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City's rich history brought together in new museum
By Xu Wenwen and Wu Huixin |
June 13, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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A beautifully carved jade pendant dating back two millennia; an intact ceramic vase from 1,000 years ago; bronze ware from 500 years ago, and paintings by great masters in modern times. Visitors can see these and lots more, free of charge, at the newly opened Hangzhou Museum.
Opened last Saturday, some 12,000 cultural relics and artworks - from pottery and wooden sculptures to paintings, some dating back almost 3,000 years - are on show at the first comprehensive museum in Hangzhou.
The huge collection illustrates the rich history and culture of the city. Hangzhou was the capital of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (AD 907-979) and served as the seat of the imperial government and center of Chinese civilization in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).
Stretching further back, Yuhang in the city was the center of Liangzhu culture, cradle of the last Neolithic jade culture.
The museum was formed by integrating Hangzhou History Museum and Wushan Museum, which nestled together on Wu Hill.
Covering an area of 23,000 square meters, the museum includes five exhibition areas: cultural relics unearthed in Hangzhou; relics from ancient architecture, graves and stone carvings; paintings and calligraphy; stationery treasures; and stamps.
There are plenty of highlights to choose from.
Jade pendants and tiny accessories dating back 2,000 years are ornately carved with detailed designs, testimony to the sophisticated craft skills of two millennia ago.
Among cultural relics unearthed in Hangzhou is a blue-and-white ceramic brush rest from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Brush rests to support a Chinese brush for painting or writing were standard items, but this one exhibits exquisite craftsmanship. It is in the shape of four peaks, around which clouds, dragons and a moon create it a mini ceramic sculpture.
In the past, many everyday items were transformed into artworks, another example on display being a bronze candlestick holder made during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and unearthed in the city.
At first glance, it seems to be a bronze sculpture of a little boy, while in fact the stick extends along the lotus flowers carried by the boy.
Further study reveals that the boy is standing on a platform with water flowing, and beside him there are two mythical creatures.
Other highlights are the works of great masters, such as Xu Beihong, known for his Chinese ink paintings of horses, Zhang Daqian, one of the best-known and most prodigious Chinese artists of last century, and Qi Baishi, renowned for painting small things in nature, such as prawns.
Stamp collectors should find plenty of interest among the collection from home and abroad, shown in an interactive display.
Stamps are shown under glass and visitors touch the glass over the stamp to access an enlarged image on a screen, along with information.
Technology also brings immovable relic sites to museum visitors. On a touch screen, visitors can piece together photographs of Liuhe Pagoda and other old structures, providing a better understanding of old buildings than by simply looking at an image.
The museum also features dynamic displays embedded in walls, illustrating Hangzhou's anecdotes and stories.
And as the museum is in the middle of Wu Hill, visitors can double up a visit with a trip to nearby Hefang Street and Wushan block, where there are many black-and-white traditional houses.
Address: 18 Liangdaoshan Rd (near Wushan Flower and Bird Market)
Hours: 9am-4:30pm (closed on Mondays)
Admission: Free
Opened last Saturday, some 12,000 cultural relics and artworks - from pottery and wooden sculptures to paintings, some dating back almost 3,000 years - are on show at the first comprehensive museum in Hangzhou.
The huge collection illustrates the rich history and culture of the city. Hangzhou was the capital of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (AD 907-979) and served as the seat of the imperial government and center of Chinese civilization in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).
Stretching further back, Yuhang in the city was the center of Liangzhu culture, cradle of the last Neolithic jade culture.
The museum was formed by integrating Hangzhou History Museum and Wushan Museum, which nestled together on Wu Hill.
Covering an area of 23,000 square meters, the museum includes five exhibition areas: cultural relics unearthed in Hangzhou; relics from ancient architecture, graves and stone carvings; paintings and calligraphy; stationery treasures; and stamps.
There are plenty of highlights to choose from.
Jade pendants and tiny accessories dating back 2,000 years are ornately carved with detailed designs, testimony to the sophisticated craft skills of two millennia ago.
Among cultural relics unearthed in Hangzhou is a blue-and-white ceramic brush rest from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Brush rests to support a Chinese brush for painting or writing were standard items, but this one exhibits exquisite craftsmanship. It is in the shape of four peaks, around which clouds, dragons and a moon create it a mini ceramic sculpture.
In the past, many everyday items were transformed into artworks, another example on display being a bronze candlestick holder made during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and unearthed in the city.
At first glance, it seems to be a bronze sculpture of a little boy, while in fact the stick extends along the lotus flowers carried by the boy.
Further study reveals that the boy is standing on a platform with water flowing, and beside him there are two mythical creatures.
Other highlights are the works of great masters, such as Xu Beihong, known for his Chinese ink paintings of horses, Zhang Daqian, one of the best-known and most prodigious Chinese artists of last century, and Qi Baishi, renowned for painting small things in nature, such as prawns.
Stamp collectors should find plenty of interest among the collection from home and abroad, shown in an interactive display.
Stamps are shown under glass and visitors touch the glass over the stamp to access an enlarged image on a screen, along with information.
Technology also brings immovable relic sites to museum visitors. On a touch screen, visitors can piece together photographs of Liuhe Pagoda and other old structures, providing a better understanding of old buildings than by simply looking at an image.
The museum also features dynamic displays embedded in walls, illustrating Hangzhou's anecdotes and stories.
And as the museum is in the middle of Wu Hill, visitors can double up a visit with a trip to nearby Hefang Street and Wushan block, where there are many black-and-white traditional houses.
Address: 18 Liangdaoshan Rd (near Wushan Flower and Bird Market)
Hours: 9am-4:30pm (closed on Mondays)
Admission: Free
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