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Display shows an ancient, proud history
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THE Hangzhou government spent five years surveying all the city’s museums, archives and galleries. Statistics show there are 366,862 antiques in Hangzhou — 1,205 of which are top-level protected relics.
Government departments collaborated with these venues to categorize collected antiques according to their levels and selected the most precious 400 pieces to display in the Hangzhou Museum through August 18.
Exhibits range from Neolithic artifacts and imperial crafts to local porcelains.
Visitors can vote for their favorite 10 exhibits. It is also possible to vote online through official WeChat accounts of major Hangzhou newspapers. The result will be announced on June 10.
The exhibition is divided into four parts — porcelains, metal items, jade wares and paintings. The first section shows ceramic antiques discovered in Hangzhou.
The city has long been at the center of the regional pottery and ceramics industry.
As early as the Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and the Zhou (c.11th century-221 BC) dynasties, patterned pottery items were made on a large scale for daily use and rituals.
The production practices of that time paved the way for the creation of high-quality porcelains in later centuries.
The displayed porcelain bianzhong (编钟) could date to the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). Bianzhong was an ancient Chinese musical instrument that consists of a set of bronze bells. Its use was restricted to ritual music in the imperial court. It proved that in ancient southern China, people already used porcelain bianzhong to replace traditional bronze in rituals.
The exhibited porcelain version has survived many centuries underground.
The world’s first porcelain kiln was built in what is now Zhejiang Province during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220). The Konghu Kiln in today’s Xiaoshan District was of the same period.
Thereafter, several noted imperial and folk kilns were established across the city, turning Hangzhou into an important production center of sought-after porcelain commodities.
Among them, the Yue Kiln found favor with imperial court by virtue of its elaborate celadon. It reached peak productivity during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (AD 907-979) periods.
Mise celadon (秘色瓷) has been famous throughout history, although the skills to reproduce it have been lost.
The exhibition features exquisite mise celadon wares made from Yue Kiln. They were burial objects excavated from graves in the Wu Kingdom (today’s northern Zhejiang Province).
The second section of the exhibition displays metal antiques. An abundance of glistening gold and silver antiques have been unearthed across Hangzhou. The two metals have been highly valued by craftsmen due to their high economic value and fine malleability.
Gold was more popular in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) than previous dynasties, because the then royal court permitted private mining and free trade.
Hangzhou as the capital of the dynasty has been excavated a large number of gold artifacts.
The Southern Song-style accessories featured smoother lines, more floral designs, thinner texture and new hexagon, octagon and chrysanthemum shapes.
Peach blossom, bee, lychee, butterfly, lotus, peacock, turtle, melon and vine also appeared a lot on the accessories. These patterns symbolized harmony and auspiciousness, and were gorgeously embossed on the artifacts.
The ritual system was restored during the Song Dynasty. Ritual ceremonies were held, ritual architecture dominated structures and ritual vessels were made.
The imperial court produced a number of copper ritual containers imitating the bronze vessels of Xia (c.21st century-16th century BC), Shang and Zhou dynasties, which in return made copper vessels populate at the time.
In previous dynasties, copper was widely made into mirrors for daily use. The mirrors were engraved with auspicious cloudy lines and mythical creature patterns.
The third section of the exhibition displays jade ware. Neolithic Liangzhu Culture is considered one of the oldest civilizations in China, as well as the originator of the country’s jade culture.
The jade artifacts found at the Liangzhu relic site symbolize the astronomical and geographic concepts of the Liangzhu people.
The display includes a jade axe and a jade cylinder, both of which represent the Liangzhu people’s understanding of the universe.
Jade culture thrived through dynasties and is still popular today. It epitomizes mild character and is believed to ward off evils. Therefore, jade accessories were popular in ancient times. The exhibition exhibits a dozen of jade wares ranging from the Warring States Period to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The last section of the exhibition displays precious ancient books, paintings and seals. Numerous ancient books had been ruined during various wars, which in return made the ones that survived even more valuable.
Ancient books have always been cherished as they record history, literature, medical science, agriculture and social development. The displayed diary written by Qing Dynasty literati Yu Yue reflects Hangzhou’s academic strengths during that dynasty.
Seal-carving flourished as a form of art when painters and calligraphers finished their works with the red stamp of a seal or more. This vogue gave birth to a variety of seal styles.
Wu Rangzhi was a great master in China’s seal-cutting history. His works have been copied and imitated by generations of admirers in utter worship. His precious works are now on display at the exhibition.
Date: Through August 18
Address: 18 Liangdao Hill
Admission: Free
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