Shaanxi History Museum

陕西历史博物馆

Introduction to the Museum

Sanqin, Shaanxi province, is one of the important areas where Chinese nation lived and multiplied; it is also one of the places of the birth and development of Chinese civilization. It was the capital of 13 most glorious dynasties including Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang and so on. The rich cultural legacy and profound cultural heritage formed the Shaanxi unique historical cultural features. Shaanxi History Museum, known as “ancient capital pearl, Chinese treasure house”, is an artistic hall which displays Shaanxi history, culture and Chinese ancient civilization.

Shaanxi History Museum is located in the northwest of the Xi’an Wild Goose Pagoda. It was built in 1983 and was open on June 20, 1991. Shaanxi History Museum is China’s first large-scale modern national museum; it marks that China’s museum career has entered into a new development mileage. The Museum has the style of Tang dynasty buildings of “central palace hall with four worship houses around” with orderly, harmonious, vigorous and grave construction, melting the national tradition, local characteristics and the spirit of time into an organic whole. The Museum covers an area of 65,000 square meters. It has a building area of 55,600 square meters, the cultural relic reservoir area of 8,000 square meters, and exhibition hall area of 11,000 square meters. Its collection of cultural relics reaches 370,000, dating from the simple stone that human used at the initial stage in ancient times down to all kinds implements in social life before 1840; the time span covers more than one million years. The cultural relics are rich in number and types and have high grade and wide value, among which Shang bronze is exquisite; terracotta figurines of past dynasties are of varied types and postures; gold and silver ware of Han and Tang Dynasty is unique across the country; wall paintings of Tang tomb have no equals in this world. It is called a collection of variety of boutiques carnival.

Gold monster

Han Dynasty

Length: 11cm Height: 11.5cm

Unearthed from Shenmu County, Shaanxi Province in 1957

Standing on a lotus-shaped stand, the monster bends over to prepare to fight. It has a large horn which is divided into four branches and is decorated with a monster-head relief. Its tail is also decorated with a monster-head, and it rolls up and looks like a ring. Possibly it is an ornamental object of the Hun people who lived in the prairie in Northern China.

@ 2003 Shaanxi History Museum

Gold Dragons in Running Position

Tang Dynasty

Length: 4cm Height: 2.8cm

Unearthed from Hejiacun village, Xi'an City in 1970

These small dragons have two horns and a long tail and were decorated with fish scale patterns all over their bodies. They are exquisite artistic treasures of the handicrafts of the Tang Dynasty.

@ 2003 Shaanxi History Museum

Bronze Tiger-Shaped Tally of Du County

Warring States Period

Length: 9.5cm Height: 4.4cm Thickness: 0.7cm

Unearthed from the Southern Suburbs of Xi'an City in 1973

The tiger tally was designed to be split in half. The Emperor held the right half, and the left half was at Du county. It was used exclusively to mobilize armies in ancient China. The left half of tally is in the shape of a walking tiger. When fitted together with the right half, a troop unit of more than 50 soldiers could be dispatched. It was the symbol of highly centralized military leadership in Qin Dynasty.

鎏金飞廉纹六曲银盘

Gold plated silver plate with flying Lian pattern

This six curve sunflower shaped silver plate with relief effect at the bottom center is made by die stamping. The silver plate is polished, and the silver is as bright as new. After gilding, the filigree pattern on the central part is bright with gold, and the carving technology is more advanced. The lines are clear and accurate, and the knife technique is skilled. There is no trace of overlapping and engraving lines. This gold-plated silver plate with flying patterns of six tunes not only reflects the cultural exchange between China and foreign countries in the Tang Dynasty, but also reflects the wisdom and superb craftsmanship of the craftsmen of gold and silver wares in the Tang Dynasty.

