| Luoyang Museum | |
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Tang Dynasty clay figurine of a tomb guardian |
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Location within China
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| Established | 1958, 1974 |
| Location | 298, 中州中路 (Zhongzhou Zhonglu) (near Wangcheng Park), Zhongzhou Road, Luoyang City China |
| Collection size | 1700 |
| Public transit access | Trolleys No 102 or 103 from the Luoyang train station. |
| Website | Zhongzhou Road, Luoyang City |
Luoyang Museum (pinyin: Luòyáng bówùguǎn)[1] is a local historical museum in Luoyang, Henan Province of China. Situated in the Yellow River valley, the museum is 160 kilometres (99 mi) west of Zhengzhou. It offers exhibits of the rich cultural heritage of Luoyang, a major Chinese cultural centre, which was the capital of more than a dozen ancient dynasties of the Xia and the East Zhou.[2]
The museum was first built in 1958 in Guanlin, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) south of Luoyang City. It was moved to the north side of Zhongzhou Road in 1973 near the Wangcheng Park, which, at an area of 67 hectares, is the largest public park in Luoyang. The new museum opened on May 1, 1974. It houses relics from excavation sites on the outskirts of Luoyang, in the city's old section. They include antiquaries from palaces and temples. These artifacts establish the historical past of Luoyang, representing elements of the ancient city of nine capitals, from Neolithic times up to 937 AD.[3] Another museum in Luoyang also contains archaeological finds, the Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum, but it specializes in tombs as more than 10,000 have been found in the local area.[4]
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The museum is built in ancient Tang Dynasty Chinese architectural style. An Eastern Han Dynasty painting of the "hundred- flower" lantern is displayed on the front facade of the museum.[5]
With four display halls, and five exhibition rooms,[6] it is spread over 20,000 square metres (220,000 sq ft) with a floor space of 10,000 square metres (110,000 sq ft).[5] The antiquaries are arranged in such a ways as to demonstrate the stages of social structure evolution, beginning with Primitive Society in the first hall, followed by aspects related to slavery, and feudalism. The exhibits are also arranged in a sequence of ancient cultures starting with Heluo, followed by Yangshao, Longshan, the Xia (21st century BC-17th century BC), Shang (17th century BC-11th century BC) and ending with Zhou (11th century BC-256BC).[2][7]
Two collections are major permanent exhibits: the "Historical and Cultural Relics of Luoyang" and the "Selected Cultural Relics of Luoyang." Travelling collections from the Luoyang Museum are located in Japan, Germany, France, Singapore and South Korea.[8] In addition, the Museum also conducts exhibitions of calligraphy and paintings and other items every year.[2]
Many of the exhibits are of bronze, pottery, porcelain, gold, silver, jade and stone wares. In addition, the Ming and Qing dynasty articles include ancient calligraphic works and paintings, and folk art objects.[8][9] Pieces include stone age figurines and implements of Tang Dynasty;[10] a figurine of a young woman with coiled hair excavated in 1980; a young woman figurine in clay with dragon design headgear; an imperial attendant at the Jingling Mausoleum of Ziyou, Emperor Xianzhuang Mangssssssan of Northern Wei Dynasty ( 314 centimetres (124 in)); and an imperial attendant at the Jingling Mausoleum of Yuan Key, Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei Dynasty (289 cm tall);[11]
There are also items excavated at Erlitou, an important Shang site 30 metres (98 ft) east of Luoyang. These include jade, bronzes, and pottery artifacts of the Xia and Shang dynasty.[12] A winged bronze figure with gold inlay measuring 15.5 centimetres (6.1 in) by 9.5 centimetres (3.7 in) from the Eastern Han Dynasty was secured from a tomb on the outskirts of Luoyong and represents a three dimensional sculpture of an enlightened person.[3] Three relics from the earliest Buddhist Yongning Temple built in 519 under the Northern Wei dynasty reign, and a figure painted in clay unearthed from the base of the Yongning Temple are also part of the collection.
Of the mingqi items excavated in 1972 from a nearby Western Han tomb, a house-like kitchen and 190 pottery articles are a part of the museum collection.[13] There are two epitaph tablets that record the construction of the Gongling mausoleum of Li Hong.[11][14]
The museum also functions as a centre for research and training.[8]