Solely sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong), the special exhibition presents 120 precious artefacts from Sanxingdui and other sites, including 55 items excavated in recent years, and immersive multimedia displays bringing the ancient Shu civilisation to life
The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is delighted to unveil the special exhibition “Gazing at Sanxingdui: New Archaeological Discoveries in Sichuan” today. The official opening ceremony was held at the HKPM, officiated by Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government; Wang Yi, Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and Director of the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration; Henry Tang, Chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) Board; Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited; Winnie Tam; Chairman of the HKPM Board; Betty Fung, Chief Executive Officer of the WKCDA; and Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director, HKPM.
“Gazing at Sanxingdui” is co-organised by the HKPM, the Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan, and the Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu, with the support of the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and the Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. Bank of China (Hong Kong) is the Sole Sponsor of this special exhibition. The exhibition, open to public from 27 September 2023 to 8 January 2024 in Gallery 8 of the HKPM, features new archaeological discoveries at Sanxingdui in Sichuan Province, displaying 120 artefacts such as bronze, jade, gold, and pottery objects excavated from the Sanxingdui, Jinsha, and Baodun sites, dating back 2,600–4,500 years.
CHAN Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration, HKSAR Government, said, “With the solid foundation of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the HKSAR Government is making every effort to develop Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural and art exchange. The HKSAR Government has been working closely with the WKCDA to promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning through significant infrastructural projects, such as the HKPM, giving full play to Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a diverse hub that blends Chinese and Western cultures. Hong Kong and Sichuan have always had robust people-to-people ties, expanding exchanges and cooperation in different fields over the years. Sanxingdui in Sichuan is a major archaeological discovery of not just the Chinese civilisation but also world civilisation and has received worldwide attention. With the strong support of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, new discoveries from the Sanxingdui site are successfully exhibited at the HKPM, demonstrating the deepening cultural cooperation between Sichuan and Hong Kong. It allows the HKPM to ‘tell China’s story well’ and ‘tell Hong Kong’s story well’, testifying to the Museum’s vision to promote traditional Chinese culture.”
Wang Yi, Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and Director of Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, said, “The collaboration between the ‘Land of Abundance’ and the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ has brought forth ‘Gazing at Sanxingdui’, which is the first large-scale travelling exhibition of the precious objects newly unearthed at Sanxingdui. It is major tribute from Sichuan and Hong Kong to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The artefacts unearthed from the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites possess spectacular forms, rich meanings, and distinct regional characteristics. Their artistic styles and production techniques originated from the Yellow River and Yangtze River regions, which serve as important evidence of the ‘diversity in unity’ developmental pattern of Chinese civilisation and cultural exchanges between different regions. We look forward to welcoming Hong Kong citizens as well as visitors from the Mainland and overseas to the HKPM, where they will gain a deeper understanding of the splendour of the ancient Shu civilisation.”
Henry Tang, Chairman of the WKCDA Board, said, “The HKPM is committed to promoting the inheritance and beauty of traditional Chinese culture. Apart from showcasing the latest archaeological discoveries in Sichuan, ‘Gazing at Sanxingdui’ utilises new technologies and multimedia elements to enhance public understanding of the ancient Shu civilisation’s remarkable achievements and relationship with the origin of Chinese civilisation. Looking forward, we will present more exhibitions related to the origin and evolution of Chinese civilisation. Through the international platform of Hong Kong and the WKCD, we will promote cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the world, ‘tell China’s story well’, and strengthen the public's cultural self-confidence.”
Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive, Bank of China (Hong Kong), said, “In celebration of the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, BOCHK is honoured to be the exclusive sponsor of the ‘Gazing at Sanxingdui’ exhibition. This exhibition is certain to provide an unforgettable experience of the ancient Shu civilisation to Hong Kong citizens as well as visitors from the mainland and around the world, enabling the audience to immerse themselves in the remarkable accomplishments of Chinese civilisation. As a stakeholder and contributor of the Hong Kong community, BOCHK has long dedicated ourselves to promoting the development of arts and culture within the city. Throughout our long-standing presence of over a century here, we have been actively promoting traditional Chinese culture. Being the strategic partner of the HKPM since 2022, we have actively participated in a series of cultural and artistic activities that benefit different sectors of society, allowing Hong Kong citizens, especially young people to deepen their understanding of and enthusiasm for Chinese history and culture. Going forward, we remain committed to joining hands with various sectors to promote cultural and artistic exchanges between China and other countries.”
