CHEN Meng
(Jingdezhen University, Jingdezhen 333032, Jiangxi, China)

Abstract: Despite the frequent emphasis by Western historiography on the significance of the Stone and Bronze Ages, the era of pottery holds an equally central position in the progression of human civilization, particularly within the context of East Asian civilizations. As the birthplace of pottery civilization, China played an extremely important role in the evolution of human civilization during this period. This study was aimed to explore the interconstructive relationship between pottery and the ancient human society of our country, focusing on its central position in social cohesion, prehistoric political systems and the transformation of production relations. Through an in-depth analysis of Neolithic pottery culture, the decisive role in promoting social networks and cultural exchanges was revealed. Additionally, the symbolism of pottery in religious rituals cited in the text, such as the mother-and-child pig sculptures, offers new insights into the role of pottery in the connection between religion and everyday life. Combined with Marx's theory of production relations, how ceramic production mirrors the social transformation from primitive communal systems to feudal structures was further explored. Overall, how ancient Chinese pottery and society co-evolved within an interactive cultural and technological framework was studied, offering a new perspective on the core issue of 'technology-social interaction' in the field of sociology. Finally, an interdisciplinary academic viewpoint on interpreting the central role of pottery in the progression of ancient social civilization was provided.
Key words: pottery age; social civilization; social cohesion; prehistoric political systems; production relations