Getting the earth to reveal our history

The jade phoenix is an abstract image that is very close to contemporary images of phoenix. The phoenix is regarded as a divine bird that has the power to communicate with deities. Chinese people's respect and love for it shows their respect for nature and their deities, explains Fang.

There are also other animal images, such as tigers, eagles and cicadas. Fang says cicadas represented the afterlife for ancient people.

"From these jade figurines, we can see how ancient people valued life. They respect their deities, nature and their ancestors," adds Fang.

Many of the jade figurines with crowns are regarded as their respectful ancestors or heroes.

The jade figurines often have bulging eyes and big ears, which means they can see and hear over a long distance, representing a kind of superpower. These images bear a similarity to those found at the Sanxingdui Ruins in Guanghan, Sichuan province.