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Cultural relics of the Shang Dynasty (c.1600 BC -- c. 1100 BC) from Jiangxi Province are on show in Beijing's National Museum of China. The exhibition opened on February 28 and will run through to August 28. This is the first in a "Series of Exhibitions of Important Archaeological Discoveries in Recent Years." The exhibition is co-sponsored by the National Museum of China and the Culture Department of Jiangxi Province.

Of the 179 items on display most are bronze ware. They were all excavated in Dayangzhou Village of Xingan County in Jiangxi Province in 1989. Thirty-four of the items are cultural relics under first-class national protection. A bronze ceremonial ladle is believed to be the only one of its kind in the world. 

According to Wang Ning, director of the Cultural Relics Storage and Research Office in Jiangxi Provincial Museum, the most treasured of all the items is a bronze sculpture of a fierce, squatting tiger with a small bird on its back. The sculpture is 50 centimeters long and 30 centimeters high. Experts have studied it since the time of its discovery in 1989 but as yet can't offer an explanation as to what it might have been used for. Now visitors have their chance to view the mysterious "tiger-bird" sculpture and take a guess themselves.

The recovery of the bronzes in Dayangzhou Village generated huge world interest in 1989. From a burial chamber -- less than 40 meters in size -- 475 bronzes, 754 jade pieces and 139 pottery artifacts were discovered. Archaeologists assessed that the find was the third most significant in China after the Yin Ruins found in Anyang City of central China's Henan Province and the Sanxingdui Site in southwest China's Sichuan Province. This is the first time the works have been shown in Beijing.

The bronzes are in typical South China style -- the area is renowned for the intricacy of the work produced there. From the shapes and veins archaeologists assessed that most were made in the local area. Some huge bronzes were cast in parts and then assembled. This displayed a level of skill greater than that found in relics in central areas. Bronze pots, bells and cymbals reflect the character of the local area. Besides the bronze pieces there are many other ceremonial adornments and porcelains.

China's "bronze period" reached its height during the Shang Dynasty. Traditional, historical theories hold that China's bronze culture belonged to the country's central area. South China was regarded as being "barbarous and remote" with no evidence of the area having its' own bronze culture.

However, the 1970s find of the Wucheng Site in Zhangshu City, Jiangxi lifted the veil on the bronze culture in south China and the Dayangzhou site showed the extent of it. This find of cultural relics was in the same system as the Wucheng Site.

Further Information:

Dates: February 28 -- August 28

Time: 8:30-16:30

Venue: National Museum of China

Ticket Price: 20 yuan

Booking: 6512 8967

(China.org.cn by Chen Lin, March 11, 2006)