Analysis of "Dance Patterns" on Painted Pottery of Majiayao Culture

Abstract

The dance pattern pot of Majiayao culture should be used for witchcraft activities. The dance patterns on the pot are the true reflection of prehistoric witchcraft dance. A series of painted pottery unearthed in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River with figurative dancing figure pattern proves that the prehistoric human witchcraft dance in Majiayao period has been quite developed. Through physical research, we can know that there were "god-man grain seed dances" for a good harvest and “reproductive dances” for praying for the prosperity of tribal people and "disease-removing dances" for eliminating diseases and disasters. Keywords—symbol; Banshan; evocation by dancing; reproductive worship; eliminating disease and disaster