(Exploring China – Wenbo) Sanxingdui Bronze Sacred Tree- A realistic sample of the ancient Shu ancestors’ “Dream of Heaven”

On October 16, a visitor named Zhang Yijia walked out of the Sanxingdui Museum in Sichuan’s Guanghan city with a special artifact – a replica of the famed “Divine Tree.” This replica is based on the museum’s centerpiece, the 3.96-meter-tall Bronze Divine Tree, which has been the subject of much fascination.

The Sanxingdui archaeological site, often described as having “slept for thousands of years only to awaken and astonish the world,” has yielded a wealth of unique and exquisite artifacts. Among them, the Bronze Divine Trees stand out as particularly remarkable.

To date, approximately eight Bronze Divine Trees have been unearthed at Sanxingdui. While the first three trees have been presented to the public, remnants of the others cannot be systematically restored until the main trunks are found.

Visitors often find themselves drawn to the first Divine Tree, which features three layers with nine branches topped by divine birds, alongside a bronze dragon gracefully spiraling down the tree’s side. The second Divine Tree stands about 2.88 meters tall and also showcases three layers with nine branches and standing birds. The third, measuring around 1.1 meters, has three intertwining trunks reaching skyward, crowned with three human-headed, bird-bodied deities.

As the largest bronze artifact discovered in China to date, the first Divine Tree stands tall with its expansive branches, resting on a three-sided, arching base that evokes the imagery of a “sacred mountain.” It quietly commands attention in the exhibit hall, where many visitors gather to marvel at its imposing figure. This scene evokes the ancient practices of the Shu people, who, over 4,000 years ago, likely surrounded the Divine Tree, offering prayers to connect the heavens, earth, and divine beings.

On social media platforms, posts about visiting Sanxingdui almost always reference the Bronze Divine Tree. Content ranges from artifact descriptions and photography tips to creative product recommendations. According to museum staff, at least a third of all creative product shoppers take home a representation of the Divine Tree, with some calling it a “star among historical artifacts.”

University student Lan Yating, who has visited the museum six times, expressed her awe each time she sees the Divine Tree, saying it resonates with a powerful life force that transcends time. Meanwhile, 70-year-old visitor Fu Xuezhen shared that she feels as if the Divine Tree is “listening,” suggesting that the words she whispers might be heard by heavenly deities.

What is the story behind the original Bronze Divine Tree? Yu Jian, the deputy director of the museum and head of the conservation center, believes that the design may be linked to the “Ten Suns Legend.” According to this ancient tale, ten suns took turns rising and setting in the sky, each carried by a solar bird that resided atop a great mystical tree.

Is the Divine Tree truly a “reality sample” from myth? Yu notes that if we examine it closely, the shape of the trunk of the third Divine Tree bears a striking resemblance to the “Fusang tree” described by Han Dynasty writer Dongfang Shuo in “Records of the Ten Continents.” “The third Bronze Divine Tree may indeed represent the Fusang tree,” he explained.

The wings of the divine birds perched on the first and second Divine Trees may also hold clues to the legends. Yu analyzed that the upward and downward-facing wings could symbolize the locations where the sun rises and sets, suggesting the two trees could represent the images of the Fusang and the Ruomu trees, respectively. The varying sizes of the trees may indicate their different functions and uses.

Why did the ancient Shu people create these Bronze Divine Trees? Scholars widely believe they aimed to use these “heaven-reaching trees” to communicate with the deities above. Yu interpreted that, when combined with the religious rituals of the ancient Shu, the Divine Trees undoubtedly encapsulate their reverence for nature and the universe.

Huo Wei, president of the Sichuan Archaeological Society, previously stated that the Divine Trees likely represent the three ancient sacred trees mentioned in “Shan Hai Jing” (The Classic of Mountains and Seas)—Fusang, Jianmu, and Ruomu. These trees symbolize cosmic connections and the sun, reflecting the ancient Shu people’s contemplation of the vast universe.

In the mythologies of civilizations worldwide, large trees often represent connections between heaven and earth. Huo believes that as human civilization evolves, similar cultural phenomena emerge across different societies, explaining why many countries share beliefs in divine or life-giving trees.

However, without advanced bronze casting techniques, these ancient mythological “reality samples” would remain mere imagination. Current research indicates that the ancient Shu people had mastered bronze alloying techniques. Yu is hopeful that with the advancement of technology, more traces of the Divine Trees will be found among newly unearthed objects from the sacrificial areas at the Sanxingdui site.

In the eyes of the ancient Shu, reaching for the heavens may have seemed like an unattainable dream. They poured their hopes and aspirations into the towering Divine Tree, yearning for a connection with the sky. As time flows and the sun sets, the Bronze Divine Trees stand as witnesses to humanity’s quest, reaching from the earth to the stars. While the “dream of reaching heaven” may have come to fruition, our exploration of the boundless universe continues.