Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum — Guardian of Ancient Shu Civilization
The Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum, a National First-Class Museum, was established to protect, study, and showcase the remarkable culture of Jinsha and the ancient Shu civilization. Its collection includes an extraordinary range of artifacts—gold, bronze, jade, stone, lacquered wood, pottery, and ivory—each revealing the brilliance of a society that flourished over three thousand years ago.
Among its treasures, the Shang–Zhou period “Sun and Immortal Bird” gold ornament stands as the museum’s most iconic masterpiece. With its vivid depiction of a sacred bird circling the sun, the piece brings to life the ancient myth of the golden crow bearing the sun. It reflects the profound reverence early peoples held for the sun and birds, embodying their aspirations for vitality, movement, and the eternal cycle of life.
In August 2005, this emblematic gold artifact was officially designated as the Chinese Cultural Heritage Symbol, marking its significance not only as an archaeological treasure but as a shining representation of China’s cultural spirit.
【Fragrant Osmanthus of Jinsha — 香桂金沙】
In the gentle autumn light, osmanthus blossoms drift through the air like golden dust. Their fragrance lingers softly, reminiscent of the ancient days when the people of Jinsha offered flowers to the heavens in gratitude and reverence.
The gilded petals echo the shimmering motifs unearthed at the Jinsha site—symbols of prosperity, harmony, and celestial blessings. Each tiny flower seems to whisper a story of time: of rituals beneath the moon, of prayers carried by the wind, and of nature’s quiet abundance.
The scene captures the eternal elegance of Jinsha, where the scent of osmanthus becomes a bridge between the earthly world and the golden light of antiquity.
【Pure Rhyme of Jinsha — 金沙素律】
Stillness settles over the land like a breath held in reverence. In this serene moment, the rhythms of ancient Jinsha rise—subtle, restrained, yet deeply resonant. The design reflects a purity untouched by time: simple lines, soft hues, and gold accents that glow with gentle dignity.
It recalls the early melodies of civilization, when people observed the sun’s cycles and the turning of seasons, understanding the world through balance and harmony. “Pure Rhyme” evokes that quiet, primordial grace—an artistic echo of rituals, footsteps, and whispered prayers from a world long past.
In its simplicity lies profound beauty, like a single note that lingers in the heart after the music has faded.
【Water-Moon Jinsha — 水月金沙】
Under the veil of twilight, moonlight dissolves into the rippling waters of Jinsha, blurring the boundary between sky and earth. Reflections shimmer, flickering like pieces of ancient gold hidden beneath the surface.
This design reimagines the spiritual dialogue between water and moon—a theme cherished in Chinese aesthetics. Water carries memory; the moon embodies eternity. When the two meet, they create a realm where time slows and the world becomes a poem.
Within the gilded curves and serene tones, one glimpses the soul of Jinsha: luminous, mysterious, and forever intertwined with the cycles of nature.
【Star-Moon Jinsha — 金沙星月】
Night descends upon the ancient land, and the sky blossoms with stars—bright, distant, guiding. At its heart hangs the moon, serene and golden, much like the celestial motifs that made the Jinsha culture immortal.
The fan’s design captures this cosmic grandeur: stars scattered like grains of gold leaf, the moon glowing with soft radiance, all woven into a composition that celebrates humankind’s earliest fascination with the heavens.
It is said that the people of Jinsha looked to the sky for wisdom—for signs of the seasons, for the promise of fortune, for the rhythm of life. “Star-Moon Jinsha” carries that ancient wonder, reminding us that the universe has always been both our mirror and our muse.
