HUNAN - Ancestors in the Gansu province took nature as basis, selected plants, animals, rivers and other natural objects in the nature as the source of creation. Through the expression of dots, lines and planes, they not only created vibrant and charming patterns on potteries, such as plant pattern, animal pattern, swirling pattern and geometric pattern, combining with human beings, they also created dance pattern, gods and men pattern which are rich in thoughts. The flamboyant and bold red and black, painting the sun, moon and stars, painting all living things, painting what were seen and thought, from depicting the shape to the full nature of objects, the naive stroke from straight lines to curves, from pictogram to geometric, from realism to ideogram, which are the origin of the great beauty of China.

The painted pottery in Gansu province is the origin of the ornamental art in China, its colorful, simple and bright, bold and flexible features have left a strong mark in the history of Chinese art. In this exhibition, 210 pieces of Neolithic painted pottery from Gansu province are specially selected, including representative artifacts spanning 5000 years from the Dadiwan culture period to the Shajing culture period. Through the interpretation of various types of decorations on the painted pottery, the exhibition shows the changes in the aesthetic tastes of the ancestors, the advancement of knowledge and concepts, interprets the relationship between human beings and the natural environment, and then analyzes the initial features of the primitive religious beliefs and the formation of abstract symbols, aiming at tracing the childhood memories of the Chinese nation, and providing the deep driving force from the cultural genes for the success of the story of China.

Wide band pattern three-legged colored pottery bowl, Dadiwan Culture (about 6000 BC - 5000 BC). Height 12 cm, diameter 27.3 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Painted pottery bowl with wide pattern depicting "フ" symbol, Yangshao Culture (Banpo type, about 5000 BC - 4000 BC). Height 8.1 cm, diameter 23 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Painted pottery vase with human head shape, Middle Yangshao Culture (Miaodigou type, about 4000 BC - 3500 BC). Height 32.3 cm, diameter 4 cm, bottom diameter 6.8 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Variant bird pattern painted pottery vase, Majiayao Culture (Majiayao type, about 3000 BC - 2700 BC). Height 53.8 cm, diameter 13.5 cm, bottom diameter 14.5 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Variant bird pattern painted pottery pot, Majiayao Culture (Majiayao type, about 3000 BC - 2700 BC). Height 30.2 cm, diameter 14.1 cm, bottom diameter 14.3 cm. Collection of Lanzhou Museum.

Variant bird pattern painted pottery basin, Majiayao culture (Majiayao type, about 3000 BC - 2700 BC). Height 10.7 cm, diameter 25 cm, bottom diameter 9.3 cm. Collection of Lanzhou Museum.

Variant bird pattern painted pottery spoon, Majiayao culture (Majiayao type, about 3000 BC - 2700 BC). Height 14 cm, overall length 25.5 cm, diameter 17.8 cm, bottom diameter 9 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Bird-shaped painted pottery pot with swirl pattern, Majiayao Culture (mid-mountain type, about 2700 BC - 2300 BC). Height 29 cm, diameter 8 cm, bottom diameter 12.5 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Floral pattern painted pottery basin, Yangshao Culture (Miaodigou type, about 4000 BC - 3500 BC). Height 16.4 cm, diameter 39 cm, bottom diameter 13.2 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Variant flower and bird pattern painted pottery basin, Yangshao Culture (Shilingxia type, about 3500-3000 BC). Height 19 cm, diameter 26.5 cm, bottom diameter 13.2 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Water rippled amphorae painted pottery bottle, Majiayao culture (Majiayao type, about 3000 BC - 2700 BC). Height 35.5 cm, diameter 8.5 cm, bottom diameter 8.5 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Swirl pattern double-eared painted pottery pot,Majiayao Culture (mid-mountain type, about 2700-2300 BC). Height 33 cm, diameter 17.5 cm, bottom diameter 15 cm. Collection of Lanzhou Museum. 

Swirl reticulated double-eared pottery pot, Majiayao culture (Majiayao type, about 3000 BC - 2700 BC). Height 53 cm, diameter 13 cm. Collection of Maiji District Museum, Tianshui City.

