Totem Poles Originated from China? by Conroy Wyman Shum
While studying more about Contemporary Chinese Yunnan art, I was intrigued by numerous depictions of totem poles that represent the diverse cultures of the minority tribes, (including the Wa and Yi cultures) that live in Southern China. Contemporary Chinese artists like He Neng and He Deguang, who developed their heavy color art styles while living in Yunnan during the Cultural Revolution, captured totem poles in their paintings.
Southern Wings, by He Deguang dated 1988 & Untitled, by He Neng dated 1988
It would seem atypical to associate totem poles with China, but rather, more commonplace to imagine many of the artistic examples of figures, animals and other symbols carved in wooden totem poles by the Native Americans and Eskimos of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. But is there any possible connections between those from Asia vs those from the Americas?
Determining whether or not the Native American and Eskimo totems have been influenced from Asia will rely on the dedication of anthropologists, archaeologists and other scientific researchers as more discoveries are found and the evidence is evaluated by these experts. What modern day technologies have revealed through DNA testing at least, is that the Eskimo and Native American population show a strong connected lineage to those living in Asia, and particularly to the indigenous people from Australia and Melanesia. A vast number of researchers agree that the indigenous people of the Americas crossed the Bering Straits (ice bridge), that involved at least several separate migrations.
Discoveries supporting a possible connection, include the trove of artifacts that were discovered in 1986, by workers in Southern China (Sichuan Province which neighbors Yunnan). The discoveries provide some evidence that totem poles likely existed long ago. These mask-like artifacts which were posted on the top of poles, were made of bronze, and associated with the ancient Sanxingdui civilization, a culture dating back 3,000 to 5,000 years ago.
As we continue to make more discoveries and develop a deeper understanding of humanity, I have to ask, isn’t our human history fascinating?
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