Grey figuline dragon -3Wangye Museum
Design connects science and art, and preserves ancient technology in the form of art. Design spans time and space, and meets the needs of humans at the time. In modern times, it promotes the development of society with new inspiration. Standing in front of these cultural relics that embody the wisdom of our predecessors, we should humbly and inquisitively think about historical events and our path to the future.
Bright memories
Before the electrical age, people used fire to light up the darkness, and then lamps came into being. In ancient China, lamps were mainly made from bronze or ceramics.
Bronze tripod container / lid as lamp (Warring States Period)Wangye Museum
Warring States period bronze tripod lamp
When collapsed, the three-legged lamp has a cover with two buttons to keep the fuel tightly sealed inside to prevent any spillages.
When in use, the two buttons are connected to and support the two sides. The lid folds and flips so it can be used as a lamp tray. Excellently designed and constructed and easy to use, this is a lamp that the nobility would take with them when traveling.
Bronze oval box-shaped folding lamp -1Wangye Museum
Han dynasty bronze oval box lamp with folding lid
An oval box with cover, where half of the box is used to store the lamp oil. Half of the lid can be turned upward to become the lamp tray.
Bronze oval box-shaped folding lamp -2Wangye Museum
There is a small spout on the inside of the lamp tray, so when the lamp is not in use, any remaining lamp oil will flow into the box and the lid can be closed again. From this, we can see that the ancient people were conscious of being thrifty, hygienic, and safe.
Bronze bird-shaped lamp -1Wangye Museum
Bronze bird-shaped ceiling lamp
The lamp is shaped like a bird, with a crown of flowers on its head and its wings spread, ready to fly. The belly of the bird is hollow and used to store the lamp oil. Attached to the bird's crown is a flower-shaped post on which the wick is placed. It has a long, straight tail that makes it easy to hold.
Black glaze fuel-efficient lamp -1Wangye Museum
Song dynasty black-glazed oil-saving lamp
During the Tang and Song dynasties, oil-saving lamps started to emerge. The black-glazed oil-saving lamp injects cool water through a small hole in the back to keep the temperature of the lamp down. This also reduces the speed at which the lamp oil is used, to extend the burn time.
Scholarly elegance
Scholars were one of the most important social strata in ancient China. They were the first to bring the academic world to the common people and they had a deep impact on social progression. Scholarly items include an array of materials and crafts, which reflect the development of social aesthetics and craft design.
Bronze hollowed-out censer Bronze hollowed-out censer (Han dynasty)Wangye Museum
Han dynasty bronze hollow aromatherapy diffuser
It is made up of five parts: the lid, body, stem, base, and diffuser.
Bronze hollowed-out censer -2Wangye Museum
The lid has holes and is connected to the body by a hinge. The stem has leaf decoration, and the overall design makes it look like a bud waiting to bloom.
Rectangular chaoshou she-inkstone of vase-shaped ink pool Rectangular chaoshou she-inkstone of vase-shaped ink pool (Southern Song dynasty)Wangye Museum
Rectangular hollow inkstone
This inkstone is unique to the Song dynasty and evolved from the basket-shaped inkstones of the Tang dynasty. The bottom of the inkstone has been hollowed out, so the walls on either side can be used to hold the inkstone.
Rectangular chaoshou she-inkstone of vase-shaped ink pool -2Wangye Museum
It is a simple shape with smooth lines that give it a proper and elegant appearance.
Buckhorn censer tube with Xianglong arhat pattern -1Wangye Museum
Ming dynasty antler incense holder with arhat and dragon engraving
Made from a deer antler, it is engraved with a picture of an arhat subduing a dragon. Incense sticks can be placed inside the holder, and it is excellently crafted and portable.
Womanly gentleness
The private boudoir lives of women during over 2,000 years of feudal society in China have remained a mystery and lacked description, but the remains of cultural relics can confirm our ideas about these women. The objects from these women's lives were influenced by many factors, such as social customs, public appearance, and emotional values. Often compact and delicate, they generally portray a gentle and beautiful image of women.
Golden case with lid and repousse ruyi clouds pattern -3Wangye Museum
Gold ruyi cloud box with lid
Lidded boxes were used to hold spices, rouge, and jewelry, and were commonly found on women's dressers.
Golden case with lid and repousse ruyi clouds pattern -2Wangye Museum
This ruyi cloud pattern is created using a hammering technique, giving the box a three-dimensional and symmetrical appearance.
Bronze mirror with landscape, pavilions and cloud patterns -1Wangye Museum
Bronze pavilion landscape cloud mirror
In the shape of a cloud supporting the moon, this bronze mirror is engraved with the story of the Lunar Palace.
Bronze mirror with landscape, pavilions and cloud patterns -2Wangye Museum
On the left is a jade rabbit making medicine under a leafy laurel branch.
On the right is a two-story pavilion, which is supposed to be the Guanghan Palace.
Bronze compact mirror -2Wangye Museum
Song dynasty bronze compact mirror
Bronze mirrors in ancient times were rarely compact mirrors. The mirror surface and the cover are connected by a hinge.
Bronze compact mirror -1Wangye Museum
It is small and easy to carry around. Mirrors of a similar design are still used today.
Bronze spring box with phoenix pattern inlaid with gold and silver -1Wangye Museum
Warring States period bronze with gold and silver inlay phoenix spring box
The box uses advanced spring technology, so when you press the top, the lid opens. The box is decorated with a phoenix pattern made from inlaid gold and silver, a typical style of Chu during the Warring States period.
Bronze spring box with phoenix pattern inlaid with gold and silver -2Wangye Museum
The ring at the top can be used to attach the box to your waist and carry it with you, making it portable as well as compact.
Strength of protection
To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools. War is related to national security and life and death. Weapons development was the primary priority in past dynasties to enhance national defence. Therefore, the most advanced technology was applied to the design a
Crossbow trigger mechanism with zoomorphic pattern inlaid with gold -2Wangye Museum
Warring States period bronze with gold and silver inlay animal crossbow trigger
A crossbow trigger is a component installed on the rear of a crossbow arm. It is used for pulling and releasing the string, making it the equivalent of the trigger on a modern firearm.
This trigger is inlaid with gold to create animal patterns, such as tigers, owls, cranes, deer, and rabbits.
Gilt bronze three eye blunderbuss stick with "made in the second of Zhizheng reign" -2Wangye Museum
Bronze and gold-plated three-barrel gun from the second year of the Zhizheng period of the Yuan dynasty
This gun is a short firearm. Gunpowder was added to the barrel, and it was filled with steel balls or iron blocks. A match was then lit to detonate the gunpowder and launch the projectiles.It has three barrels, which could be fired in turn.
Gilt bronze three eye blunderbuss stick with "made in the second of Zhizheng reign" -3Wangye Museum
The handle is engraved with the words, "Made in the second year of the Zhizheng period," indicating that it was made in 1342.
