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Changsha Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tombs Exhibition
3rd Floor
Permanent Exhibition
Free admission
The excavation of the three Western Han Dynasty Tombs at Mawangdui, Changsha, which took place between 1972 and 1974, was one of the world’s most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. The fully preserved tomb structure as well as a wealth of funerary items serve to fully embody everyday life and funeral concepts during the Han Dynasty. Over 700 exquisite lacquer items with intricate workmanship reflect the brilliant accomplishments of Han Dynasty lacquerware, and over 500 exquisite textile garments fully attest to the “Kingdom of Silk” (Seres) in the Western historical records. More than 50 bamboo slips and silk manuscripts serve as “encyclopedias”, demonstrating the knowledge and wisdom of the ancient sages. Strange and bizarre coffin paintings embody the fantasies of people in the Han Dynasty ascending to the heavens and longing for external life, while the dreamlike face of a deceased woman is a testament to extraordinary preservation techniques. The Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tombs are renowned as the exemplar of the history and civilization in the early Han Dynasty, providing a window to understand society in China over 2,100 years ago.
Hunanese
2nd Floor
Permanent Exhibition
Free admission
Hunan, located in the central Chinese hinterland, is bounded in the north by the waters of Lake Dongting, embraced on three sides by majestic mountains, and crisscrossed by the four rivers, Xiang, Zi, Yuan, and Li. The province, known as the “Land of the Hibiscus” since Tang Dynasty, is blessed with rich resources and a temperate climate. The region was settled almost 500,000 years ago by people who have welcomed migrants over various periods with open hearts. The descendants of these original settlers and generations of migrants make up the “Hunanese” we know today.
From the earliest domestication of wild rice to the breeding of rice cultivars and finally to the growing of the hybrid rice of today, Hunan has always been grounded in rice farming. Over the generations, the diligent and wise people of Hunan, with their practical minds, have engaged in mutual help and built a comfortable pastoral home for themselves. In the process, they created a land abundant with food, which is known as “the Granary of China”. From eating rice with fish to enjoying spicy and hot flavors, the people of Hunan practice a way of life that has been passed down through the generations and seek a way of life that is above and beyond the mere utilitarian. Shang and Zhou (1600--256 B.C.) ritual music instruments made out of bronze, lacquered-wood vessels from the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.--220 A.D.), the popular Changsha ceramics in the Tang Dynasty (618--907 A.D.), and the well-educated farmstead family of Ming and Qing periods (1368--1912A.D.): these are all reflections of Hunanese customs and beliefs, and the Hunan way of life.
For thousands of years, due to deep immersion in the culture of the Central Plains, patriotic thoughts, strong scholastic heritage, and modern ideological agitations cultivated the generations of great men who have emerged from Hunan. The people of Hunan are bold, fiercely patriotic, and deeply loyal.
Contemporary Exhibition-Special Exhibition
A Far Journey - An Exhibition of Tai Xiangzhou's Works in Tribute to the Han Dynasty Paintings of Mawangdui
No.3 Special Exhibition Hall, 3F
From December 21, 2024 to February 21, 2025, Hunan Museum will hold the "A Far Journey - An Exhibition of Tai Xiangzhou's Works in Tribute to the Han Dynasty Paintings of Mawangdui" in No.3 Exhibition Hall on the third floor.
This exhibition is the grand finale of the series of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the archaeological excavation of the Mawangdui Han Tombs by Hunan Museum. It carefully selects a total of 70 pieces (sets) of Tai Xiangzhou's new works in the past two years and representative works from different periods, which is a phased summary and retrospective exhibition of Tai Xiangzhou. The exhibition is divided into four sections, mainly presenting a new interpretation of the cultural patterns of the Han Dynasty in Mawangdui in the contemporary context, and how to continuously update artistic expressions with the characteristics of the times in the face of the profound history and culture of Xiaoxiang. The Xiaoxiang series of works are based on Tai Xiangzhou's research on Song Dynasty paintings. Considering the locality of the exhibition itself and combining the traditional culture and landscape features of Hunan, he reinterprets and explains the historically famous "Eight Scenes of Xiaoxiang Landscape Paintings" in a contemporary artistic language, completing a dialogue with the Huxiang culture, which can also be called "Inquiring into Xiaoxiang". The Celestial Phenomena series is one of his representative works. Especially in the expression of mountain stone structures and clouds, he has developed his own unique painting language, expanding ink painting to the spatial and temporal dimensions of geography and even cosmology. Learning from the ancients is the best way to study traditional Chinese painting. Tai Xiangzhou's Imitation of Ancient Landscape series precisely takes inspiration from the classic landscape paintings of the Song Dynasty and injects his own ideas and concepts, making the paintings present the characteristics of the times with "new looks on ancient appearances".
