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Glorious period of Southern Song Dynasty on show
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NINE hundred years ago, the Song Dynasty (960-1279) lost control of northern China to Jurchen, who hailed from Manchuria, during the Jin-Song Wars (1125–1234). The emperor, along with the royal family and officials, were taken prisoners — considered a national shame.
Although the Song Dynasty lost the birthplace of Chinese civilization along Yellow River, it was not ruined as the dynasty retreated south of the Yangtze River and established the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) at Lin’an — present-day Hangzhou.
Normalcy was quickly restored. Due to its expanded population, vibrant social life and flourishing technology and science, China soon became the richest and most populous country on Earth during the 12th century.
Along with the invention of movable-type printing, the spread of culture accelerated, which in turn stimulated the development of philosophy, engineering, mathematics and literature. This is what made the Southern Song one of the most civilized and prosperous dynasties in Chinese history.
A large-scale exhibition displaying 500 antiques from the Southern Song Dynasty is currently on at the Wulin Pavilion in Zhejiang Museum. The exhibits will be on display until April 3, 2016.
Exquisite porcelains, vessels, gold and silver articles, lacquer wares, and stone-carved antiques, including 100 national top-level relics, highlight the prosperity and civilization of that booming period.
The exhibition starts with the setting up of the dynasty. Jurchen continued to invade even though the royal court had moved to Hangzhou. Patriotic General Yue Fei insisted on carrying on the fight, but other officials preferred a compromise. Yue was later framed and killed by the chancellor Qin Hui.
Yue’s death caused a stir across the country. Groups of literatus wrote poems and craftsmen created artifacts in honor of the general and vented their anger against Qin.
In the exhibition, a couple of antiques are about Yue. An ink stone made in Duanzhou (today’s Zhaoqing of Guangdong Province) are engraved with characters from famous literatus through dynasties, including Wen Tianxiang of the Southern Song Dynasty, Yu Qian of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Zhu Yizun of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
It is also equipped with a wooden box, on which late Qing Dynasty painter Wang Luonian painted a portrait of Yue. The ink stone symbolized people’s respect for Yue through dynasties.
In addition, the exhibition also displays antiques from Qin Hui, whose tomb was dug by graverobbers throughout history. A stone that is engraved with Qin’s date of his passing is also being exhibited.
Though the Southern Song Dynasty underwent a series of turbulence, it was quickly revived under the rule of Emperor Zhao Gou, who rebuilt imperial palace at new capital, restored social and ritual system, and issued policies that were beneficial for civilians. Historians named that period Zhongxing, which means reviving in the middle.
During Zhongxing period, restoration of ritual system was a major part. Ritual ceremonies were held, ritual architectures were erected and ritual vessels were made.
A copper wine vessel with three legs and a loop handle that was sculptured with mythical creatures and auspicious clouds was a common royal ritual ware used in royal court.
Other copper artifacts with similar patterns and craftsmanship like tripod and quadripod vessels were considered symbols of the dynasty during ritual ceremonies.
The Guan Kiln that produced porcelains exclusively for royal court was also responsible for manufacturing ritual items during Southern Song. The exhibition displays a couple of Guan Kiln porcelains which were used to worship heaven and ancestors in ritual ceremonies.
Except porcelains and ceramics, Southern Song also emphasized on producing bronze ritual vessels like former dynasties. The exhibits on the site proved that fact.
In addition to antiques of the royal court, the exhibition also showcases artifacts of Southern Song people.
Since the economy developed fast during the dynasty, people’s lives were quickly enriched. Exquisite accessories and tableware show their passion to create a quality life.
Gold hairpins, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories with sophisticated floral patterns and sculptures were popular with the nobility. When a wealthy family married a daughter, they would give the bridegroom’s family a batch of dowry that must include a few gold articles.
As for the common people, they would use affordable materials to manufacture accessories by imitating the styles of the nobility. Except for exclusive accessories, most ordinary women owned wooden combs and caskets that were carved with delicate patterns, and copper mirrors.
The copper mirror making industry thrived in Huzhou in northern Zhejiang Province. Multifarious shaped Huzhou-style mirrors made in both imperial and private workshops were popular across the country.
Date: Through April 3, 2016 (closed on Mondays)
Address: No. 6, West Lake Cultural Square
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