EXTRAORDINARY TREASURES The Xi’an, Eternal Capital exhibition presented at the Musée de la civilisation from December 5, 2001, to September 2, 2002, is a window on the splendor, riches, and elegance of this grand and ancient capital. Over 130 incomparable treasures tell the tale of this city, and of China as a whole. All artifacts are from the Xi’an Office of Cultural Relics and the Qin Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses. For the most part, the artifacts were unearthed from tombs on the sites of palaces and temples in and around Xi’an. Major pieces in the exhibition include: Vessel with phoenix handles, for offering food gui fengniaowen tong gui (Hongshu gui) Bronze Western Zhou (11th to 8th centuries BCE) Excavated from Tomb 17, Huayuancun, Chang’an County, Xi'an City Gui were Zhou vessels for offering food to the ancestral spirits. This bronze, with its impressive phoenix-shaped handles and its bold horned dragon designs, was cast and inscribed by Hongshu. The bronze altar on which it sits was cast as one piece with the vessel itself. Sitting figure jizuo taoyong Earthenware Qin (221- 207 BCE) Excavated in Lintong County, Shaanxi province This kneeling figure in a long robe was discovered near the tomb of Qin Shihuangdi, the First Emperor of China, in one of the pits that represented the Emperor's horse stables. In life, this groom would probably have been a slave. Figurine of a woman nütao luoti yong Earthenware Western Han (206 BCE- 9 CE) Excavated at Shapo, southern suburbs of Xi'an City Originally this figurine of a naked female would have had wooden arms and multi-coloured clothes. She would have been placed in a tomb to act symbolically as a servant for the dead owner of the grave. Horse and groom caihui tao qianma yong Painted earthenware Tang (618- 907 CE) Excavated from a Tang tomb at Hansenzhai, eastern suburbs of Xi'an Merchants and visitors from all over Central, East, and Southeast Asia and the Middle East travelled to Chang’an to sell their wares, for the city was the greatest market in the world. It became very popular to place in tombs figurines of the different racial types seen on the streets of the capital. This confident Sogdian trader wears a tall cap, a belted tunic and tight-fitting trousers, has a prominent nose and full beard, and he leads a proud long-legged horse. Penis shiqie Stone Neolithic (before 1500 BCE) Excavated in Chang’an county, Xi'an City This stone penis represented the generative power of the ancestors and was worshipped by the living members of a family or descent group. Such objects were also used as dildos for sexual enjoyment and to encourage the production of children. The three incisions recall the form of the later Chinese graph for "ancestor". Tripod in the shape of three buffaloes for offering food, liding sanxi liding Bronze Pre-dynastic Zhou, contemporary with late Shang (16th-11th centuries BCE) Excavated at Dabaichang, Xi'an City, 1974 This bronze cauldron was used for cooking, re-heating, and offering food sacrifices to the ancestors. The ears were designed to hold a wooden shaft for moving the vessel when hot. It was probably cast using a three-piece pottery mould: the lines running down the middle of the buffalo faces mark the division of the moulds. Decoration for a horse harness, or tiger tally jin mashi huo hufu Gold Warring States Period (5th to 3rd centuries BCE) Excavated in Fengxiang, Shaanxi province, 1979 This tiny gold tiger with large ears, protruding teeth, and heavy paws is either a harness ornament, or a tiger tally. The tiger was the symbol of the west and correlated with the colour white, autumn and warfare. Tallies, symbols of military authority, were cast in metal, usually bronze, in two parts and inscribed on both sides. The ruler kept one half and gave the other to a subordinate military officer. The latter could not raise troops or engage in military activity until the ruler gave him authorization by sending the second half of the tally. When both parts were put together and matched perfectly, then the officer could take action. Kneeling crossbowman guishe yong Earthenware Qin (221- 207 BCE) Excavated from Pit # 2, Lintong County, Shaanxi province, at the Museum of Pottery Warriors and Horses. Qinyong bowu guan, Museum of Pottery Warriors and Horses This crossbowman was placed in the front part of pit # 2, a complex military barracks. He is represented kneeling with his crossbow at his side, and is receiving instruction. In Qin law, soldiers had to pass a semi-annual test in shooting at a target. If they failed to hit it a specified number of times out of ten, they and