金杯坯

Gold cup

Tang Dynasty

It is 6.3 cm in height and 7 cm in diameter

It weighs 170 grams

Unearthed in 1965 in Baimiao village, southern suburb of Xi'an City

"Gold cup" - 金杯坯

Gold cup

Tang Dynasty

It is 6.3 cm in height and 7 cm in diameter

It weighs 170 grams

Unearthed in 1965 in Baimiao village, southern suburb of Xi'an City

Casting. There is a round supporting plate on the upper part of the foot connected with the cup bottom, and the middle part of the foot has a convex edge around it, and the sole of the foot is a disc. The middle and upper part of the cup body has a string pattern (convex edge) and a circle, which seems to be made by welding. There is no welding trace between the cup bottom and the high foot round bearing plate, which should be cast at one time. There is a crack in the cup belly and base. The edge of the mouth is uneven, the thickness of the vessel wall is different, and there are many collapses, which may be the defective products formed by casting mistakes or the unmodified gold cup blanks.

The Gaozu cup in the gold and silver wares of the Tang Dynasty was mainly made under the influence of the shape of the Roman Byzantine gold and silver wares. Of course, many of them were directly imported. Obviously, this gold cup should be an imitation. Baimiao village is located in Yankang square of Chang'an city of Tang Dynasty. It is only one street away from Xinghua square where gold and silver wares were stored in Hejia village. According to the Tang Dynasty's stipulation that "pure gold and pure jade should not be used for food utensils below one grade" and the actual use and possession of gold and silver wares at that time, it was inferred that this gold cup should belong to the nobles who lived in Yankang square.

金箔

Gold foil.

This cultural relic was unearthed in the cellar of Hejia Village in the Tang Dynasty.

Since ancient times, the royal family has been in pursuit of immortality, and the court provides for scholars and fairies to refine elixir for the royal family.

In the Tang Dynasty, it was not only popular to take Dan medicine, but also gold. At that time, it was believed that gold had a magical effect of "calming the mind, calming the mind, dispelling epilepsy, repelling evil and removing evil".

摩羯纹金杯

Capricorn gold cup

The shape of the gold cup is in the shape of four-petal begonia.

There is a Capricorn playing in the water in the center of the cup.

On the inner wall of the cup, the craftsmen are divided into four sections with petal columns. In each section, two groups of symmetrical Baoxiang flowers are carved, with Ruyi patterns on both sides and petals decorated on the edge of the mouth for a week.

From the shape and decoration of the gold cup, it has a strong color of foreign culture .

Capricorn Patterns have have Appeared in at The Art of Sculpture and Painting in Ancient India at The Middle of Operating since at The THIRD, CENTURY, ESPECIALLY in at The Pagoda Gates of Buddhist Monasteries.

Capricorn pattern WAS Introduced with INTO China at The Eastward Advance of Buddhism.

Capricorn pattern was first seen in the Fu of Luo God by Gu Kaizhi in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and it was more common in the Tang Dynasty, where Buddhism prevailed, and was widely used in the decoration of gold and silver wares.

At this time , the Capricorn pattern is more diverse than the Capricorn pattern in ancient India, some are a single Capricorn fish, some are chasing fish for Capricorn, and some are Capricorn playing pearls.

This golden cup is decorated with Capricorn pearls as its theme, and has the same work and different songs with Chinese double dragons, which is obviously influenced by Chinese culture.

金马形饰

Golden horse decoration.

Han.

One is 6.1 centimeters long and weighs 46 grams.

The second residual length is 5.1 cm and weighs 38 grams.

Unearthed in 1971 in Fushan County, Shaanxi Province.

Pure gold casting molding.

They are all recumbent, with hollow eyes, nose and hooves, and a ring is cast on the front legs and buttocks, one of which has a gold ring in the tail and a meniscus hook protruding from the middle of the neck, which is used by northern nomads such as Xiongnu.

金啄木鸟

Golden woodpecker.

Spring and Autumn Qin.

1.6 cm high, 1.1 cm long and 0.7 cm wide.

Weigh 6 grams.

In 1986, Qin Gong No. 1 Tomb was unearthed in Fengxiang County, Shaanxi Province.

Cast shape, the bird has a large pointed beak, round eyes, flag-shaped crown raised high back, short neck, body depicted with flaky feathers, wings spreading, fan-shaped short tail, abdominal feet into a hollow cylinder, can be inserted into other objects.

Judging from the overall shape, it may be an ornament on the crown.