Featuring 120 artefacts with 23 grade-one national treasures, in four sections, demonstrating the remarkable achievements of the ancient Shu civilisation
Among the 120 artefacts on display, 100 were unearthed from the Sanxingdui site and 20 from the Jinsha (including Baodun) sites. 23 of them are grade-one national treasures, which include the bronzes unearthed in 1986 and on loan from the Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan: a bronze head with gold mask, a mask with protruding pupils, a figure with animal headdress, a zun-vessel, and the stand of bronze tree no. 2. Relics unearthed in 2001 and loaned from the Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu are also exhibited, such as bronze eye-shaped objects and jade yue-axes from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, which are loaned to another organisation for the first time.
Among the 120 artefacts on display, 55 important items were unearthed in the most recent excavations at the Sanxingdui site between 2020 and 2022. Almost all of them are displayed outside of Sichuan for the first time, such as the mythical creature, eye-shaped objects, dragon-shaped object, hybrid tiger-dragon figure, as well as the jade rectangular stand with animal face and phoenix-bird motifs. These iconic objects were recently on display at the new Sanxingdui Museum, which opened in late July this year in Guanghan, Sichuan, and include a replica of the giant standing figure. The original statue, weighing 180 kg, is the tallest known bronze human figure in the world from its time period.
The ancient Shu civilisation, represented by the Sanxingdui culture in Sichuan, is an integral part of the “diversity in unity” development of Chinese civilisation and demonstrates the remarkable achievements of the contemporaneous cultures in the upper Yangtze River region. This exhibition’s four thematic sections cast light on the art, urban life, belief systems, as well as origins and legacy of the ancient Shu civilisation while exploring achievements in art and technology across the Chengdu Plain.
The first section of the exhibition, “Timeless Gazes”, features various bronze human heads, masks, and depictions of deities. In different forms and shapes, they are expressive and magnificent, futuristic yet ancient. These gazes suggest stories now lost to history, guiding us through time and space. The second section, “Urban Life at Sanxingdui”, reconstructs Sanxingdui’s urban landscape as one of the largest Bronze Age metropolises in East Asia. This urban centre housed modest dwellings as well as one of the biggest palatial or ritualistic constructions of its time in China. The section displays a large number of bronze, jade, gold, and pottery objects created by the city’s finest craftsmen. The third section, “Gods and Shamans at Sanxingdui”, explores Sanxingdui people’s religious activities and their understanding of the cosmos. Through advanced technologies, archaeologists have restored bronze altars and statues to recreate the rituals conducted by the people of Sanxingdui. The final section, “The Origin and Inheritance of Sanxingdui”, traces Sanxingdui’s origins and legacy and explores how the Sanxingdui culture and other closely connected cultures influenced and integrated into each other over time, forming the “diversity in unity” developmental pattern of the Chinese civilisation. The exhibition also summarises the archaeological discoveries in and research on Sanxingdui and other areas of ancient Sichuan, celebrating a century of achievements in modern Chinese archaeology.
Immersive multimedia displays bring stories of the ancient Shu civilisation to life
Essential to the exhibition’s story-telling strategy are over 10 innovative multimedia displays. One display utilises 3D holographic projection to recreate a 1:1 grand scene of the sacred bronze tree, one of the iconic treasures housed in the new Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan, Sichuan. Another display uses virtual conservation technology to reconstruct objects, which have been divided into several parts that could not be physically joined due to concerns about the object’s structural stability. Through studying broken parts, analysing their structures and employing AI technologies, researchers from Sanxingdui postulated that the kneeling figure with a zun-vessel unearthed from pit 3, the mythical creature unearthed from pit 8, and a portion of the zun-vessel’s mouth rim excavated from pit 2, are likely parts of the same object. In this exhibition, visitors will see a 1:1 3D projection of the digitally reconstructed object: a bronze figure with a zun-vessel riding on a mythical creature. A naked-eye 3D sand table map of the Sanxingdui site provides in a dynamic manner the historical background of the ancient Shu civilisation. A number of documentary videos invite visitors to learn more about the latest development in excavation and conservation work at the Sanxingdui site. Together, these multimedia displays bring the stories about the ancient Shu civilisation and Sanxingdui archeology to life.