their training officer were punished. If the officer in charge of the crossbow archers failed to hit the target, he was dismissed and fined two sets of armour. Goblet yu gaozu bei Jade Qin (221-210 BCE) Excavated at the site of the Apang Palace, Chezhangcun, western suburbs of Xi'an This rare stemmed goblet with its intricate stippled decoration would have been used at court banquets or in religious rituals. Jade was thought capable of detecting and neutralizing poison, so a jade cup would have protected the drinker. Pair of jade pigs yudiao shuangzhu Jade Western Han (206 BCE- 9 CE) Excavated from a Han tomb at Shanmenkoucun, southern suburbs of Xi'an City In the Five Phase system of correlations, the pig is associated with water, and with the female kun in the system of the Book of Changes (Yi jing). The pig was one of the five domestic animals and was a primary source of meat for ordinary farming people. It was considered to be a dirty and polluted animal and was kept in a pigsty underneath the latrines so that it could eat the excrement. Silkworms, which produce much detritus, were kept in the latrines above the sties and it was the women's responsibility to look after both the silkworms and the pigs. A pig carved of jade is very unusual, as jade was considered the purest (and hardest) of stones and capable of neutralizing poisons and pollution and preserving physical life. It must have been made for the tomb of a member of the official or aristocratic elite. Camel huitao daluotuo Earthenware Western Han (206 BCE- 9 CE) Excavated at Shapo, southern suburbs of Xi'an city, 1983. This superb pottery model of a two-humped Bactrian camel reveals the importance of this beast of burden for the overland trade that passed along the Silk Road through the oases of Central Asia, to India and the Roman Empire. Rare and exceedingly expensive Chinese silks were the height of luxury and symbols of high status. The Chinese authorities tried, often unsuccessfully, to control certain exports, such as silk cocoons and crossbows, for they were afraid to let advanced technology fall into the hands of their competitors. Square jar, fang cuojin yin goulian yunwen tongfang Bronze inlaid with silver and gold Western Han (206 BCE- 9 CE) Excavated at Xiguannancun, Xi'an City, 1964 This magnificent bronze jar is inlaid with a design of silver and gold interlocking clouds, testifying to the exceptional skill of Han craftsmen. It was found with a bronze lamp, incense burner, knife and other objects buried within the boundary of the Han imperial Shanglin Park. It was probably buried for safe-keeping during a rebellion. Winged immortal xianren/yuren Bronze Western Han (206 BCE- 9 CE) Excavated from the southern part of the site of Nanyufeng, Hancheng County, Xi'an City, 1964. This bare-footed, kneeling, winged being has transcended physical mortality. It has shoulder-length hair, large ears, eyes with prominent eyebrows, a sharp-pointed nose, wears a slight smile, and has small wings decorated with a feather-pattern. It may once have held a candle or lamp. The early Chinese believed that it was possible to reach transcendence or immortality either through consuming drugs made from compounds of such poisonous substances as cinnabar and arsenic, or by avoiding the consumption of the five grains essential for normal human life and subsisting only on the ethereal qi, the most basic constituent of the universe. Alternatively, they could practice meditation and breathing exercises. Statue of the Buddha dashashi fozuoxiang Sandstone Northern Wei (386- 532 CE) Excavated in the northern suburbs of Xi'an City Shakyamuni Buddha smiles slightly, reflecting the peace that comes with reaching nirvana, the complete destruction of the self and the release from the cycle of rebirths in this world. The shape of the statue is rather elongated and narrow, showing the influence of West Asian sculpture techniques. Statue of a bodhisattva baishi pusa canxiang Stone Tang Excavated at the site of the Tang dynasty Liquan Temple, western suburbs of Xi'an City Although seriously damaged, possibly during the persecution of Buddhism in 845 CE, the carving of this statue is exceptionally beautiful. The graceful curve of the body and ornaments of silkworms and lotus flowers suggest that it represents Guan Yin. This powerful bodhisattva, who always responded to worshippers' prayers, began in the late Tang to undergo a transformation from being represented as a man to being depicted as a female. She became the most popular female deity in East Asia, being especially revered by women who received help from her for difficulties associated