More than 3,300 years ago, Yinxu is the first capital site of the late Shang Dynasty in the history of China that has been documented and confirmed by archaeological excavations. The Yin Ruins and the unearthed oracle bone inscriptions have completely confirmed the legendary Shang Dynasty, and China's written history has advanced by about 1,000 years.
The discovery and determination of Yinxu is the origin and cornerstone of exploring Shang culture, Xia culture and tracing the origin of Chinese civilization.
The magnificent palace complex, the large-scale royal tomb area, the highly developed bronzes, the systematic and mature oracle bone inscriptions, and the handicraft system with a clear division of labor ......These systems show the social and cultural outlook of the Shang Dynasty and the achievements of the development of Shang civilization.
Where is the "new" of the new Yinxu Museum? What are some of the most eye-catching artifacts? How to "read" and understand business civilization from the new museum? On February 26, the new Yinxu Museum was officially opened to the public, and nearly 4,000 sets of exquisite cultural relics were unveiled, of which three-quarters of the cultural relics were unveiled for the first time.
Aiming Higher: Focusing on the characteristics of Shang civilization, the theme is concentrated in the three main exhibition halls.
The new Yinxu Museum is located in the west section of Yarn Factory Road, Yindu District, Anyang City, adjacent to the Huanhe River. Outside the museum's gates, the tranquil waters on both sides shimmer in the sun. The building of the new hall presents a tripod shape, standing in the water**, and above the bronze gate is the oracle bone text "Dayi Shang". The exterior of the building is a bronze veneer curtain wall, simple and profound, and from a distance, the museum is like a bronze tripod from the Shang Dynasty.
According to reports, the new Yinxu Museum has 8 exhibition halls, a total of three floors on the ground, is the first panoramic display of the Shang civilization of the national major thematic museum, is one of the key projects of the Yellow River National Cultural Park.
Focusing on the theme of "The Great Shang Civilization", the exhibition of the new museum comprehensively explains the prosperous urban civilization, perfect ritual and music civilization, developed bronze civilization, splendid writing civilization and superb handicraft technology of the Shang Dynasty from multiple perspectives such as the history of the Shang Dynasty, oracle bones, archaeological history, and the world spread of the Shang civilization, vividly presenting the important position and role of the Shang civilization in the history of the development of Chinese civilization and even human civilization.
The four basic elements of the capital, handicrafts, jade and writing constitute the civilization, and the old hall of the Yinxu Museum is basically arranged according to the four elements of the capital, bronze, jade and oracle bones. Yue Zhanwei, a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, introduced that the new museum will integrate the "four elements" into the lives of merchants, showing the degree of development of merchant civilization in terms of clothing, food, housing, transportation, sacrifice, agriculture, and war.
The theme of the exhibition is concentrated in the three main exhibition halls, and the basic display on the first floor is "Exploring Shang Civilization", taking Yinxu as the starting point and cornerstone of the exploration of the source of Chinese civilization, clarifying the development of Shang civilization, and focusing on the archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style and Chinese style.
On the second floor, the "Great Shang Civilization" is basically displayed, and the important achievements of the Shang Dynasty in politics, military, agriculture, handicrafts, writing, and capital construction are displayed in a panoramic manner.
On the third floor, the basic exhibition "The World's Shang Civilization" is based on an international perspective and explains the world significance of the Shang civilization.
The three basic exhibition themes are distinct and closely connected, allowing the audience to feel the infinite charm of archaeology and Shang civilization more intuitively and immersively.
In addition, the four thematic exhibitions also have their own characteristics. On the first floor, the "Yinxu Chariot and Horse Relics Exhibition" for the first time focuses on 23 carriages unearthed in Yinxu, reproducing the spectacular scene of chariots and horses. The special exhibition "Wang Ji and the Quartet" focuses on the cultural relics of the Shang Dynasty in Shandong, Anhui, Hunan, Sichuan, Hebei, Hubei and other provinces. On the third floor, "Where does the chief come from-the special exhibition of the long tomb of Zhuang Dongdiya in Yinxu Garden" shows the tragedy and grandeur of the iron-blooded military general Yachang in the Shang Dynasty in the form of revealing the secret; "Who is the son - Yinxu Garden Zhuang Dongdi Oracle Bone Special Exhibition" decodes the code of civilization and vividly restores the image of the "prince" of the Shang Dynasty.
The exhibits are more abundant - nearly 3,000 sets of new cultural relics, and you can see people and things through things.
The new Yinxu Museum will display nearly 4,000 sets of cultural relics such as bronzes, pottery, jade, oracle bones, etc., and the number and types of cultural relics on display are the largest in the exhibition of cultural relics of the Shang Dynasty. Gao Yong, deputy secretary of the Anyang Municipal Party Committee and mayor, introduced that the museum displays a large number of exquisite bronze cultural relics of the Shang Dynasty, showing the heyday of the bronze civilization more than 3,000 years ago, and also allowing the audience to experience the exquisite bronze casting skills of the Shang Dynasty up close.
