Han relics on show in Paris

by Lin Qi via “China Daily“

Valuable Chinese relics are to be exhibited in France, giving European visitors a glimpse ofthe rich traditions of the Han Dynasty. Lin Qi reports. It is probably the largest exhibition of Chinese relics outside thecountry. Curators describe it as “an unrivaled show” as itexplains why the majority of Chinese are called the Han peopleand why they speak the language of Han people and write Hancharacters. The exhibition, Han Dynasty, will open at the MuseeGuimet in Paris in October, and will display about 457 artifactsthat bear testimony to the dynamism of the Middle Kingdom.

The exhibition, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of theSino-French diplomatic relations, will present a retrospective ofthe Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), the empire that hadprofound and long-lasting influences on Chinese history.Antiquities, including dozens of national grade one collections,are on loan from 27 Chinese museums and cultural institutions.They provide various perspectives on the dynasty’sadministration system, its agriculture, its alliances with borderingcountries and the start of Silk Road through which itcommunicated with the West.

“The exhibition will demonstrate the most complete and beautifulgems of the Han Dynasty, helping people to understand the foundation of Chinesecivilization,” says Sophie Makariou, director of the Musee Guimet.

“One of the highlights of the exhibition is the juxtaposition of archaeological discoveries made over the past five decades,which continue to renovate Chinese archaeology.”

These breakthroughs have been largely achieved during burial excavations, with the objectsfound revealing the relationship between emperors and feudal princes. Terracotta warriorsare some of the best examples of the imperial power, which come from the mausoleum of LiuQi (188-141 BC), the empire’s fourth emperor, which has been turned into a museum in Xi’an.Visitors will also see lamps and incense burners from the tomb of Liu Sheng (165-113 BC),son of Liu Qi and titled Prince Jing of Zhongshan. . . . .