Liang-chu culture

The Liangzhu culture, flourishing from the last half of the 4th to the last half of the 3rd millennium BCE in the Lake Tai basin, was a significant Neolithic civilization in east China. This culture is known for its wheel-made pottery, often a clay-tempered gray ware with a black skin. They produced distinctive vessel forms, including serving stands and gui pitchers.12

A hallmark of the Liangzhu culture is its elaborate jade work. They created highly crafted jade objects, such as bi disks (symbols of heaven) and cong tubes, which were placed in burials. These jade items suggest a ceremonial function and a sophisticated understanding of craftsmanship. Liangzhu farmers also developed specialized tools, like a triangular shale plow, for cultivating the region's wet soils. Evidence of woven silk from around 3000 BCE has also been found at Liangzhu sites.13