Shanghai Museum A Storehouse Of Imperial Treasures And Cultural Pride

Chinese art and culture are among the richest and most beautiful in the world

, befitting China's reputation as one of the first established civilizations in history. The Chinese people are known for their nationalist fervor and fierce pride in their history. It is then only to be expected that the largest and most celebrated museum in the country should take the ancient arts and crafts of Imperial China as its main purview.

The Shanghai Museum is a distinctive complex noted for its unique architectural style that dominates the city center's People's Square. The exterior of the building appears in the form of a dome arising from a square base which is said to represent the ancient Chinese symbols of heaven and earth. The distinctive architectural features, the quality and range of its artifacts and the use of modern techonology in displaying these collections to their best advantage, not to mention the sheer size of the museum all combine to make the Shanghai Museum the most famous of its kind in China.

The museum houses three exhibition halls as well as eleven galleries, ten of them being specifically designated to a particular type of artifact. The ten galleries are divided into the following categories: ancient bronzeware, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, jade, coinage, furniture, imperial seals and the crafts of China's minority nationalities. Smaller exhibitions are held in the eleventh gallery, often displaying items on loan from other institutions or collections.

The bronzeware collection comprises over 400 pieces dating from the Shang and Zhou dynasties while the ceramics division boasts pottery from the Neolithic Age up to the Warring States period, highlighting the artwork of the Shang, Zhou, East Han and Tang Dynasties along the way.The exhibitions of paintings and calligraphy are similarly extensive, claiming at least 120 masterpieces among its collection dating from the Tang dynasty onwards, excepting any contemporary art. The beauty, unique styles and traditions of the artwork are enhanced by the gallery's Confucian elegance.

The majority of sculptures in the museum are themed on and around Buddhism. The jade collection is an undoubtedly fascinating one, as the delicate lines carved rocks symbolic of wealth, power and perfect morality glow vividly with a crystalline sheen. The furniture section hosts over 100 exquisite pieces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which are largely believed to be the most superlative eras in terms of interior design. These are showcased against a recreated model garden setting from that time, drawing attention to how the style of furniture is interwoven with the culture and etiquette of the period and the different characterisitcs of each era; the Ming designs fall in more fluid and harmonious lines than the Qing, which favours complexity of ornamentation hence their furniture was made from thicker wood.

The Gallery of Chinese Seals displays items from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Qing; this gallery is the first of its kind. The Gallery of Chinese Coins holds special significance to the country's history as China was one of the first countries to coin money. This 7000 strong collection follows the ebb and flow of the nation's economic evolution and its foreign trade. Last but not least, the exhibit of Chinese Minorities pays tribute to the many nationalities whose patchwork of influences contributed to the enrichment of modern Chinese culture. The exotic art styles imported to China by these varied ethnic groups are presented in the form of handicrafts, pottery, textiles and metal ware they have produced through the centuries.

The galleries, intriguing and suffused in a mystic atmosphere as they are, have to compete for popularity with the Shanghai Museum's underground courtyards which have been recreated in authentic Chinese techniques and remain mysteriously light and airy despite being several feet below any possibility of natural sunlight.

Visitors to Shanghai, whether on business or a leisure trip must surely take the time out to make a proper tour of China's most famous museum. Travelers planning an extended stay can find business accomodation Shanghai at Somerset Xu Hui. Located very near the city's business and retail district, thisShanghai apartment hotel offers ideal corporate housing replete with excellent business facilities and proximity to the city's main transport links, so guests can sight-see and travel in comfort and convenience.

by: Pushpitha Wijesinghe

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