In 1928, archaeological excavations began in Yinxu, and a large number of capital architectural ruins and rich cultural relics represented by oracle bone inscriptions and bronzes were unearthed. The "Simu Xin" copper square tripod unearthed from the tomb of the woman, the Tunnan oracle bone that once "shocked the world with an oracle bone", and the majestic Yachang copper Yue will all be exhibited in the new museum.
The new museum also displays the latest achievements of archaeological excavations in Yinxu in recent years, such as Taojiaying Ruins, Xindian Ruins, and the top ten new archaeological discoveries in the country in 2022 - the Tomb of the Shang King in Yinxu in Anyang and the surrounding remains. In addition, the large ox horn sacrifice pit, the ox sacrifice pit, the horse sacrifice pit, the turquoise inlaid oracle bones, lacquer and other exquisite cultural relics can allow the audience to experience the cultural phenomenon of the Shang Dynasty that attached great importance to sacrifice, as well as the ingenious technical craftsmanship.
The cultural relics that everyone has seen, heard, and even heard of before will appear in the new museum. Zhao Qingrong, executive deputy director of the Yinxu Museum, introduced that nearly 3,000 sets of cultural relics in the new museum are on display for the first time, for example, the oracle bones unearthed from the H3 oracle bone cellar pit in Zhuangdongdi of Yinxu Garden are displayed for the first time more than 110 pieces.
Walking into the exhibition hall, a piece of exquisitely shaped bronzes such as Ding, Gui, Yao, Jue, Yue, Ge and so on flashed blue-green light under the illumination of the light, and the new cultural relics can be seen everywhere. A large number of bronze goblets, bronze jukes, jewelry, supplies, etc. were unearthed from the tomb of the woman, and the king's spirit came to the face; Cute animal-shaped cultural relics such as jade bears, jade mantises, jade cicadas, jade dragons, and jade fish add vitality to the mysterious Shang Dynasty ......
The exhibition is more ambitious - a variety of exhibition arrangement methods to enhance the immersive experience of visitors.
In addition to the smart architecture and heavy cultural relics, the museum's exhibition methods have also been carefully designed, and the audience's viewing experience has been comprehensively upgraded.
Construct a large field space to highlight the grandeur of the dynasty. The design of the exhibition space is based on solemnity and atmosphere, focusing on the interpretation of historical facts in the context of a large space, based on the exploration of the source of civilization to find the diversity and inclusiveness of civilization, based on the definition of civilization to elaborate a rich and comprehensive business culture system, and the construction of a large field exhibition space such as exhibition field + art field + metaverse field + spiritual field, and multi-dimensional display of the magnificent atmosphere of the Shang Dynasty.
Pay attention to diversified display, and fully display the connotation of business civilization. With solemnity and atmosphere as the basic observance, the museum widely uses digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and multi-** to endow cultural relics, documents, oracle bone records and other new expressions of the times, enhance the breadth, depth and accuracy of the panoramic display of Shang civilization, and build an interactive place for cultural relics, history and digital virtual space.
For example, more than 20 precious cultural relics of the Shang Dynasty, such as Duling Fangding in Zhengzhou, Yaugu Bronze Yue in Subutun, Shandong, Siyang Fangzun in Ningxiang, Hunan, and the kneeling jade figure in the Yinxu Women's Good Tomb, are perfectly presented in the same space through naked-eye 3D technology, allowing people to experience the charm of Shang civilization and oracle bone inscriptions in a multi-dimensional, three-dimensional and immersive way; Another example is the immersive digital special exhibition "See Tianyi Merchants Again", with the help of scientific and technological means, in the form of Wu Ding's narration, to intuitively show the strength and glory of Dayi merchants.
Walking in the new hall of Yinxu Museum, you can see the dragon rising, the divine bird flying, the eyes of the gluttonous and other ornaments everywhere, the Shang Dynasty's superb craftsmanship and design are amazing. "By displaying the precious cultural relics, oracle bone documents and archaeological achievements that are as bright as the stars, the new museum deeply explains the continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness and peace of Chinese civilization contained in the Shang civilization, so that the world can more intuitively feel the brilliant era of early China represented by the Shang civilization. Zhao Qingrong said.
Yinxu Museum in the eyes of experts.
A new starting point for the protection and utilization of Yinxu in the new era——An interview with Yan Yalin, Director of the Department of Archaeology of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.
