Ritual Figure of a Winged Spirit in Dark Stone: A Shamanic Totem from the Transitional Neolithic–Bronze Age China

Catalog No.: TR-WINGED-SPIRIT-2200Author: Prof. Nona Dronova, D.Sc. (Tech.), ORCID: 0009-0007-4867-9074DOI (to be registered): Zenodo Abstract This study presents the analysis and contextual attribution of a carved stone figure representing a winged spirit, dated to the transitional period between the late Neolithic and the early Bronze Age in China (ca. 2200–1600 BCE). The object, carved from dark nephrite/serpentine with natural calcite patina, demonstrates stylistic and symbolic characteristics associated with shamanic ritual practices and transitional cultural zones between the Liangzhu and Erligan traditions. Instrumental surface analysis confirms its authenticity and prolonged burial environment. The figure represents a rare form of early totemic art, embodying protective and spiritual functions linked to ancestral and celestial realms. Keywords:Neolithic China, Erligan culture, Liangzhu, jade carving, shamanism, ritual totem, winged spirit, nephrite artifacts, prehistoric symbolism中文关键词: 新石器时代, 良渚文化, 二里岗, 玉雕, 萨满, 翼神, 图腾, 黑色玉 Introduction Carved jade and hardstone figures hold a central role in early Chinese ritual culture. While Liangzhu culture (3300–2300 BCE) developed sophisticated jade ritual objects with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic symbolism, and Erligan (ca. 1600 BCE) introduced early bronze ritual forms, objects such as the present winged spirit represent a transitional stage where shamanic imagery was directly embodied in compact, totemic figures. These artifacts reflect beliefs in protective spirits, transformation, and the mediation between the human and celestial spheres. Description of the Object Material: Dark nephrite/serpentine, with calcite patina and mineral encrustation Dimensions: ca. 14–14 cm height Form: A compact frontal figure with raised symmetrical wings, bulging eyes, and a rounded snout; modeled as a standing guardian spirit rather than a pendant Surface: Evident natural weathering, calcite patina, no modern tool traces Stylistic and Comparative Analysis Feature Observation Cultural Parallels Wings Symmetrical, raised, forming protective frame Totemic guardian motifs (Transitional Shamanic Zone) Face Mask-like, bulging eyes, schematic mouth Liangzhu anthropomorphic-jade masks Body Compact, vertical, with strong base Erligan ritual standing figures Function Stationary altar figure Non-portable ritual totem The abstracted form suggests not a literal bat or bird, but a shamanic winged guardian, symbolizing transcendence and protection. Scientific Analysis SEM and microstructural investigation (Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, 2012): Surface layers show microcrystalline calcite and iron–manganese deposits consistent with long-term burial. No evidence of modern drilling, sawing, or restoration. Micro-relief confirms natural aging processes. Conclusion: Surface structure corresponds to genuine archaeological aging; authenticity confirmed. Cultural and Ritual Context Positioned in the Transitional Shamanic Zone (between Liangzhu and Erligan), this figure demonstrates how early Chinese ritual art integrated shamanic cosmology into durable jade carvings. The wings emphasize celestial connection, while the massive frontal form conveys stability and guardianship. Such figures likely functioned as altar guardians or tomb protectors. Conclusion The winged spirit figure represents a unique and rare survival of early Chinese shamanic ritual art, dating to ca. 2200–1600 BCE. Its stylistic hybridity between Liangzhu jade traditions and Erligan ritual imagery, combined with scientific verification of authenticity, situates it as a significant testimony of early totemic cosmology in East Asia. References Bagley, R. (1999). Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections. Harvard University Art Museums. Li, X. (2010). The Eternal Jade: Liangzhu Culture and Its Jade Artifacts. Beijing: Cultural Relics Press. Rawson, J. (1995). Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing. British Museum Press. Sun, Z. (2020). “Shamanic Imagery in Neolithic China.” Journal of East Asian Archaeology, 18(2), 145–172. Drónova, N.D. (2017). What You Should Know About Ancient Chinese Jade. Moscow. Curatorial Description (Exhibition, Moscow, 2022) Appearance A winged figure with a massive head and bulging eyes. The posture is strictly frontal and symmetrical; the wings are spread, forming a protective shield.It is not an animal and not a human — it is a spirit, the embodiment of power standing at the threshold between worlds. Materiality and Traces of Time The stone is heavy and cold to the touch. The surface is smooth yet unpolished. Light calcite patina fills the cracks and recesses, testifying to a long burial.No traces of modern intervention. This is not stylization — this is authenticity. Function and Symbolism The figure has no suspension holes; it is not an amulet or a pendant.Its function is to protect the owner and open new paths.It does not belong to the world of adornment — it exists as a guardian of right choice: for the one who is ready to step onto a new path, it becomes both protector and guide.The figure embodies the idea of protection on an inner level — it “holds the space” and helps a person to move beyond the ordinary, to open new directions of destiny. Attribution This figure does not belong to the Liangzhu tradition and is not connected to Hongshan.It is closer to the local southern traditions, to early totemic cultures where ritual images were not subordinated to bureaucratic state systems but were part of the spiritual practice of free shamanic tribes. Energy It does not carry desire — it carries limit and choice.It does not attract — it tests.Its power lies in opening the path only to the one who is truly ready to go further.