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Culture Insider: Iconic treasures from museums across China
Source:chinadaily.com.cn Updated: 2014-08-25
There are numerous treasures in museums across China. Each museum has its top treasure. Here we list a few of the most precious pieces among China's museums.
Square Zun with Four Sheep in the National Museum of China. Used for rituals in late Shang Dynasty (between 11th-17th centuries BC), it was excavated from a hillside in Hunan province in 1938. It is renowned as the best example of bronze-making in Chinese history. [Photo/CFP]
Simuwu Quadrate Vessel in the National Museum of China. It's the largest and heaviest bronze vessel found to date and is honored as a national treasure. [Photo/CFP]
Along the River During Qingming Festival (Qingming Shanghe Tu) in the Palace Museum. As one of China's top 10 paintings, it is the only masterpiece of Zhang Zeduan, painter during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), and it is listed as a national treasure. [Photo/zhongguociwang.cn]
The Jadeite Cabbage is a piece of jadeite carved into the shape of a Chinese cabbage head, with a locust and katydid camouflaged in the leaves. It is part of the collection of the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan. [Photo/zhongguociwang.cn]
Zeng Houyi Bells in Hubei Provincial Museum. The set of bells was excavated from the tomb of Zeng Houyi,who was a Warring States duke in Suizhou city in Hubei province. The musical range of the bells, which can carry the main melody as well as the harmony,is more than five octaves. Due to excellent casting and musical performance, they have changed the music history in the world and are honored as a "world rare treasure". [Photo/zhongguociwang.cn]
The painting of "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountain" in Zhejiang Provincial Museum. It depicts the Fuchun River in Zhejiang province during the Yuan Dynasty 600 years ago. It is a masterpiece that reportedly impressed Emperor Qianlong.The picture represents the most outstanding painting skill in China from that time. [Photo/zhongguociwang.cn]
Bronze Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow in Gansu Provincial Museum. It was unearthed in 1969 in the Leitai Tomb of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) in Wuwei county, Gansu province. With unique and splendid designs, it is a classic work of Chinese ancient aesthetics. [Photo/chinaculture.org]
Blue-and-white prunus Vase with a design of Xiao He chasing Han Xin under the moonlight.This porcelain vase is a very rare one in the world in that it has an image from a historical event. The skill in pre-forming, painting, glazing and firing of the prunus vase are all at the top level among ceramics from the late Yuan (1271-1368) to early Ming dynasties (1368-1644). It's now in collection of Nanjing Museum. [Photo/zhongguociwang.cn]
Dongpo Cubed Pork-shaped Stone. This "Meat-shaped stone" looks just like stewed pork. Not only are the layers of fat and lean meat clearly defined, even the pores on the skin above are completely rendered. The stone is now collected by Taipei National Palace Museum.
Bronze Tree of Sanxingdui in collection of Sanxingdui Museum was excavated from the Sanxingdui archaeological site in Guanghan in Sichuan Province. The 3,000-year-old Sanxingdui ruins, with its are enriched and vast cultural contents, are recognized as one of the most important ancient remains in the world. [Photo/zhongguociwang.cn]