SHAANXI HISTORICAL MUSEUM

This museum, opened in 1992, is located one kilometer northwest of the pagoda of the Great Wild Geese.

History

The architecture of this large building is inspired by a Tang Palace. The archeological collection from the city and its surroundings is renowned for the quality of its ancient bronzes and sculptures of the Han and Tang. The museum exhibits thousands of objects (40,000 pieces) of Xi 'an great past, such as the frescoes of the Tang tombs (beauty equivalent to those of Dunhuang). We strongly advise you to visit this magnificent museum before seeing the army's site in terracotta because it is a good introduction to the history of the region, which is closely involved in the history of the empire and the stunning archeological treasures there.

Visit

The ground floor. The visit begins with China's prehistory. Neolithic first with objects dating up to 7,000 BC. Pottery objects including faces of men. Rich collections of bronze and beautiful and intriguing masks of animals and men. Ornaments on bronzes or pottery are at the beginning of very simple drawings and gradually turn into Chinese characters becoming increasingly abstract. It is interesting to see this evolution over the ages. Then appear the first objects in jade. In the last floor of the ground floor, you can admire four superb soldiers of the emperor Qinshihuangdi's 221 B.C. army in storefront, who will put water in your mouth if you have not yet seen the site of the army buried. Note also the first coins appearing in the empire. Some of them are square, others look like small platelets. Because the pieces have not always been round! Molds used to melt these bronze pieces are also presented.

On the floor. This floor includes a number of pieces with just breathtaking beauty. They can capture the evolution of pottery and bronze work in the region over the dynasties.

First the western and eastern Han gallery (202 BC at 220) which presents scenes of daily terracotta life: dogs, pigs, hens, ducks… but also characters like peasants and musicians. Army soldiers in a small window in the center of the room where there are many traces of polychromia. Armed soldiers but also beautiful rows of riders. You can also see in this room, the first paper in the region, made with hemp.

Then the north and south dynasties up to 581. Period corresponding to the introduction of Buddhism, what the Buddhas present in this room recall. Some beautiful Buddhas of white marble from 386 to 534.

In the Sui and Tang hall (from 581 to 907), many very beautiful polychrome potteries (three colors) were made at that time. The favorite animal is the horse. Beautiful bronze mirrors. A collection of demons holding beneath their feet of land creatures from the end of this period. To see also beautiful wall frescoes that were found in the mausoleum, including fun polo players. The dead didn't have to miss anything. In the past we buried the prince with his living courtyard. But people have gradually been replaced by representations such as pottery, bronzes and paintings recalling daily life. Death had to be able to feed, entertain and regain its land power in the world of the dead.

Finally the Song dynasties, Yuan, Ming and Qing for the period from 960 to 1840. Collections of countless potteries. Women of the time, musicians, servants… but also beautiful Buddhas. Just gorgeous.