Museum doesn't miss a beat after reopening at new site
October 29, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A free exhibition featuring 30 historic bronze drums from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is being held at the Minhang Museum, which has reopened at the Chunshen Culture Square on Mingdu Road.
The exhibition will run until December 21.
The oldest drum on display dates back to the East Han Dynasty (AD 25-220). All of the drums are cultural relics. They are adorned in a variety of patterns, including dragons that symbolize longevity.
The exhibition also showcases the history and development of bronze drum culture, folk customs related to the instrument, and the techniques of drum-making. Visitors are even allowed to thump the instruments on display to hear the vibrant sounds.
Guangxi in southern China is known as the home of bronze drums. More than 2,000 of the drums, dating from the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), have been excavated in the region.
Bronze drums feature exquisite decorative patterns and thunderous tones. The symbols of power were commonly beaten in times of battle to signal commands of attack or retreat, or to herald warnings.
Today they are commonly used at festivals to accompany folk dances.
The percussion instrument is still popular among people of the Zhuang, Yao and Miao ethnic minorities.
Bronze drums typically measure about 50 centimeters in diameter. The biggest bronze drum in the world found to date comes from the city of Beiliu in Guangxi. It measures 166 centimeters across and it weighs 300 kilograms.
"It is impressive to see so many bronze drums on display at one time," said Zhang Jie, a museum visitor who lives near Chunshen square. "Their patterns are very delicate."
The exhibition is jointly sponsored by the Minhang Museum and the Guangxi Museum of Nationalities. It is the first show presented at the museum since it was moved to a new site to make way for construction of the Xinzhuang transit hub.
The museum, established in 2003, occupies 4,200 square meters. There are two main exhibit halls: the Ancient Maqiao Culture Exhibition and the Chinese National Musical Instruments Exhibition.
"We will host a variety of exhibitions on a regular basis in collaboration with other museums," said Song Yu, an official with the museum.
The exhibition will run until December 21.
The oldest drum on display dates back to the East Han Dynasty (AD 25-220). All of the drums are cultural relics. They are adorned in a variety of patterns, including dragons that symbolize longevity.
The exhibition also showcases the history and development of bronze drum culture, folk customs related to the instrument, and the techniques of drum-making. Visitors are even allowed to thump the instruments on display to hear the vibrant sounds.
Guangxi in southern China is known as the home of bronze drums. More than 2,000 of the drums, dating from the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), have been excavated in the region.
Bronze drums feature exquisite decorative patterns and thunderous tones. The symbols of power were commonly beaten in times of battle to signal commands of attack or retreat, or to herald warnings.
Today they are commonly used at festivals to accompany folk dances.
The percussion instrument is still popular among people of the Zhuang, Yao and Miao ethnic minorities.
Bronze drums typically measure about 50 centimeters in diameter. The biggest bronze drum in the world found to date comes from the city of Beiliu in Guangxi. It measures 166 centimeters across and it weighs 300 kilograms.
"It is impressive to see so many bronze drums on display at one time," said Zhang Jie, a museum visitor who lives near Chunshen square. "Their patterns are very delicate."
The exhibition is jointly sponsored by the Minhang Museum and the Guangxi Museum of Nationalities. It is the first show presented at the museum since it was moved to a new site to make way for construction of the Xinzhuang transit hub.
The museum, established in 2003, occupies 4,200 square meters. There are two main exhibit halls: the Ancient Maqiao Culture Exhibition and the Chinese National Musical Instruments Exhibition.
"We will host a variety of exhibitions on a regular basis in collaboration with other museums," said Song Yu, an official with the museum.
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