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Highlight of the Exhibition

Part 1: The Birth of Dynasties

Humankind has produced many and varied cultures throughout its long history. A culture which prospers for a long time, greatly influencing surrounding regions and the history that follows, is known as a civilization. In East Asia, China was the first region to be home to a civilization. In China, the production of full-scale palaces and functional metal implements began circa the 18th century BC, and writing began circa the 13th century BC. Crucial to the development of Chinese civilization was an organized government which centralized both knowledge and power, and where supreme leadership was dominated by a single clan: in other words, a dynasty. Evidence suggests that the first Chinese dynasty emerged in Henan circa 2000 BC. Since then, Henan has seen the rise and fall of many dynasties, which left behind a great number of artifacts symbolizing their authority. This section of the exhibition traces the birth and development of dynasties in China through artifacts excavated from Henan, which date from ca. 2000 BC through to the 1st century BC.

Part 2: The Birth of Craftsmanship

A key characteristic of Chinese civilization is that techniques for producing life-enriching tools and utensils emerged at an early stage. Much time and labor has been invested in the pursuit of beauty in color and form throughout Chinese history, evidenced by minutely detailed production, the strict monitoring of quality, and the active development of new technologies through repeated trial and error. Artisanal skills such as jade carving, ceramic and lacquerware production, bronze casting and metalwork burgeoned in Henan, resulting in many outstanding decorative art objects. These developments in craftmanship stemmed from the desire to add a sense of luxury to daily life. Under the three headings of "Lifestyle," "Eating and Drinking" and "Accessories," this section explores the customs of ancient China through a selection of exceptionally crafted decorative art objects.

Part 3: The Birth of Artistic Beauty

Chinese civilization is distinctive for its continuity since ancient times, a factor which differentiates it from the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and other such regions. For this reason, many subjects commonly found in Chinese painting, calligraphy, sculpture and decorative arts also have a long history. This section gives an overview of the birth and development of Chinese art under four themes: "Mythology," "Buddhism," "People and Animals," and "Calligraphy and Painting."