International symposium, public talks and educational activities to facilitate the public’s understanding of China’s archaeological achievements in the past century
In conjunction with the special exhibition, the HKPM will host the “Sanxingdui and Bronze Age China” international symposium from 27 to 28 September 2023. Leading Chinese and overseas scholars will present the latest archaeological discoveries at Sanxingdui while engaging in dialogue on the social, cultural, and technological developments of Bronze Age China. In addition, a public lecture hosted by Tang Fei, Director of the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, will take place in the evening of 28 September 2023. The talk will be livestreamed on the online platforms of the HKPM, as well as CMG Radio The Greater Bay, engaging audiences in in-depth exchanges with Tang on topics such as stories of Sanxingdui and the archaeological excavations at the Sanxingdui site. Other learning and engagement activities include archaeology workshops for children, teaching resource kits, film screenings, guided tours, and public talks. Please refer to the Museum's website for details.
Unique Sanxingdui-themed cultural and creative products to accompany the special exhibition
The HKPM presents an extensive range of over 100 Sanxingdui-themed cultural and creative products, ranging from keychains, bookmarks, stationery, mystery toy boxes, tote bags, magnets, kung-fu tea sets and mugs inspired by the iconic bronze tree and bronze mask, to ice popsicles and chocolate lollipops shaped like the human head with gold mask and the bronze mask. These products, to be launched in phases, will be available for purchase at the HKPM gift shop ART EXPRESS by The Commercial Press and the Chinese teahouse XIA both on G/F of the Museum.
HKPM’s new publication Gazing at Sanxingdui: New Archaeological Discoveries in Sichuan is available for sale at the Museum’s gift shop ART EXPRESS by The Commercial Press from late September. Published by the HKPM in three editions (in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and English), it is the first scholarly catalogue that provides an in-depth and systematic exploration of the latest archaeological discoveries at Sanxingdui, comprising 4 essays and 86 object entries written by the HKPM’s curatorial team and scholars from Sichuan and other parts of the world. The catalogue examines the Sanxingdui culture from archaeological, art historical, conceptual, theoretical, and technological perspectives. The Simplified Chinese edition, edited and distributed by the Shanghai Fine Arts Publisher, is expected to be released in October 2023.
Special opening arrangements during the National Day Golden Week holidays to welcome visitors from Hong Kong, Mainland and abroad
Tickets for “Gazing at Sanxingdui” special exhibition are priced at HKD150 for adults and HKD75 for visitors eligible for concessions*. In anticipation of the high visitor flow during the National Day Golden Week holidays, the HKPM will remain open on 3 October (Tuesday), a normal museum closure day. The tickets for this special exhibition at Gallery 8 will allow access to the thematic exhibitions in Galleries 1 to 7 as well.
Tickets to the exhibition can be purchased through the HKPM website, the West Kowloon Cultural District website or mobile app, the online ticketing platform Cityline, and the online platforms of ticketing partners China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited, Fliggy, KKday, Klook and Trip.com.
*Concessions apply to children (aged 7 to 11), full-time students, seniors (aged 60 and above), persons with disabilities (with one companion), and CSSA recipients.
Remarks
About the Hong Kong Palace Museum
The Hong Kong Palace Museum aspires to become a leading institution in the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture while advancing dialogue among world civilisations. The Hong Kong Palace Museum is a collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Palace Museum and is funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of HK$3.5 billion for its establishment, as well as some of the annual exhibitions and educational programmes in 2023–2031.
Embracing new curatorial approaches, the Museum combines a Hong Kong perspective with a global vision to present precious artefacts from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions around the world. Through research, exhibitions, and educational and professional exchange programmes, the Museum aims to build international partnerships and position Hong Kong as a global hub for art and culture. At heart a resource that belongs to the local community, the Museum strives to inspire community engagement, foster dialogue, and promote creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration.
About the West Kowloon Cultural District
The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural projects in the world. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong on 40 hectares of reclaimed land located alongside Victoria Harbour. With a varied mix of theatres, performance spaces, and museums, the West Kowloon Cultural District will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances, and cultural events, providing 23 hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.
https://www.westkowloon.hk/
