Tang West Market Museum

Yangcheng Evening News reporter Shi Yong and correspondent Ye Weihua [羊城晚报记者 施用和 通讯员 叶伟华]

From September 15 to November 30, 2011, the "Silk Road picking up shellfish-Datang West City Cultural relics Exhibition", jointly sponsored by Guangzhou Museum and Xi'an Datang West City Museum, was exhibited in the special exhibition hall of Zhenhailou.

In the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an was one of the largest and most populous international metropolises in the world at that time. Before the middle of the Tang Dynasty, "Xishi" was the most prosperous place in Chang'an.

The Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has carried out three large-scale archaeological excavations and unearthed many relics, some of which will be exhibited this time.

In addition, the exhibition also displays a large number of ancient Central Asian coins, gold, silver and jade articles, silk fabrics and other cultural relics left along the Silk Road. precious Silk Road relics such as Eastern Roman gold coins (Anastasius I), Sassan Boskus II silver coins, "gilded mandarin duck silver box", "gold frame treasure with white jade belt" and "Middle nest beads containing ribbon brocade to birds" and other precious Silk Road relics will be unveiled together.

Among the many gold coins of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire on display, the Byzantine gold coins made in the time of Anastasius I are the most precious.

Anastasius I was the last emperor of the Leo dynasty of the Eastern Roman Empire. During his reign, he reformed the currency, reduced taxes, vigorously revived the imperial economy, and reached the peak of the power of the Eastern Roman (Byzantium) Empire.

Under his active promotion, gold and copper coins together formed the main monetary structure of the eastern Roman (Byzantine) imperial society. Some or all of them were written in Greek, and Latin was no longer used. Money circulated for more than 350 years.

Many gold coins and imitations of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire unearthed in China, ranging in age from the 5th century to the 8th century, were used for circulation, gold decoration, and sacrifice, respectively.

The most amazing is the imitation of the gold coins of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) unearthed in the Sui and Tang Sogdian tombs in the southern suburbs of Guyuan. These gold coins are placed in the mouth and head of the deceased. Relevant experts believe that this burial custom is related to ancient Greek mythology.

These Eastern Roman (Byzantine) imperial gold coins unearthed in China have also become the truest witness to the continuous integration of different religions, cultures and arts on the Silk Road.

In this exhibition, there is also an exhibit reflecting the etiquette system of wearing ornaments in the Tang Dynasty-the exquisite "Golden frame Treasure White Jade Belt".

During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern dynasties, China began its first national integration, and the belt culture mixed with the cultural elements of many northern prairie peoples, especially the flat plate system that absorbed the metal lead used by the early prairie nationality. and turn it into a system of wearing etiquette.

The belt is also an important item for the emperor to reward his subordinates. Li Shimin, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, made a "headband" of gold to reward his assistants.

The thallium tail refers to the thallium tail, which is tied with a belt, and the thallium tail hangs naturally, which means "downwards".

Judging from the quantity and the jade and gold quality of this belt, it can be inferred that the owner of the jade belt must be a high-ranking official and dignitary at that time.

The exhibition also includes a number of pottery figurines unearthed in different ages, among which a lying camel figurine of the Hu people of the Sui Dynasty is very eye-catching. This terracotta figure is graceful, smooth and well-proportioned, and the kneeling camel hisses on its back. A Hu man sits cross-legged on the hump saddle, and his right hand is stretched forward to pull the reins to control the camel. The human and camel look lively and harmonious, just like a long journey after a short rest.

The image shows the colorful exotic customs on the "Silk Road" of the Han and Tang dynasties.

In addition, female figurines with wine bags in the Sui Dynasty, men in armor or cloak, men in helmets or felt hats, and female figurines in various buns also provide vivid examples for us to understand the social life and customs and clothing culture at that time.