Enjoy the Elegance at Leisure: the Slow Life of the People in the Song Dynasty
Introduction
Enjoy the Elegance at Leisure: the Slow Life of the People in the Song Dynasty
Most of the literati and scholars of the Song Dynasty were well educated in poetry and books, and had the desire to both help the world and be virtuous. The peace and humility in Confucianism, the purity and naturalness in Taoism, and the philosophy of finding one’s true self in Buddhist, enabled them to live with the ease of mind whether in the times of the success or frustration. They did not pursue power and wealth; instead, they valued the taste and entertainment of life while knowing the meaning of their lives.
As senior officials, they would "worry first and enjoy later", displaying their ambition of governing the country and unifying the world; in the face of the ups and downs of life and career, they would "not be pleased by external gains nor saddened by personal losses", but rather, they pursued inner peace. In their spare time, they would relax their mind, indulge themselves in nature and enjoy and contemplate life.
Playing the Guqin and chess, writing and painting, drinking tea and wine, arranging flowers and burning incense, and gathering to appreciate the antiques, as elegant life paradigms and cultural phenomena, have been admired and emulated by generations to come.
The literati and scholars of the Song Dynasty had lived up to our ideal model of life more than a thousand years ago.
Highlights
Visiting guide
Book advance ticket for “Enjoy the Elegance at Leisure: the Slow Pace of Life in the Song Dynasty” here:
Tickets:
Full-price ticket: RMB 50 per person
Concession ticket: RMB 25 per person (full-time undergraduate students and below, people aged 60-65 years old, low income households, enjoy price concessions with valid documents.)
Free admission: Children under 14 years old, elderly people over 65 years old, persons with disabilities, military personnel in active service and retired military cadres with valid documents.
Hours and Location:
Date: Oct, 15th, 2020-Jan, 15th, 2021
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 every Tuesday to Sunday(admission closes at 16:00)
Closed on Mondays, except for public holidays.
Venue: Special Exhibition Hall, No.2 (1F)
Tel：0731-84415833, 0731-84475933
For more info, please follow our official WeChat account: Hunan Museum (湖南省博物馆)
Getting Here:
Bus Route:
You can take the No.131, No.112, No. 146, No. 150, No.358, No.113, No.901, No.136, No.203 buses.
Metro:
You can take Metro Line 1, get off at Peiyuanqiao Station, exit the station through Exit 2, and then take No.112/ No.222/ No.901 bus to the Hunan Museum.
You can take Metro Line 2, get off at Yingbinlu Station, exit the station through Exit 5, and then take No.131/ No.113/ No.146 bus to the Hunan Museum .
