A recent study revealed prototypes of class and rituals already existed in north China in the Neolithic age, at least 5,500 years ago.

Experts say these prototypes may have helped Confucianism, the orthodox school of thought that dominated in China for more than 2,000 years, to take form in the first place.

The conclusion was based on research findings on primeval tombs, temples, altars and dainty jade ware unearthed at Niuheliang and Dongshanzui, sites of the Hongshan culture dating back 5,500 to 6,000 years, in the northeastern province of Liaoning, said Guo Dashun, a leading member of the Archaeology Society of China.

Guo and his colleagues have, over the past year, unearthed a large number of valuable jade ware pieces, including 18.5-cm tall jade figurine and a 18.5-cm long jade phoenix, from a large, well-built tomb whose owner was believed to have enjoyed high social status.

Other tombs found next to the rich man's burial ground, in contrast, contain few or no sacrificial objects at all, archeologists say.

"The smaller tombs might belong to the man's servants, who had been buried with their master in sacrifice," said Guo. "These are all signs of class and rituals."

Rituals were also the centerpiece in the altars and temples excavated from the primeval culture site, whose structures were symmetrical on both sides of a north-south axis, just like the Temple of Heaven and the Imperial Temple, or Taimiao, in downtown Beijing, said Guo.

Guo and his colleagues found at the site altars in two different shapes: square and circular, for worshipping the earth and heaven respectively. "Just like the Temple of Heaven, the pattern mirrors the ancient belief that heaven was round and the earth square," Guo said.

Besides, the relic of a goddess temple at the site contained fragments of a goddess in the center and several of her subordinates around her, all made of clay and indicating respect for the seniors, he said.

"Such rituals, plus some widely accepted codes of behavior, later developed into Confucianism, which dominated the Chinese political, cultural and social life for more than 2,000 years and had a far-reaching impact in Asia in general," he added.

In this sense, Guo said the Hongshan culture in the north actually helped form the very foundation of the mainstream Chinese culture, which was once believed to have developed in the Yellow River drainage area in the central part of the nation.

Confucianism, a school of thought established by Confucius, a sage who lived from 551 B.C. to 479 B.C., advocates benevolence and courtesy among people. It helped shape the value of sacrificing one's personal interests for the good of others and a teamwork spirit among the Chinese people.

It was also credited with creating the social order in China's feudal times, which asked the young to respect the old and the female to be faithful to and obey the orders of the male.

The Neolithic Hongshan culture was named in 1935 and mainly distributed in the juncture area between the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the provinces of Liaoning and Hebei.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2004)