Painted pottery pot with four large circles and two ears, Majiayao Culture (Machang type, about 2300 BC - 2000 BC). Height 40.3 cm, diameter 14.2 cm, bottom diameter 10.7 cm. Collection of Lanzhou Museum.

Gourd mesh double-eared painted pottery pot, Majiayao Culture (mid-mountain type, about 2700 BC - 2300 BC). Height 36 cm, diameter 16 cm, bottom diameter 14.5 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Fish pattern painted pottery basin, Yangshao Culture (Banpo type, about 5000 BC - 4000 BC). Height 9.6 cm, diameter 26 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Frog pattern painted pottery vase, Early Majiayao culture (Majiayao type, about 3000 BC - 2700 BC). Height 31.5 cm, abdominal diameter 47.8 cm, diameter 14 cm, base diameter 13.6 cm. Collection of Zhangxian Museum.

Variation of salamander pattern amphora, Yangshao Culture (Shilingxia type, about 3500 BC - 3000 BC). Height 22.5 cm, diameter 14 cm. Collection of the Maiji District Museum, Tianshui City.

Shell pattern high and low ear painted pottery pot, Majiayao Culture (mid-mountain type, about 2700-2300 BC). Height 24.3 cm, diameter 13.8 cm, bottom diameter 8.5 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Group flower rhombus pattern double-eared painted pottery pot, Majiayao Culture (Mid-level type, about 2700-2300 BC). Height 33.3 cm, diameter 17.5 cm, abdominal diameter 32.5 cm, base diameter 12 cm. Collection of Linxia City Museum.

Single-eared painted pottery pot with folded ribbon pattern, Majiayao Culture (Machang type, about 2300 BC - 2000 BC). Height 26.9 cm, diameter 9.3 cm, bottom diameter 12.4 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Double hook pattern sun pattern painted pottery pot, Xindian Culture (about 1400 BC - 800 BC). Height 24.5 cm, diameter 14 × 12.4 cm, bottom diameter 4 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Lizard pattern painted pottery beans, Siba Culture (about 1900 BC - 1400 BC). Height 9.8 cm, diameter 18 cm, bottom diameter 8 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Human face pattern painted pottery basin, Majiayao Culture (mid-mountain type, about 2700 BC - 2300 BC). Height 9 cm, diameter 16.5 cm, bottom diameter 6 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Painted pottery pot with two ears and gods pattern, Majiayao culture (Machang type, about 2300 BC - 2000 BC). Height 30.5 cm, diameter 9.5 cm, bottom diameter 11 cm. Collection of Lanzhou Museum.

Dancing pattern amphorae painted pottery vase, Majiayao Culture (Majiayao type, about 3000 BC - 2700 BC). Height 38 cm, diameter 9.5 cm, base 9.5 cm. Collection of Lanzhou Museum.

Corded boot-shaped pottery pot, Qijia Culture (about 2200 BC - 1700 BC). Height 14.4 cm, diameter 7.7 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Owl-faced pottery table, Qijia Culture (approximately 2200 BC - 1700 BC). Height 16.7 cm, diameter 5.8 cm, bottom diameter 7.8 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Geometric pattern painted pottery drum, Majiayao culture (Majiayao type, about 3000 BC - 2700 BC). Height 37 cm, large diameter 22 cm, small diameter 12 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Leaf pattern amphora, Majiayao Culture (mid-mountain type, about 2700 BC - 2300 BC). Height 25 cm, diameter 9.7 cm, bottom diameter 10.5 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Multi-line zigzag pattern double-eared pottery pot with flowing colors, Majiayao Culture (mid-mountain type, about 2700 BC - 2300 BC). Height 23.2 cm, diameter 22.6 cm, bottom diameter 11.4 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.

Geometric pattern dog button pottery jar with lid, Majiayao culture (Machang type, about 2300 BC - 2000 BC), 14.8 cm high, 6.3 cm diameter, collected by Lanzhou Museum.

Painted pottery jar with bird and deer pattern, Kayo Culture (approximately 900 BC - 600 BC). Height 13.5 cm, diameter 8 cm. Collection of Gansu Provincial Museum.