A tale of cross-strait cooperation is how the National Museum of History is publicizing its collection of bronze and jade finds from the Jia and Yi tombs of Huixian in China, presented at the Re-exploring Treasures exhibition.
Organizers say the exhibition "reflects the improved academic cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait," which sounds promising. Unfortunately, the enterprise is let down by its presentation.
PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES
Though Chinese and English-language leaflets are available to help explain the historical significance of 300 pieces of brassware and items of jade from the Eastern Zhou era (around 550 BC), little other context for the finds is given and the overall impression is of some dusty pots and a few arrowheads filling up space.
PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES
For example, a collection of bits for horses, at least seven of them, are presented on a piece of felt that has seen better days. A collection of hinges, similarly laid out, is in the next display cabinet. Jade fragments are given the same treatment. There is no explanation of their use, just a label to inform the viewer what is before them and how big it is.
The viewer is left, therefore, with little idea of what to make of these things, except that they are old and mostly broken. Their significance in terms of historical development and how they were created or used, is absent and this puts the viewer into a "Yes, so what?" frame of mind.
On one of the few occasions that a framework for the pieces is given, the difference is instructive. "An appliance with two axles" is displayed with other related items such as "bridle ornaments" and "axle ornaments," underneath a picture of a horse and chariot, as it must have looked over 2,500 years ago. In this instance, it is possible to imagine the use and significance of the items on display.
The exhibition catalogue, on the other hand, is impressive. Full of information and photographs, the book presents the items better than the exhibition does.
This should be no great surprise. Clearly, this is a work of love from academics hugely involved in what they are doing.
Originally, the tombs of Hui-xian were excavated between 1935 and 1937 -- "the golden age of Chinese archeology." The artifacts were subsequently dispersed as a result of war.
Only now have researchers from China and Taiwan managed to coordinate themselves to complete research on the finds, concluding that the tomb was that of a noble couple from the Wei State in the middle to late Spring-and-Autumn period (770-475 BC).
While the organizers and academics can be congratulated for their endeavors, it would benefit the public if their ideas and conclusions were presented better.
Nevertheless, there can be no complaints at a NT$20 entrance charge, which also gives access to the Tang Tri-Color and Painted Pottery exxhibition.
Re-exploring Treasures -- Artifacts from the Jia and Yi Tombs of Huixian will be on show until June 20, at the National Museum of History (國立歷史博物館), 49 Nanhai Rd, Taipei (台北市南海路49號).
A few weeks ago I found myself at a Family Mart talking with the morning shift worker there, who has become my coffee guy. Both of us were in a funk over the “unseasonable” warm weather, a state of mind known as “solastalgia” — distress produced by environmental change. In fact, the weather was not that out of the ordinary in boiling Central Taiwan, and likely cooler than the temperatures we will experience in the near-future. According to the Taiwan Adaptation Platform, between 1957 and 2006, summer lengthened by 27.8 days, while winter shrunk by 29.7 days. Winter is not
A sultry sea mist blankets New Taipei City as I pedal from Tamsui District (淡水) up the coast. This might not be ideal beach weather but it’s fine weather for riding –– the cloud cover sheltering arms and legs from the scourge of the subtropical sun. The dedicated bikeway that connects downtown Taipei with the west coast of New Taipei City ends just past Fisherman’s Wharf (漁人碼頭) so I’m not the only cyclist jostling for space among the SUVs and scooters on National Highway No. 2. Many Lycra-clad enthusiasts are racing north on stealthy Giants and Meridas, rounding “the crown coast”
March 25 to March 31 A 56-year-old Wu Li Yu-ke (吳李玉哥) was straightening out her artist son’s piles of drawings when she inadvertently flipped one over, revealing the blank backside of the paper. Absent-mindedly, she picked up a pencil and recalled how she used to sketch embroidery designs for her clothing business. Without clients and budget or labor constraints to worry about, Wu Li drew freely whatever image came to her mind. With much more free time now that her son had found a job, she found herself missing her home village in China, where she
In recent years, Slovakia has been seen as a highly democratic and Western-oriented Central European country. This image was reinforced by the election of the country’s first female president in 2019, efforts to provide extensive assistance to Ukraine and the strengthening of relations with Taiwan, all of which strengthened Slovakia’s position within the European Union. However, the latest developments in the country suggest that the situation is changing rapidly. As such, the presidential elections to be held on March 23 will be an indicator of whether Slovakia remains in the Western sphere of influence or moves eastward, notably towards Russia and