Excavations at a late Liangzhu culture site in Zhejiang Province have revealed a cache of "Jade-Incrusted" masks depicting hybrid bird-human spirits. These artifacts, carved from high-quality tremolite jade, were found within a monumental timber hall that served as a staging ground for seasonal river-blessing rituals.
The discovery pushes back the timeline for organized Water-Spirit Festivals in the Yangtze Delta to over 5,000 years ago. These ceremonies likely involved ritual dancing and the release of bird-shaped wooden floats, intended to appease the river deities and ensure a bountiful harvest of rice and fish.