The early Qin people took the bird as the totem and the golden woodpecker as the decoration, which reflected the Qin people's worship of birds from one aspect.

金耳坠

Gold earrings.

Western Zhou Dynasty.

One is 7.2 cm long and the other is 7.4 cm long.

The total weight is 17 grams.

The tomb of the Western Zhou Dynasty was unearthed in Chunhua County, Shaanxi Province in 1982.

The gold eardrop is a round rod-shaped crank, the main body is thin hook cloud shape, the tail end is spirally rolled, the surface is smooth and smooth, and the finish is extremely high.

Made of hammering.

The early gold in our country was mainly used to make precious ornaments.

In recent decades, gold wares have been unearthed in Shang and Zhou sites and tombs in Henan, Hebei, Beijing, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan and other places.

Thin pieces of gold earrings in the shape of Gouyun, mostly unearthed in the tombs of the middle and late Shang Dynasty in Shaanxi and northern Shanxi, are unique artifacts of Guifang culture.

According to the fact that weapons used by men are also unearthed in the same tomb, this golden earring should be worn by men, and it may be used by ghosts and wizards to perform some kind of religious ceremony.

"Gold-encrusted agate cup with animal head" - 镶金兽首玛瑙杯

This agate cup is carved from a rare piece of colorful silk agate, the shape is realistic and vivid, the cup body is to imitate the shape of the horns, the front of the cup is carved into a cow-shaped head, eyes are wide-open, sparkling, depicting all the gods and shapes.

The beast's mouth is inlaid with gold, which plays the role of the finishing touch. in fact, this is the stopper of the wine cup. Remove the stopper, and the wine can flow out from here.

A pair of antelope horns on the head are spirally curved to connect with the cup body, and under the edge of the cup are properly decorated with two round convex strings, the lines are smooth and natural.

The material of this wine glass is rare and precious, and it is an extremely rare entangled agate with fine texture and clear layers.

Craftsmen also skillfully use the natural texture and shape of materials to carve, "take tricks according to color, change with shape".

The vivid and lifelike depiction in detail is the only beautiful jade carving seen so far in the Tang Dynasty, with perfect material selection, design and craftsmanship. It is the most exquisite piece of jade craftsmanship in the Tang Dynasty, which is unique in our country.

The origin of this agate cup is still controversial in academic circles, but its shape is a kind of wine set called "Litong" in the West has become the consensus of experts and scholars.

"Litong" is a Greek transliteration, with the meaning of outflow, mostly in the shape of animal horns.

Generally, there is a hole in the bottom of the wine glass, and the liquid can flow out of the hole, which functions like a funnel and is used to inject wine. At that time, people believed that using it to inject wine could prevent poisoning, and raised "Litong" to drink the wine as a sign of homage to God. Therefore, it is also often used in etiquette and sacrificial activities.

This kind of wine set is very common in Central Asia, West Asia, especially Sassan Persia (present-day Iran), and also appears in murals in Central Asia and other places.

In our country, from the images before the Tang Dynasty, this kind of wine often appears in the banquet scenes of the Hu people, and the Tang aristocrats take the pursuit of novelty as the fashion, and the unearthed of this artifact is also the witness of the Tang aristocracy advocating Hu Feng and imitating the novel way of feasting.

镶金兽首玛瑙杯

Gold-encrusted agate cup with animal head.

金筐宝钿团花纹金杯

Gold basket Baoji regiment pattern gold cup.

So what is the "golden basket treasure"?

Archaeologists have found the answer from the material account tablet unearthed in Famen Temple, which has the written record of "a real gold letter, a gold frame treasure and a real bead decoration".

By comparing the actual objects, we know that the "golden basket treasure" means that the surface of the object is welded with a frame made of gold wire and fine gold beads, and then inlaid with precious stones.

From this, we can imagine the complete appearance of this gold cup at that time, and there were colorful gems embedded in the tattoos of the cup body.

Now, although the gems have been lost, when we face this still golden and exquisite work of art, we can still feel its breathtaking and then amazing beauty.

双狮纹金铛

Double lion pattern gold bell.

This gold bell is shaped for hammering, with a single handle in the shape of a leaf bud and three animal feet under it.

