Newly unearthed artifacts shed light on social norms of ancient Chu state

Bronze artifacts recently uncovered from the Wuwangdun tomb in east China's Anhui Province have provided fresh insights into ancient rites and social customs dating back over 2,200 years within the ancient Chu state.

The Wuwangdun tomb has been confirmed as the largest and highest-level tomb from ancient Chu state, the National Cultural Heritage Administration said Tuesday.

As a southern state of ancient China, Chu's ritual vessels not only boast unique types and combinations, but also adhere closely to the underlying social rituals and principles of the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 B.C.) prevalent in the central regions of ancient China. This dynamic relationship adds a distinctive hue to Chu's ritual culture.

Among the renowned vessels unearthed in the Wuwangdun tomb is the Sheng Ding, a distinct type of cauldron, with a waist and flat bottom exclusive to the Chu state.

With roots tracing back to ancient China, the Ding vessel has a rich history.  Initially utilized for culinary purposes, it evolved into a central element of ritual vessels during the Shang and Zhou Dynasties (1600 - 256 B.C.).

Functioning not only as a symbol of state authority but also as an emblem of noble status, the Ding vessels varied across regions. Unlike the traditional Ding vessels with a wide body and round base prevalent in central areas, the Sheng Ding of Chu showcased a novel craftsmanship, featuring a unique shape with a waist.

"As we're aware, the saying goes, 'Chu people favor slender waists,' and this aesthetic preference is evident in their significant ritual vessels. So, we can see that the Sheng Ding has a narrow waist. While it draws inspiration from Zhou rituals, the Chu people have transformed the Ding's shape during this borrowing process from the Zhou culture," said Yang Lisheng, director of the Academic Research Center of the Hubei Provincial Museum.

Currently, the earliest archaeological find of a Chu-style Sheng Ding is the Kehuang Sheng Ding, unearthed in Nanyang City in central China's Henan Province, dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). Standing at 46 centimeters tall and weighing 4.3 kilograms, this artifact showcases simple decoration yet embodies the fundamental characteristics of a Chu-style Sheng Ding.

This novel cauldron shape, distinct from traditional ones, reflects not only the daring innovation of the Chu people but also the ancient state’s burgeoning national strength and culture.

Apart from the shapes of artifacts, the Chu people also pioneered their own distinctive blend of different ritual objects.

"During the Zhou period, a typical set of ritual objects primarily consisting of Ding and Gui (round bronze food vessels). However, in the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC), the Chu people began to be different. The Chu people wanted to assert their unique rules distinct from the Zhou dynasty and initiated a new convention by crafting their own distinctive set of vessels. They replaced Gui with Fu (square bronze food vessels), as we see now. Fu was also designed for food storage. The set comprises two identical vessels arranged vertically. Such a relationship of the top and the bottom embodies the philosophical concept of Hundun (chaos) attributed to Laozi (a Chinese sage and founder of Taoism)," said Yang.

Newly unearthed artifacts shed light on social norms of ancient Chu state

Switzerland, known for its pristine lakes and rich tradition of fishing, is facing a significant challenge of plunging fish stocks that could threaten the livelihood of many in the fisheries industry.

In recent years, local fishermen have seen their catches decline drastically, with about 90 percent of the fish consumed in the country now being imported. This shift reflects broader environmental changes impacting Swiss fisheries, and the difficulties local fishermen are enduring are becoming more evident each year.

At seven in the morning, as the first light of dawn begins to break, a handful of fishermen at a dock in Geneva prepare to head out to the lake to check the nets they set the previous day. As the long nets were hauled from the water, the catch of perch was relatively small, but the fishermen were still satisfied, especially since they managed to net two large pike, which would fetch a good price.

Francois Liani, a fisherman of 30 years, said 2024 has been the worst year for fishing with the lowest amount of catch.

"I have never seen anything like this in over 30 years. That's right, 2024 is the worst year in the past 30 years," he said.

Fifty years ago, there were more than 800 professional fishermen in Switzerland. Today, that number has dropped to fewer than 90.

"There are many reasons, but one of the most important reasons is global warming -- it is one of the biggest problems. We have also new mussels that come from the Black Sea on the Eastern Europe that came about five, seven years ago. They have a large impact on the food availability for the fishes," said Maxime Prevedello, communication officer for the French-speaking region of the Swiss Fishing Federation (SFV).

As a result, the growth rate of fish has slowed significantly. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, a professional fisherman was able to catch around 1,000 tons of fish annually. Today, that number has dropped to just around 100 tons -- a mere one-tenth of what it used to be, according to Prevedello.

In the summer of 2024, Switzerland once again endured high temperatures. Native fish species such as perch, grayling, and the Alpine char, which have adapted to cold water, have been particularly affected. According to Switzerland's environmental authorities, 58 percent of the country's native fish species are now classified as endangered.

Swiss fishermen face growing struggle as local fish stocks plunge