As a permanent exhibition of Anhui Museum, "Anhui Civilization History Exhibition" is a history of the development of Anhui regional civilization. The Paper learned that the exhibition hall of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties of the permanent exhibition has been closed for nearly half a year for upgrading and renovation, and will meet the public with a new look in the near future. At the first exhibition, the museum borrowed the treasure of the town museum, the Xiong Han Ding of King Chu, which was unearthed in Anhui and is now collected in Tianjin Museum. It will be displayed together with a number of important artifacts in the museum's collection, such as the Zhuke Ding, the Yi Ding of King Chu, and the Qi Jin Jie of Ejun.
The "Anhui Civilization History Exhibition" is a permanent exhibition of the Anhui Museum, which is located on the second and third floors of the new "Shushan Hall". The exhibition is divided into five parts: prehistoric period, Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, Han, Wei and Jin dynasties, Sui, Tang, Song and Yuan dynasties, and Ming and Qing dynasties, and comprehensively displays the representative relics, historical events and figures of Anhui in various historical periods.
Starting from December 3, 2024, the exhibition hall of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties of the "Anhui Civilization History Exhibition" will be closed for upgrading and renovation. After more than four months of renovation, it will meet the public with a new look in the near future. At the opening exhibition, a "ding"-level reunion after more than 90 years will be staged - the treasure of the Tianjin Museum, the Chu King Xiong Han Ding, returns to its hometown for the first time, and a number of heavy objects such as the Zhuke Ding, the Chu King Yi Ding, and the E Jun Qi Jin Jie in the museum's collection will be displayed in the new exhibition.
Image courtesy of the Xiong Han Ding, King of Chu, Tianjin Museum
Detail of the Xiong Han Ding, King of Chu. Photo courtesy of Tianjin Museum
Rubbings of the inscription on the Xiong Han Ding, King of Chu, and its interpretation. Photo courtesy of Tianjin Museum
The Xiong Han Ding, King of Chu, was unearthed in 1933 from the Tomb of the King of Chu in Li Sangudui, Shou County, Anhui Province (now Yanggong Town, Huainan City). The owner of the Tomb of the King of Chu in Li Sangudui was Xiong Han, King You of Chu, the son of Xiong Yuan, King Kaolie of Chu. In archaeological excavations, cultural relics with inscriptions on the tomb owner are particularly precious. Such cultural relics can prove the identity of the tomb owner and provide key evidence for the study of historical figures, social systems, funeral customs and other information. At present, three artifacts with the inscription "Xiong Han, King of Chu" have been found in the Tomb of the King of Chu in Li Sangudui: two Xiong Han Dings, King of Chu (collected in the National Museum of China and Tianjin Museum respectively, the two tripods are basically the same in shape and inscription), and one Xiong Han Pan, King of Chu (now in the Palace Museum). The Xiong Han Ding, King of Chu, in the National Museum of China was transferred by the Anhui Provincial Museum. The Xiong Han Ding, King of Chu, in the Tianjin Museum was formerly in the collection of Fang Huanjing, a collector from Anhui Province, Baochuzhai. After being stolen from the tomb of the King of Chu in 1933, the tripod flowed to the Beijing-Tianjin area. It was soon collected by Fang Huanjing and later returned to the Tianjin Museum.
The Xiong Han Ding, King of Chu, is 53 cm tall, 45.5 cm in diameter, and 148 cm in belly circumference. The tripod has ears, a straight belly, hoof-shaped feet, and a lid with a ring and three deformed bird-shaped buttons. There are more than 60 inscriptions on the lid, the rim, and the belly. From the inscriptions, we know that the tripod was a ritual vessel made by Xiong Han, King of Chu, to celebrate his victory, using captured weapons. Xiong Han, King of Chu, reigned from 238 to 228 BC. In March of the tenth year of King You of Chu (228 BC), King You died and was buried in Shouchun.
The return of the Xiong Han Ding, the king of Chu, is a reunion after 92 years. In the exhibition hall, it is specially placed together with the Yi Ding, the king of Chu (the inscription vessel of King Kaolie of Chu), showing the two generations of Chu kings in the same frame.
Chu Wang Yi Ding
Bronze Gui
Bronze Gui
Along with the Xiong Han Ding, two bronze gui vessels were brought back to the hometown of King Chu You. They were two of the nine tripods and eight gui vessels buried with King Chu You, and were also formerly in the collection of Fang family of Baochuzhai. During the exhibition, the museum will exhibit the nine tripods and eight gui vessels for the first time next to the Zhuke Ding. At that time, the audience will see the most comprehensive display of artifacts from the Li Sangudui Tomb of the King of Chu in China so far.
(The pictures and texts in this article are from Anhui Museum)