In the center of the outer bottom of the bell, there are nine water ripple curves, and the outer wall is divided into nine "S"-shaped intervals, and the inner chisel is engraved with patterns such as double bird title ribbon, title Fangsheng, Li lion and flowers, and the overall composition is coordinated and gorgeous, reflecting the rich and gorgeous characteristics of gold and silverware in the Tang Dynasty.

Distinguishing composition on objects is a common way of composition in western gold and silver wares.

The bottom of the gold bell is centered by two lions and surrounded by a round frame of wheat spikes, which is a common "badge pattern" in Sashan's gold and silverware.

But the shape of the bell is traditional in China, which appeared in the Northern and Southern dynasties, such as tea bell, wine bell, medicine bell and so on.

This gold bell is also very characteristic in shape.

Usually the bottom of the utensils with three strong legs for the foot, although calm, but it is easy to look dull.

The craftsmen of the Tang Dynasty took a graceful and weak leaf bud as the handle, which not only restored the artifacts to vitality, but also swept away the dull spirit brought by the animal feet.

The superb artistic expression of the craftsmen in the Tang Dynasty is absolutely amazing.

金开元

Jin Kaiyuan.

A total of 466 coins of 39 kinds were unearthed in Hejia Village, including 30 Tongbao of Jinkaiyuan.

Jin Kaiyuan Tongbao positive regular script "Kaiyuan Tongbao", four words, Qian Wen between the shelves dignified, dense and uniform, clear handwriting, neat production, no nail marks or crescent lines on the back, and no text.

The production is regular and exquisite. When 30 pieces of Jinkaiyuan Tongbao were unearthed, they were stored in the silver box of "large grain of bright sand", which shows its precious degree.

Jin Kaiyuan and Yinkaiyuan were both cast after copper Kaiyuan Tongbao. In the Tang Dynasty, Jin Kaiyuan and Yinkaiyuan were not used as currency in circulation, but were mainly used by the royal aristocracy for games, victory, or when the emperor rewarded his courtiers.

The reward of gold and silver money appeared in the Han Dynasty at the latest.

Gold and silver became popular in the Tang Dynasty.

During the period of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Chengtianmen in Chang'an City was the place where the emperors of the Tang Dynasty issued edicts, pardoned letters or held ceremonies.

Tang Xuanzong often held banquets in Chen Le upstairs of Chengtianmen, entertained his subjects, and threw gold and silver money downstairs as a reward, forming a famous money club.

At that time, 3000 Fandai in the harem, in order to relieve loneliness and kill time, often played games of throwing gold and silver money.

Later, the game spread outside the palace and was widely popular among aristocrats.

Until the Ming Dynasty, this kind of game was still popular in the court.

镶金白玉臂环

Gold-encrusted white jade armband.

Two pairs of jade armbands were unearthed in the cellar of Hejiacun in the Tang Dynasty, and the fashion unearthed in the lotus petal silver jar. From the cover of the ink book "Jade arm Ring four", we can see the title of it in the Tang Dynasty.

This jade armband is made up of three curved white jade segments.

Three segments of curved jade are connected together with gold hinges at both ends of each piece of jade, and riveted with two gold nails, which are fastened by three hollow knots, and connected with small gold bars inside, so that they can move freely.

Among them, the gold needle is used as the plug type, the pin can be flexibly inserted or pulled out, and the side is closed and opened, which is easy to wear.

Tiger head is made of gold flakes made of chisel and hammering.

The inside of the tiger's head is riveted with two rivets.

The idea is ingenious and the production is fine.

The use of gold, white jade, jewelry three different materials of different texture, color, luster set off each other, so that the jade arm ring more luxurious and rich.

"Golden inlaid jade" means "full of gold and jade", symbolizing wealth and talent, which is very rare in the cultural relics of the Tang Dynasty.

Judging from the literature, it seems that the jade armband is not a native product of the Tang Dynasty, but may have been paid tribute or obtained from the foreign war.

“晋归义羌王”金印

The Golden Seal of Jin Gui Yiqiang King.

Jin.

Gold, camel button, square printing surface, seal script Yin text "Jin Gui Yiqiang King" five words.

