Shanghai Museum

The only feeling to have is overwhelming awe when looking at artifacts that easily date back thousands of years in the Chinese culture. The skills that are visible are humbling. I had been to the Shanghai Museum in January and it was a place I wanted to visit again.

From the museum brochure, "The Shanghai Museum, established in 1952, is a large museum famous for its collection of ancient Chinese art in the world. It has 120,000 pieces of works of art in the collection with ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics and calligraphy and painting as it special feature. Now the museum has ten monographic galleries of bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, painting, sculpture, seals, jade, furniture, coins and minority nationalities' art, three special galleries for donated ceramics, three exhibition halls to hold temporary exhibitions and a multimedia studio. The works of art shown in the galleries are mainly masterpieces of Chinese cultural heritage, spanning from the Neolithic Age through Ming and Qing dynasties until modern times."

One of my my favorite galleries was that of ethnic minorities' arts and crafts. There are 56 ethnic groups of people in China. The gallery featured costumes that were symbols of their cultures. They varied in material, design, color, ornamentation to represent their different ways of life, methods of production, religious faiths, aesthetic standards, and geographic environments. Beautiful textiles with woven, printed or embroidered designs and distinctive artifacts such as metal ware, lacquer ware, pottery, masks, and carved and knitted works are the reflection of peoples' skills in art creation and craftsmanship. A heavily embroidered Manchurian court robe and cloak was so beautiful, I had to go back and take a second look before I left that gallery. The style was to meet their original needs of hunting and fighting, with the large front and 'sword' sleeves to protect the hands in fighting. Later this style of garment became the Manchurian formal way of dress.

On my visit in January, the jade gallery was closed for reinstallation so I was glad that it was now open for viewing. China has an abundant deposit of jade and the tradition of jade carving started early in the Neolithic period. The style of carvings over the years have reflected Chinese politics, the economy, culture, ideology, ethics, and religion. Archaeological excavations have shown that jade was primarily owned by the upper class in ancient China. The jade was often buried in the tombs of clan leaders and royal family members. It was believed to be a link between the gods and human beings and served to get rid of evils. Jade was used in sacrificial ceremonies to worship gods, worn to honor ancestors, buried with dead, and worn as amulets. Confucius related jade to human morality, the positive kind, so wearing jade became very popular with all classes of people. Watching a short video on the mining and carving of jade illustrated a very skilled craft. I had to take several photos showing off the intricate designs of many of the pieces.

The Bronze Age in China started in the 21st century BC and lasted about 2,000 years. Bronze technology is considered one of the most important achievements of Chinese civilization. Main uses of the bronze were for ceremonial purposes, again, by the upper class in this early time. The variey and quantity of the bronzes that would be used in an occasion would be a reflection of the owner's social status and power. The main uses of the bronzes were as wine, food, and water vessels; musical instruments; and armory. The intricacies of design were spectacular.

The ceramic gallery was another highlight. The pottery and porcelain were beautiful. How could one not appreciate a Ming vase! Colors ranged from muted tones to vibrant colors. Each dynasty had its own characteristics of design. The early works shown dated to the prehistoric Neolithic period. I have commented on the hard beds over here but they are no match for the ceramic pillows that I noted in the display!

Other gallery stops included the painting, calligraphy, and the Ming and Qing furniture galleries. Each offered a chance to learn more about the Chinese culture. The museum was full on this day and it was the first time that I had seen so many Americans in one place since I had been here. It is a popular stop on the tourists' itineraries. There is a security check when you enter and if you have a bottle of liquid in your bag, you are asked to take a drink. That was a first time for me. Maybe airlines could do the same thing. If you took a drink of your water as you went through security you wouldn't have to wait until you got 'to the other side' to purchase the inflated price liquids!