Seeking meaning in the rock art of China – the case of Damaidi and the rivers of sun

Abstract

In recent decades, Chinese rock art researchers have concentrated their efforts on the meticulous recording, analysis and dating of ancient rock art panels. This has helped to shift rock art studies away from the speculative periphery and into the scientific heart of contemporary Chinese archaeology. An unintended side effect has been a dearth of studies that attempt to decode the deeper meanings and motivations behind the art. This paper seeks to provide an example of a place where consideration of meaning and motivation can be both productive and useful. It considers the specific site of Damaidi, in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and seeks, via an analysis of symbolism, to provide us with glimpses into the minds of the creators of the art. It provides a new perspective on Damaidi and why this site became the most engraved landscape in this part of China.

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