Tai Xiangzhou deeply understands that to enter the history of art, one must be familiar with the ideological and philosophical histories of ancient and modern times and complete one's own artistic construction and academic system. Looking at his painting process and ideological concepts, you will find that they subtly conform to Chinese philosophy and artistic spirit, reflecting the contemporary artist's thinking and exploration of the real world in the context of the new era. The exhibition aims to actively promote the innovation and
development of contemporary Chinese landscape painting and enable more people to understand and inherit the excellent traditional Chinese culture.
The Grace of Chu: the Exhibition of Painting and Calligraphy Works of Hunan Scholars in the Ming and Qing Dynasties
Special Exhibition Hall of Calligraphy and Painting，3F
Hunan is renowned not only for its graceful and beautiful landscapes but also for its long - standing history and a rich gathering of talents and culture. Scholars of Hunan cherish the ideals of governing the country and bringing peace to the world, dare to be the first, and take it as their responsibility to manage the state, benefit the people, and apply knowledge to practical affairs.
Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, Hunan culture has developed unprecedentedly. “In Hunan, numerous talents who made unparalleled achievements spring up in succession.” Yuelu Academy cultivated Wang Fuzhi, Wei Yuan and other great thinkers, and its couplet “The kingdom of Chu, the unique home of talents, the Academy of Yuelu, the very cradle of all”, is well-known all over the world. As an old saying goes, “Nine out of ten of the meritorious ministers of the Tongguang Resurgence were Hunanese.”
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were countless scholars, literati, generals with literary grace in Hunan, such as Li Dongyang, Wang Fuzhi, Luo Dian, He Xiling, Tao Shu, He Shaoji, Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Wang Kaiyun and other scholars who not only left their names in the history books and pushed forward the development of the society, but also were diligent in the study of calligraphy and traditional paintings, leaving behind tens of thousands of works.
At the same time, many scholars from other provinces, who worked in Hunan as officials, such as Qian Feng, Wu Dazhi, Shen Han, etc.,drew nourishment from this fertile soil, entertained each other with paintings and calligraphy works, which worked as a bridge between local scholars.
The exhibition selects more than one hundred pieces of works of Hunan scholars since the Ming and Qing dynasties, which are divided into the following four parts: “Erudition of Scholars”, “Elegance of Literati”, “Minds and Ambitions of Literary Generals”, “Legacies of Non-native Ministers in Hunan”. It not only displays their artistic style, but also their morale under the nourishment of Hunan culture, helping people understand the core of Hunan spirit, which is “Be practical” and “Be realistic”.
Youth is Meant for Striving: An Exhibition of Youthful Mao Zedong’s Cultural Relics
Themed Exhibition Hall, 3F
Over the past century, with every forward stride of the era, the figure of the youth has been reflected, promoting the victory with their beliefs, suppressing the turbulence through diligence, and composing the anthem of the times with their youth.
Youthful Mao Zedong harbored lofty ideals, sought knowledge, tempered revolutionary skills, pursued truth, courageously undertook the mission of national rejuvenation, and harmonized knowledge with action, awakening the masses of workers and peasants. Confronting difficulties directly, he dared to struggle and advocated for striving.
This exhibition, centered around time, carefully selects over 150 exhibits from the Hunan Museum, Changsha Museum, Mao Zedong and the First Normal School Memorial Hall, and Hunan Provincial Archives. It showcases the journey of young Mao Zedong from studying at the normal school to leading the movements of workers and peasants, narrating his exemplary influence in cultivating moral character, establishing lofty ideals, loving the great motherland, and shouldering the responsibilities of his era.
Special Exhibitions
