Final answer:
The Yangshao culture, existing from around 5000 BCE, likely experienced transformations over time that could be considered 'phases', though specific 'early' and 'late' terminology isn't detailed. This culture contributed significantly to early Chinese civilization, including agricultural practices and ceremonial traditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether the Yangshao culture had an early and a late phase can be discussed within the broader context of the development of regional cultures in early China. Archaeological findings suggest that the Yangshao culture, existing along the Yellow and Wei Rivers, made significant contributions to what would become later Chinese civilization. This culture is notable for its textile production from hemp and silk, cooking implements such as tripods and steamers, the domestication of pigs and vegetables, and the use of millet in both diet and rituals. Its existence from around 5000 BCE indicates a long development cycle that undoubtedly saw transformations and different phases over time. Although specific terminology referencing 'early' and 'late' phases isn't used explicitly in the provided reference material, the long span of time over which the Yangshao culture developed implies there were certainly changes and possible phases within this Neolithic culture.
Moreover, scholars like K.C. Chang argue that by 3000 BC, elements of the six regional cultures, including Yangshao, constituted an interaction sphere that rightly could be called China. These cultures’ contributions to the shaping of Chinese civilization acknowledge a temporal progression that could be seen as 'early' and 'late' in a broader sense. However, this approach to history has been critiqued for teleology, as it tends to emphasize only those elements that continued into later periods, omitting those that did not, such as certain practices of the Hemudu culture or the representation of shamans in the Yangshao culture.
In summary, while the term 'phases' of the Yangshao culture is not explicitly detailed, its long existence and broad contribution to Chinese culture indicate a development that would inherently include stages or 'phases' over time.