/16 in.)

Gift of Severance A. Millikin 1953.628

LOCATION

241A Arts of Ancient China

CMA daringly acquired this masterpiece without knowing exactly what it was. Only after Chinese archaeologists started excavating similar jades in Northeast China could it be attributed to the Hongshan culture.

With a bovine head and four horns, this seated figurine was a powerful ritual and shamanic symbol. Drill holes above its shoulders form two interconnected perforations for suspension, suggesting that the jade was originally used as a pendant, presumably by the shaman performing the tasks of journeying to and communicating with the supernatural realms.

直译的话大概是：馆方认为这是一件牛首坐姿护身符，可能是红山文化玉器。长13.2厘米，1953年A.Millinkin捐赠入馆。CMA（克利夫兰艺术博物馆）最初不清楚这属于什么文化类型的文物。直到中国考古学家在东北地区发掘出类似的玉器后，才可以将其归属于红山文化。

这个坐像有一个牛头和四个角，是一个强大的仪式和萨满教的象征。其肩部上方的钻孔形成了悬挂孔，表明这件玉器最初被用作吊坠，可能是萨满祭司执行前往超自然领域并与超自然领域进行交流的任务。

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