A stele carrying village code of conduct was recently found in Yunyang County of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, rated by experts as a physical proof of the prototype of democracy.

The antique was spotted by a farmer when he was renovating his house.

The cylindrical stone stele, dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), weighs 750 kg and is 1.44-meter high, 0.45-meter long and 0.39-meter wide.

A 700-word code of conduct was beautifully engraved on the stele, stating stipulations such as forbidding prostitution and gambling, and not entertaining dubious guests.

Also seen on the stele were names of some 200 villagers who committed to comply with the code of conduct.

Local antique expert Chen Yun told Xinhua that it is the first time a stele carrying such a comprehensive code of conduct is found in southwest China's Three Gorges region and the antique's academic values are subject to further studies.

The style and content of the stele are very rare and somewhat symbolize the embryonic type of village democracy, said Chen.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2005)