Rock Art Research

Vol. 40 No. 1 (2023)
Published : May 8, 2023

DISCOVERY OF A NEW GENRE OF ROCK PAINTINGS AT LUOBIAO TOWN, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA

Shi Lanying (1), Zhang Haiwei (2), Li Man (3), Niu Xiaoxia (4), Cheng Hai (5), Tang Huisheng (6)

(1) Hebei Normal University, China
(2) Xian Jiaotong University, China
(3) Shijiazhuang University, China
(4) Xian Jiaotong University, China
(5) Xian Jiaotong University, China
(6) Hebei Normal University, China
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Abstract

In June 2020, a China-based research team re-examined the hanging coffins and the rock painting sites near Ma Tangba Village, Luobiao Town, Gong County, Yibin City, Sichuan Province, China. In this survey, a new rock painting site was discovered, which has no spatial connection with hanging coffins. This new style of rock painting site is located at the Fen Jingzi site. U–Th dating suggests that rock paintings here were made in the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (1562±158 BP). This U–Th dating is also consistent with the characteristics of the age displayed by the costumes depicted in the pictures and the Chinese characters ‘百 父’ (Hundred Fathers), which was an official name in the Ming Dynasty. From judging the Chinese characters ‘雷公在,诸神踀踀’ (Lord of Thunder is here, the gods beware) and ‘雷神’ (Lei Gong), as well as the word ‘雷’ (thunder) on the paintings, we can assume that this is a rock painting related to Lord of Thunder or Thunder worship.