Shaanxi History Museum

Located in Xi'an, China, the Shaanxi History Museum is a comprehensive history museum with unique characteristics. It mainly displays the history, culture and artistic essence of Shaanxi from ancient times to the Tang Dynasty, and even to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The museum has attracted much attention due to its rich collection of cultural relics, covering many categories such as bronzes, terracotta warriors, gold and silver wares, jades, calligraphy and paintings. Here are some of the most distinctive collections in the museum.

Hejiacun cellar gold and silver ware
The Hejia Village gold and silver ware cache, discovered in 1970 in the southern suburbs of Xi'an City, is a representative of precious Tang Dynasty gold and silver ware. More than 1,000 gold and silver ware, glassware, and gemstones unearthed from the cache are exquisitely crafted and unique in style, showcasing the craftsmanship and lifestyle of the Tang Dynasty. They include gold vases, silver boxes, gemstone ornaments, cups and bowls, etc. Some of the objects also have elements of foreign cultures, reflecting the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty's opening up to the outside world and cultural exchanges. The Hejiacun cellar is one of the treasures of the Shaanxi History Museum, and is highly ornamental and historically valuable.

Tang tri-color glazed pottery figurines
Tang tri-color glazed pottery is a typical representative of Tang Dynasty ceramic craftsmanship, and is known for its rich glaze colors and vivid shapes. The Tang tri-color glazed pottery figurines in the collection were mostly used for burial, including figurines of maids, horse-riding figurines, and foreign figurines, which are of various shapes and colorful. These terracotta figurines reflect the multicultural exchanges and prosperous economic conditions of Tang society. For example, the foreign figurines are dressed in exotic costumes and have three-dimensional, vivid facial features, vividly recreating the inclusiveness and acceptance of foreign cultures at the time. Tang tri-colored glazed pottery is not only a work of art, but also an important source for understanding the social life and folk customs of the Tang Dynasty.

Gilt bronze silkworm
The gilt bronze silkworm is a highly representative cultural relic from the Han Dynasty, and was discovered in Xianyang, Shaanxi in 1984. This small and exquisite bronze silkworm is covered in gold and is a symbol of the ancient people's reverence and importance attached to the silkworm industry. As the only unearthed Han Dynasty bronze silkworm in the world, it not only reflects the superb craftsmanship of the Han Dynasty, but also the prosperity of the Silk Road and the highly developed silk weaving industry of the Han Dynasty. The gilt bronze silkworm is one of the highly cultural valuable collections of the Shaanxi History Museum.

Bronze ware collection
Shaanxi is an important birthplace of bronze ware culture. The bronze ware collection in the museum represents the bronze craftsmanship from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties to the Qin and Han Dynasties, and has important historical value. Bronze ware was mostly used in important occasions such as sacrifices and banquets, and the types include ding, gui, gong, he, etc. The famous “Li Gui” is a bronze ritual vessel from the Western Zhou Dynasty, and its inscriptions record historical events from the early Zhou Dynasty, which is of extremely high archaeological value. In addition, standardized bronze wares from the Qin Dynasty after the unification of the six states are also on display in the museum, reflecting the political system and technological level of the Qin Dynasty.

Wall paintings and painted figurines
The museum houses a large collection of Tang Dynasty tomb murals and painted figurines, mainly unearthed from the imperial Tang Dynasty tombs such as the Zhaoling and Qianling. These murals are beautifully painted with bright colors and cover a wide range of subjects, including court life, banquets, hunting, dancing and more, truly recreating the social landscape and aristocratic life of the Tang Dynasty. For example, the Hunting Scene at the Qianling Mausoleum vividly depicts the hunting scenes of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and is full of the atmosphere of the times. In addition, the painted figurines are vivid in shape and have different expressions, complementing the murals and demonstrating the superb level of sculptural art in the Tang Dynasty.

Qin Terracotta Warriors
Although the Qin Terracotta Warriors are mainly displayed at the nearby Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, the Shaanxi History Museum also houses some representative works of the Qin Terracotta Warriors. These terracotta figures reflect the scale and majesty of the army of the First Emperor and are a microcosm of the military power of the Qin Dynasty. There are many different types of terracotta figures, including warrior figures, chariot figures, cavalry figures, etc., each of which is exquisitely carved and lifelike. The production technology and craftsmanship of the terracotta figures are breathtaking, demonstrating the wisdom and artistic standards of the craftsmen of the Qin Dynasty.

Jade, calligraphy and painting
The museum has a wide range of jade pieces, covering all kinds of jade from the Neolithic period to the Ming and Qing dynasties, demonstrating the Chinese civilization's admiration for and inheritance of jade culture. The jade pieces in the collection include ornaments, ritual vessels, practical utensils, etc., which are exquisitely carved and lustrous, reflecting the superb level of ancient jade craftsmanship. The calligraphy and paintings are also quite distinctive, especially the calligraphy and paintings from the Tang Dynasty, such as the ink works of the Tang Dynasty calligrapher Yan Zhenqing. These works not only have artistic value, but also show the spiritual outlook of ancient literati.

These collections of the Shaanxi History Museum are not just works of art, but also witnesses to history. Through them, we can understand the social development of Shaanxi from ancient times to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, as well as the historical process of craftsmanship, religious beliefs, and foreign exchanges.