A brief review of chinese rock art research

Resumen

In China, rock art sites are spread all over the country and the rock art’s places, representation methods, themes and content are closely connected with the nation’s cultural development and changes. In the 21st century, thanks to the fervent promotion of the government, scholars and amateurs, the discovery and research of Chinese rock art have entered a new period. The new discovery of tens of thousands of various rock art such as cupules rock art in Henan, handprints rock art in the southwest, human-faced rock art in Chifeng and other places like Xinjiang or Yunnan bears great signifi cance. Since 2008, exciting new discoveries have brought about a new passion for rock art research. The range of rock art investigation, recording and conservation has been enormously expanded; the development of cultural industry in some regions has demonstrated obvious characteristics; scholars’ researches have explored different fi elds, especially in the disciplines of archaeology, anthropology, art history, aboriginal region, region and iconography and semiotics, etc. However, scientifi c conservation and proper management will be the most urgent mission for Chinese rock art in the new century.