with childbirth. Dancer and musicians huangyou yuewu nüyong Yellow-glazed pottery Sui (581-618 CE) Excavated at Gucun, Chang’an County, Xi'an City Music, songs, and foreign dances, especially from Central Asia, were extremely popular in Sui (581-618) and Tang times (618-907). These entertainers dress in the style of Kucha, an oasis in the northwest part of the Taklamakan desert. Many members of the aristocracy had their own troupes of entertainers, usually young female slaves. Courtesans were also renowned as musicians. The wealthy and the nobles frequented their quarters in the Northern Ward to the southeast of the imperial palace where they could enjoy all the latest tunes. Plate Li Mian shuangyu mancao yinpan Silver Mid-Tang (8th-9th centuries CE) Excavated at Xibei gongye daxue (Northwest Industrial University), 1995 This silver plate was made for Li Mian, an excellent and incorruptible high official who was prime minister for 20 years under Emperors Suzong, Daizong, and Dezong. Its design of two fishes and vine leaves is made out of 134 pieces of inlaid gold. The word for fish (yu) sounds like the word for surplus (yu) and symbolizes hope for future wealth and good fortune. Dragon head yu longtou Jade Tang (618- 907 CE) Excavated at the site of the Serpentine Lake (Qujiang), Qujiangcun, southeastern suburbs of Xi'an City, 1976 This jade dragon head was probably a decoration attached to a pleasure boat, as dragons are associated with water. Long since dried up, the Serpentine Lake was the most famous park in Tang Chang'an and was lined with many famous sites, such as the Apricot Gardens on the west bank. Here, successful candidates of the highest examination, the "presented scholars", celebrated their success and future prospects as officials in the company of their friends and beautiful women, often courtesans from the pleasure quarters. Ornaments from a jewel box jinlong, jinfeng, jinya, jinshu shijian Gold Tang (618-907 CE) -dragon -phoenix -duck -tree Excavated from a Tang tomb at Guojiatan, eastern suburbs of Xi'an City, February, 1971 The dragon was the animal of the East representing the emperor and the male (yang), while the phoenix symbolized the South and represented the female (yin), the empress and consorts, such as secondary wives and concubines. The two trees originally bore precious jewels (songshi) as flowers mounted in the leaves. They were thought to bring wealth and represented the enlightenment of the Buddha. Ducks represented marital harmony. These exquisite ornaments probably once belonged to an aristocratic woman or a member of the Tang imperial court. Bowl manao bo Agate Tang (618- 907 CE) Excavated at Shaopoqingzhuan chang, southern suburbs of Xi'an City, 1955 This rare red and white agate was imported from Sogdiana, in modern Uzbekistan in Central Asia, testifying to the close relations between Tang and distant western countries along the Silk Road. It has been carved into a mortar that was used for grinding mineral and herbal ingredients for medical preparations. Agate is a hard stone and was thought to possess the same life-preserving qualities as jade. Foreign merchant on a galloping horse sancai tengkong qima yong Earthenware with three-colour glaze Tang (618-907 CE) Excavated at the site of the Medicine Factory (Zhiyao chang) building, western suburbs of Xi'an, 1975 This merchant from Central Asia has his goods tied behind his saddle, and his powerful horse gallops with such speed that its hooves barely touch the ground. The figure is probably a male, or possibly a cross-dressed female. Women might dress as men for both personal and social reasons. It would enable them to travel freely and circulate in public without drawing attention to themselves. There were a few women warriors in chinese history. Some, such as Mulan, made famous in the west by Disney productions, dressed as males, but most fought without disguise. Female Attendants caihui danü yong Painted earthenware Tang Excavated from a Tang tomb at Hansenzhai, Xi'an City, 1985 Two among several similar painted pottery figurines of upper class women of the late Tang period. The women are round-cheeked and full-figured and wear round-collared blouses. Their long skirts reach the ground, as do their long-sleeved gowns. One crosses her hands over her stomach and her hair is fashionably styled in a high hair-throw bun. The other has her hair styled in two thick buns over her ears, and she presents an offering on a plate. Informations: Serge Poulin, [418] 643-2158 Relations publiques et communications Issued : December 4, 2000

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