Unveiling History: Hong Kong Palace Museum Showcases Sanxingdui Artifacts

Unveiling History: Hong Kong Palace Museum Showcases Sanxingdui Artifacts

A Glimpse into Ancient Civilization

The Hong Kong Palace Museum opens its doors to a special exhibition of Sanxingdui artifacts from September 27th until January 8th next year. This unique presentation will feature 120 artifacts that date back from 2,600 to 4,500 years ago. The artifacts include an assortment of bronze, jade, gold, and pottery pieces, which provide a snapshot into the ancient civilization of the region.

The collection includes 23 national first-class cultural relics and 55 artifacts unearthed between 2020 and 2022. Most of these pieces are being showcased outside Sichuan province for the first time, making the exhibition a rare spectacle for history and archaeology enthusiasts.

Exhibition Themed: “Gazing at Sanxingdui”

The exhibition, titled “Gazing at Sanxingdui: New Archaeological Discoveries in Sichuan,” is divided into four distinct sections. These include “The Eye of the Past,” “Life in Sanxingdui,” “Gods and Witches of Sanxingdui,” and “Origins and Evolution of Sanxingdui.” Each of these sections sequentially presents the artistic world, urban life, spiritual beliefs, and evolution of life in Sanxingdui.

Jiao Tianlong, Chief Researcher at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, commented that Sanxingdui artifacts are characterized by their large eye features, hence the theme “Gazing at Sanxingdui.” The goal of the exhibition is not just to display these historical pieces but also to encourage visitors to delve deeper into the story behind these artifacts and pay attention to their critical aspects.

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Unique Artifacts on Display

Among the many pieces, the exhibition highlights the “Big Mask,” which was unearthed in 2021 and is being displayed in Hong Kong for the first time. This mask exhibits the typical large eye features of Sanxingdui artifacts along with smooth and solemn lines. As the largest bronze mask discovered worldwide so far, it is believed to be a representation of a deity.

Other intriguing exhibits include the “Big Divine Beast” unearthed last year and the “Kneeling Human Figure with Twisted Head” excavated in 2021. The exhibition also includes more than ten multimedia installations that introduce the “Bronze Divine Tree,” a treasure of the new Sanxingdui Museum, and a dynamic map of the Sanxingdui site.

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Exhibition Details and Ticket Information

Adult tickets for the exhibition are priced at 150 Hong Kong dollars, with a concessionary ticket price of 75 Hong Kong dollars. Those interested can purchase tickets through the museum’s website, the West Kowloon Cultural District website, or its mobile application. The exhibition promises to be a captivating exploration into ancient civilization, affording visitors an opportunity to gaze into the past and marvel at the artistic prowess and cultural richness of the region.

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