The completion and opening of the new Yinxu Museum is not only a comprehensive summary and all-round presentation of the existing archaeological research results in Yinxu, but also a new starting point for the protection and utilization of Yinxu in the new era, which is of great significance for inheriting the past and opening up the future. On February 23, Yan Yalin, director of the Department of Archaeology of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, said in an interview with reporters.
Yan Yalin believes that the new museum is an important display platform for the research results of Yinxu archaeology and Shang civilization. The construction of the new museum pays tribute to the fruitful archaeological achievements of Yinxu for more than 90 years and generations of archaeologists, and pays tribute to the more than 100 years of glory of modern archaeology in China. The new museum provides an important platform for the transformation of archaeological research achievements in Yinxu, focusing on the display of nearly 4,000 unearthed cultural relics such as bronzes, jade, oracle bones, pottery, etc., so that the audience can enter the "Dayi Shang" in the oracle bone inscriptions and documents.
The new museum is a key node to improve the level of protection and utilization of the Yinxu site. Under the guidance of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the new museum is integrated into the overall environment of the archaeological site park and the modern city, full of science and technology, not only the architectural design follows the principle of low-carbon and green, but also the construction of scientific and technological archaeological laboratory, high-standard cultural relics exhibition hall, cultural relics warehouse, etc., will undertake archaeological research, cultural relics restoration, scientific and technological testing, research and education, tourist services and other functions, for the Yinxu science and technology archaeology and cultural relics research, preservation, display to provide high-standard facilities, is another representative masterpiece of the construction of the new era site museum.
The new museum is a spiritual garden to enhance national self-confidence and cohesion. The new museum cleverly integrates the cultural elements of Yin Shang and modern architectural concepts, and strives to create a large-scale exhibition space for display, art, and spirit, so that the audience can feel the breadth and profundity of Shang civilization and strengthen cultural self-confidence; We should further foster the concept of respecting cultural relics and history, and consciously protect the roots and soul of the Chinese nation.
Relying on the new museum, it can better demonstrate China's principles and attitudes in the protection of cultural relics and the inheritance of history and culture, publicize the experience and achievements of China's cultural heritage protection to the international community, provide Chinese cases and Chinese experience for developing countries to deal with the issues of protection and development, protection and inheritance, and expand the influence and dissemination of Chinese culture. Yan Yalin said.
Inheriting the excellent traditional culture of Yin Shang is the fundamental purpose.
Interview with Chen Xingcan, Director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Director of the Yinxu Museum.
Yinxu is the capital of the late Shang Dynasty, the hometown of oracle bone inscriptions, the birthplace of Chinese characters, and the cradle of Chinese archaeologists. On February 23, Chen Xingcan, director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the "Institute of Archaeology") and director of the Yinxu Museum, said in an interview with reporters that in order to show the broad and profound Yin Shang culture in a more comprehensive, systematic and simple way, the Institute of Archaeology and the people of Anyang City joined hands to build a new Yinxu Museum.
Chen Xingcan introduced that from the beginning of the Yinxu Museum project in 2021 to the opening of the museum, and even the future operation and management, the Institute of Archaeology has participated in the whole process. In particular, a lot of work has been done in the selection of the site of the museum, the matching of the structure and layout of the museum with the cultural relics on display, the archaeological excavation with the construction of the museum, the interpretation and application of the elements of Yin Shang culture, the compilation of the knowledge text of the museum exhibition and the revision of the exhibition outline, the accuracy of the form design of the exhibition content, and the popularization and training of the Yin Shang culture.
It is the fundamental purpose and principle of Yinxu Museum to tell the story of Yin Shang, inherit the excellent traditional culture of Yin Shang, and serve the construction of modern civilization of the Chinese nation. The broad and profound Yin Shang civilization needs to be explained and interpreted in simple terms in order to be better disseminated and utilized. Chen Xingcan introduced that the Institute of Archaeology has set up an expert group for the compilation of knowledge texts of Yinxu Museum, carried out field research for many times, expert online and offline seminars, etc., comprehensively and systematically compiled millions of words of knowledge texts, reviewed and revised the exhibition outline dozens of times, and comprehensively reviewed the content of the exhibition layout. More than 100 times of communication and coordination with curatorial companies and other relevant departments on the exhibition form and expression methods of cultural relics. These works fully guarantee the accuracy, comprehensiveness and authority of the interpretation of Yin Shang culture.
In the future, Yinxu Museum will continue to improve the museum's exhibition work, and accelerate the protection and display of soil cultural relics represented by Che Ma Keng; Make full use of the museum's refined archaeological laboratory to carry out laboratory archaeology, and at the same time display the laboratory archaeological work to the public; Carry out positive interaction with top museums at home and abroad, vigorously create high-level original boutique exhibitions, and promote Yin Shang culture; Further strengthen the research and interpretation of Yin Shang culture, and display the latest archaeological excavations and research results in a timely manner. Chen Xingcan said.
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