Qicun Site

Qicun Site

The Qicun Site is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

The Qicun Bay area in the northeast of Lushi County is an ancient site rich in cultural significance. Located about seven to eight kilometers from the county town, it sits on a high terrace covering an area of approximately 240,000 square meters. Originally the fiefdom and residence of the Flame Emperor (one of the Three Sovereigns), the Chronicles of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors states: “The 13th Flame Emperor, Yuwang (also known as Canlushi), was overthrown by the Yellow Emperor and exiled here, which is why this place is called Qicun Bay.” In 1956, through multiple excavations, expert research, and identification, a large number of stone tools were unearthed, including serrated sickles and other chipped stone implements. Pottery, mainly consisting of red clay pottery, featured vessels such as basins, bowls, and small-mouthed pointed-bottom bottles. The decorative patterns included incised lines and painted designs, with the latter being highly developed. The site also exhibited characteristics of the late Yangshao and Longshan cultures, with pottery fragments predominantly brown, blue, and gray in color. Artifacts included jars, tripods, bowls, cups, and pointed-bottom vessels, often decorated with blue patterns, additional stacked patterns, and very little painted design—similar to the Miaodigou culture. Additionally, a large number of stone and bone tools for production and daily life, along with pottery jars containing cereal seeds, indicate that the foundational agricultural lifestyle initiated by the Flame Emperor Shennong reached its peak in Lushi.

The cultural strata at this site reach a depth of five to six meters, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding red and yellow clay layers. The wealth of artifacts provides valuable data for studying the transition from the Yangshao culture to the Longshan culture. This includes two other sites: the Shilongtou Cultural Site and the Gangtai Cultural Site. (Shilongtou and Huoyancheng were among the oldest cities established by the Flame Emperor and are also regarded as some of the most ancient structures in Lushi. Hence, locals refer to it as Huoyancheng or Lushi City—because the Flame Emperor was the Fire Virtue King, also known as Canlushi; Shilongtou City refers to Shiniannian, the ancestor of the Flame Emperor and an incarnation of the dragon, thus called Shilong.) In 1963, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Henan Province.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units