金臂钏

Golden arm mackerel.

When worn on the arm, it is called "arm" or "jump", and on the wrist, it is called "wrist".

In the Tang Dynasty, there are many kinds of textures, such as gold, silver, jade, colored glass, etc., and their production is also very exquisite.

This plain-faced gold veil unearthed in Hejiacun is made of pure gold and can be opened and closed as needed when wearing it. Judging from its size and shape, this gold veil belongs to a typical gold arm.

东罗马金币

Eastern Roman gold coin.

The gold coin is 2 cm in diameter and weighs 4.6 grams. On the front is a bust of a king wearing a crown and a robe, Chirac on the left, his son on the right, and a cross engraved with a western shape at the end of the pedestal on the back, with an inscription on the surrounding edge.

Gold coins were minted by the Chirac dynasty of East Rome (610-711).

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, there was an endless stream of commodity trade on the Silk Road. Gold and silver coins from East Rome, Persia and other foreign countries circulated in Xinjiang and Central Asia, thus becoming an international currency.

金五铢

Golden five baht.

The currency in circulation in the Han Dynasty was the Han five baht, which was minted in the fifth year of Emperor Wu's Yuan Dynasty (118 BC). The round square hole weighed five baht (about 3.33 grams) and was cast with the word "five baht" in seal style, hence the name.

素面金铫

Plain noodle gold pewter.

It appeared in the Han Dynasty and was a small burner with a handle and flow. In the Tang Dynasty, this kind of utensils began to be widely used.

This plain piece of gold is hammered with a piece of gold about 0.1-0.2 cm thick. The flow, handle and body are integrated, and it is hammered with a whole piece of gold.

There are obvious hammering marks on the inner wall and outer wall of Jinzhu. From the residual traces of the inner wall, it has been used for a long time.

There are three lines of ink books on the inner bottom of Jinxing: "Jiujing uses seventeen taels of warming medicine".

The inscription involves three aspects: the user's name is "Jing"; the weight of this piece is 17 taels, equivalent to about 40.18 grams; and its use is to warm and boil medicine.

In this short three-line and eight-word ink book, the most important are the three words in the first line.

It provides an important clue for us to find the owner of this piece of gold and even to explore the owner of the relics of the whole Hejia village.

马蹄金

Horseshoe

The gold coins of Han Dynasty include horseshoe gold, Linzhi gold, cake gold and five baht gold, among which horseshoe gold and Linzhi gold are rarely unearthed. The shape of horseshoe gold is oval or round with concave and hollow bottom. It is round or irregular in shape, with a hollow back, a small mouth and a large bottom. These two kinds of coins were found in the site of Shanglinyuan in 1974. One of them weighs about 250 grams, that is, a kilogram of the Han Dynasty. It is worth ten thousand yuan. It is generally used as a reward, a gift, a betrothal gift, a large amount of trade and foreign exchanges. It is not a circulating currency.

金饼

Gold cake.

A total of more than 300 gold cakes were unearthed, ranging from 5.6 cm to 6.5 cm in diameter, weighing 250 to 300 grams, with a total weight of about 54.5 kg and a purity of 95%. Its surface is stamped with surnames such as "Huang, Zhang, Ma, Ji, Bei".

鎏金铜蚕

Gilded bronze silkworm

Gold plated copper silkworm has nine abdominal segments in its head and tail. Its chest foot, abdomen foot and tail foot are complete. Its body posture is head up or silky. It is exquisite and realistic in shape.

Gold plated bronze silkworm was unearthed in Shiquan County. According to the records of Shiquan County, sericulture flourished in ancient times. Due to the popularity of silkworm rearing and the development of gilding technology, it was possible to use gilded silkworm as souvenirs or funeral objects. The sericulture and silk reeling industry reached its peak in the Han Dynasty. The large workshops are all operated by the government. There are thousands of weavers. The silk fabrics are bright in color, with various patterns and exquisite workmanship. Silk fabrics of the Western Han Dynasty not only sold well in China, but also sold to Central Asia and Europe through western Asia. China's trade route to the western regions is famous for its "Silk Road" in the world.