At 0:00 on April 15, the School of Archaeology, Culture and Museums of Peking University released an obituary: Mr. Yan Wenming, a member of the Communist Party of China, a famous archaeologist, and a senior professor of philosophy and social sciences at Peking University, died at 20:13 on April 14, 2024 in Beijing at the age of 92.
Mr. Yan Wenming was born in Huarong, Hunan Province in October 1932, graduated from the Department of History of Peking University in September 1958, majored in archaeology and stayed on to teach, was promoted to professor in December 1986, was hired as a doctoral supervisor by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council in 1990, and was hired as a senior professor of philosophy and social sciences at Peking University in 2005. He used to be the head of the Department of Archaeology of Peking University, a member of the Academic Committee of Peking University, a member of the expert group of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the vice chairman of the Archaeological Society of China, a standing committee member of the International Union of Prehistory and Protohistoriography, and a corresponding member of the German Institute of Archaeology.
Mr. Yan Wenming is the main designer and leader of the archaeology discipline and talent training system of Peking University, the founder of the Neolithic archaeology discipline system in China, the leader of the development of archaeology in China, the thinker of Chinese archaeology and cultural heritage protection, and an outstanding archaeological educator.
The obituary said that the death of the gentleman was a great loss to Peking University and a great loss to the cause of Chinese archaeology. I would like to express my deepest condolences on the passing of my husband!
Laid Yangshao archaeology and Neolithic age
Archaeological system
Starting from the excellent research of Yangshao culture, Yan Wenming made a comprehensive and in-depth investigation of the Neolithic period in the whole country, and established the chronological and genealogical framework of Chinese Neolithic culture.
On the basis of analyzing and studying a large number of archaeological data, he summarized the cultural development genealogy of the Neolithic in China into four stages of development: early, middle, late and "copper-stone era", tracing the tradition of the Paleolithic Age and the bronze civilization of the Xia, Shang and third dynasties, which is integrated with the historical pattern of China's social development, and has contributed to the establishment of the archaeological system of the Neolithic in China, which has influenced it to this day.
Mr. Yan Wenming is on the front line of field archaeology
The poetic theory of "double-petaled flowers".
The code of Chinese civilization that continues to this day
He used the speculation of a philosopher and the vision of a poet to gain insight into the structural beauty of China's prehistoric civilization, put forward the thesis of "double-petaled flowers", and told the code of Chinese civilization that has continued to this day.
This is from a paper submitted by Yan Wenming in June 1986 for the International Symposium on "General Principles of Ancient Chinese History and Social Sciences". "From the time I thought about this structure to the time I finally preached it, it didn't take more than a month. In this paper, China's Neolithic culture is described as a giant double-petaled flower, with the Central Plains cultural area being the center of the flower, the surrounding Ganqing, Shandong, Yanliao, the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and the Jiangsu-Zhejiang cultural area being the first layer of petals, and the outer cultural area being the second layer of petals. The Central Plains Cultural Zone is located in the center of the flower, playing a central role in connecting the cultural districts, and also radiating culture to the surrounding cultural districts, while the peripheral cultural districts maintain their own vitality......
Promote the internationalization of Chinese archaeology
Received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Forum on Archaeology
He advocated a multidisciplinary research method combining archaeology and natural sciences, and spared no effort to promote the internationalization of Chinese archaeology, and was an important leader in the development of archaeology in China.
On December 15, 2023, at the "Fifth World Archaeological Forum" held in Shanghai, Yan Wenming was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award is the highest honour bestowed by the World Forum on Archaeology and recognizes scholars who are globally acclaimed, accomplished and have had a broad and far-reaching impact on the field of archaeology. Previous sessions have been conferred on Lord Colin Renfrejou, Professor Brian Fagan, and Academician Jane White. Yan Wenming is the first Chinese archaeologist to receive the award.
Yan Wenming's handwritten acceptance speech: "Thank you for giving me a high honor, I am just diligent in farming, not caring about the harvest." ”
"This is not only a recognition of Mr. Yan Wenming's outstanding contribution to the development of archaeology, but also an affirmation of his tireless efforts to promote the importance of archaeology to the public for the common future of contemporary society and mankind," he said. ”
Mourn deeply, farewell to Elder Yan!
Source: Comprehensive Peking University School of Archaeology and Museums official WeChat, Chao News client, Red Star News