CHINA: Grandeur of the Dynasties
CHINA: Grandeur of the Dynasties / Heiseikan Special Exhibition Galleries October 10, 2012 (Wed) - December 24, 2012 (Mon)

China has a population of 1.3 billion people, and is a country with the fourth largest area of land in the world. With more than 50 ethnic races, the giant country has maintained a history of as long as six thousand years. Cultures and philosophies unique to this country have developed and been passed on in China, where a sophisticated civilization developed alongside the bounties of grand rivers such as the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. This tradition connects to the origin of the spirit and culture of Japan.
This exhibition focuses on the capitals and central regions of the dynasties of China. Based on the latest accomplishments of excavation research, this exhibition looks at unique objects from the provinces, and aims to view Chinese civilization from a new perspective. As we introduce the appeal of the treasures, this exhibition also looks into their backgrounds and presents an overview of the dynamism and spread of Chinese civilization that has developed with multiple elements.
General Information |
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Period | Wednesday, October 10 - Monday, December 24, 2012 | ||||||
Venue | Heiseikan, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park) | ||||||
Hours | 9:30 - 17:00 Fridays until 20:00 until 21:00 on Saturday, October 20 (Last entry 30 minutes before closing) |
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Closed | Mondays | ||||||
Admission | Adults: 1,500 (1,300/1,200) yen University students: 1,200 (1,000/900) yen High school students: 700(500/400) yen Junior high school students and under: Free
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Access | 10 minutes' walk from JR Ueno Station (Park exit) and Uguisudani Station 15 minutes' walk from Keisei Ueno Station, Tokyo Metro Ueno Station and Tokyo Metro Nezu Station |
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Organizer | Tokyo National Museum, Art Exhibitions China, NHK, NHK Promotions Inc., The Mainichi Newspapers, The Asahi Shimbun | ||||||
With the Support of | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, State Administration of Cultural Heritage of the People's Republic of China, Embassy of The People's Republic of China in Japan | ||||||
With the Sponsorship of | Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited | ||||||
With the Assistance of | All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., China Cultural Center | ||||||
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General Inquiries | 03-5405-8686 (Hello Dial) | ||||||
Exhibition Website | http://www.china-ocho.jp/ (In Japanese) The website has closed with the end of the exhibition. |
Next venue
Nagoya City Museum : Wednesday, April 24 - Sunday, June 23, 2013
Kyushu National Museum : Tuesday, July 9 - Monday, September 16, 2013
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Highlight of the Exhibition
Part I: Dawn of the Dynastic Age: Gold of Sichuan vs. Bronze of the Central Plains
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Gold mask Yin to Western Zhou dynasty, 12th–10th century BC Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese government) Excavated in 2001 from Meiyuan (plum garden) area of Jinsha site, Chengdu, Sichuan Province Jinsha Site Museum, Chengdu, China |
Bronze jue tripod wine vessel
Yin dynasty, 16th–15th century BC Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese government) Zhengzhou Museum, China |
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Part II: Radiant Rival States: Southern Mysticism vs. Central Tradition
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Lacquered winged figure Warring States period, 4th century BC Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese government) Excavated in 2000 from Tomb No. 2 at Tianxingguan, Jingzhou, Hubei Province Jingzhou Museum, China |
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Lacquered drum with pedestal of phoenixes on tigers’ backs Warring States period, 4th century BC Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese government) Excavated in 2000 from Tomb No. 2 at Tianxingguan, Jingzhou, Hubei Province Jingzhou Museum, China |
Bronze animal-shaped xizun vessel with inlaid gold, silver and turquoise design
Warring States period, 4th–3rd century BC Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese government) Excavated in 1982 from Shangwang site at Linzi, Zibo, Shandong Province Qiguo Gucheng Site Museum, China |
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Part III: Unified Dynasties: Beauty from Absolute Power vs. Stylization through Refinement
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Painted pottery kneeling archer figure Qin dynasty, 3rd century BC Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese government) Excavated in 1999 from Terracotta Army Pit No. 2 at Emperor Qin Shihuang Tomb, Lintong, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province Museum of the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shihuang, China |
Painted pottery female figure
Former Han dynasty, 2nd century BC Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese government) Excavated in 1997 from Tomb No. 130 at the Yangling Mausoleum, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province Han Yang Ling Museum, China |
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Part IV: Competition Between North and South: Novelty of Northern Culture vs. Maturity of Tradition
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Sandstone pillar plinth with heavenly figure, dragon, tiger, and lotus blossom design Northern Wei dynasty, 484 (Taihe 8) Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese government) Excavated in 1966 from the Minister Jin Long Tomb at Datong, Shanxi Province Shanxi Museum, China |
Celadon shentinghu spirit pavilion vessel with figure and pavilion design
Three Kingdoms period (Wu dynasty), 272 (Fenghuang 1) Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese government) Excavated in 1995 from the Shangfangzhen Wu tomb, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province Nanjing Museum, China |
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Part V: Emergence of a Global Empire: Splendid Metropolis vs. Exalted Religious Center
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Bonze mirror with mother-of-pearl inlaid bird and flower design Tang dynasty, 736 (Kaiyuan 24) Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese government) Excavated in 2001 from the Tang Princess Li Chui Tomb at Xian University of Technology No. 2 campus,Xi’an, Shaanxi Province Shaanxi Archaeological Research Institute, China |
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Marble seated Vajrapani Tang dynasty, 8th century Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese government) Excavated in 1959 from Anguosi site, northern suburbs of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province Xi’an Beilin Museum, China |
Limestone seated Buddha
Tang dynasty, 8th century From the Longmen Caves, Luoyang, Henan Province Longmen Caves Research Institute, China |
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Part VI: Stirrings of Modernity: Spontaneity of the Northern Peoples vs. Spirituality of the Han
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Silver mask Liao dynasty, 10th–11th century Excavated in 1998 at Fuxin, Liaoning Province The Museum of Liaoning Province, China |
Lacquered brick tile Buddha relief
Northern Song dynasty (Wuyue), 974 Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese government) Excavated in 1987 from the Lingshi Temple pagoda, Huangyan, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province Taizhou Huangyan Museum, China |
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Gilt silver Ashoka pagoda with inlaid crystal, agate and glass ornament Northern Song dynasty, 1011 (Dazhong Xiangfu 4) Class-One National Treasure (as designated by the Chinese Excavated in 2008 from the Changganli pagoda tower at the Changgan Temple underground palace site in Zhonghua Menwai, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province Nanjing Museum, China |
