The Kangjia Shimenzi Rock Carvings

The Kangjia Shimenzi Rock Carvings

The Kangjia Shimenzi Rock Carvings is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Kangjia Shimenzi Rock Carvings

The Kangjia Shimenzi Rock Carvings is a rare rock carving depicting fertility worship, both in China and around the world. It is located on the northwestern bank of the confluence of two mountain streams in the hinterland of the Tianshan Mountains, in Hutubi County, Changji Prefecture, carved into the siltstone wall of the Neogene period. The rock surface is flat, situated about 10 meters above the ground. The carving stretches 14 meters from east to west, and...

The rock surface is flat, situated about 10 meters above the ground. The carving spans approximately 14 meters from east to west and over 9 meters in height, covering a total area of around 120 square meters. It features two to three hundred figures and animals of varying sizes and poses. The largest figure is 2.04 meters tall, while the smallest is just 19 centimeters. There are depictions of both men and women, standing or lying down, clothed or nude, including images of male-female couples, double-headed figures, and triple-headed figures. The carvings were made using bas-relief techniques, with the human figures portrayed as having slender faces, prominent brow ridges, large eyes, high noses, and small mouths, giving them an elegant appearance. They wear tall hats adorned with feathers and are shown dancing. A significant number of the scenes depict or imply sexual intercourse between men and women. Beneath these images, rows of small figures are carved, joyfully dancing, symbolizing the desire for fertility and a prosperous lineage. These carvings authentically reflect the communal marriage customs of primitive people who prayed for reproduction and population growth.

Experts have identified these rock carvings as remnants of the Saka people, dating back 3,000 years. It is believed that the carvings were completed during the late primitive society, in the patriarchal clan community period. They serve as valuable material for the study of ancient Xinjiang society.

In May 2013, the Kangjia Shimenzi Rock Carvings were listed as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units