How can a pure gold seal engraved with "Seal of the King of Dian" unveil a history sealed for two thousand years? What is the meaning of the sacrificial scene on the unique bronze cowrie shell container? On November 18th, the annual major exhibition "Evidence of the Dian Kingdom: A Special Exhibition of Ancient Dian Civilization in Yunnan," jointly planned by the China Maritime Museum and the Yunnan Provincial Museum, opened at the China Maritime Museum, systematically showcasing the fruitful results of 70 years of archaeological research on Dian culture through more than 200 artifacts. As the third exhibition in the China Maritime Museum's "Diverse Unity" series of exhibitions on Chinese civilization, it is also the first time that archaeological discoveries of the ancient Dian Kingdom have been systematically displayed in Shanghai.
The Dian Kingdom was an ancient kingdom located in the Dianchi Lake area on the southwestern border of my country during the Warring States, Qin, and Han dynasties. Dian culture is an important part of Chinese civilization. The exhibition is divided into five chapters: "Lost and Reappeared," "Dian Land and Dian People," "Deities and the World," "Conflict and Integration," and "Dian Soul and Han Style." With "verification" as its core image, it starts with the "Seal of the King of Dian" unearthed from the Dian royal tombs at Shizhaishan in Jinning, and explores the brilliant ancient Dian civilization from multiple dimensions. It presents the historical process of the ancient Dian Kingdom integrating into the Chinese civilization and provides evidence of the diversity and unity of Chinese civilization.
2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the first archaeological excavation at Shizhaishan in Jinning. The exhibition brings together more than ten important archaeological sites, including Shizhaishan in Jinning, Lijia Mountain in Jiangchuan, Yangfutou in Guandu, and Hebosuo in Jinning, systematically showcasing the fruitful results of 70 years of Dian culture archaeology. Among the more than 200 representative artifacts of the ancient Dian civilization, 29 are first-class national treasures, accounting for over 70% of the total. Many of the important bronze artifacts are being exhibited in Shanghai for the first time. Highlights include the only drum-shaped cowrie shell container depicting a hunting scene, a cowrie shell container showcasing a sacrificial scene reflecting mysterious beliefs, a gilded bronze buckle depicting two people dancing in an exotic style, a cute yet powerful standing bronze wolf-tooth club, and a cleverly designed hand-shaped socketed bronze dagger… presenting the unique features of the ancient Dian bronze civilization.
Exhibition site
The Seal of the King of Dian Unveils the History of the Ancient Dian Kingdom
Historical records indicate that during the Warring States and Qin-Han periods, a powerful kingdom existed in Yunnan, which Sima Qian referred to as "Dian" in his *Records of the Grand Historian*. However, shortly after Sima Qian included it in his historical records, "Dian" mysteriously disappeared from official history, with no further details provided. Did the Dian Kingdom truly exist? Why did the Dian civilization abruptly end?
According to the Records of the Grand Historian, in the second year of Emperor Wu of Han's Yuanfeng era (109 BC), the Han army marched south to conquer the Dian Kingdom. The Dian King surrendered to the Han Dynasty and was granted the "Seal of the King of Dian," allowing him to continue ruling the Dian people. The discovery of the Dian royal family cemetery at Shizhaishan in Jinning in 1955, which unearthed the "Seal of the King of Dian," with the four characters "Seal of the King of Dian" engraved on its surface, corroborates the Records of the Grand Historian and is the most important material evidence of the ancient Dian Kingdom's history.
A replica of the "Seal of the King of Dian" from the Western Han Dynasty, unearthed from Tomb No. 6 at Shizhaishan, Jinning, Kunming, Yunnan Province. The original is housed in the National Museum of China.
The discovery of the gold seal brings the legend to life. This seal is made of pure gold, with a snake-shaped knob and the four characters "Seal of the King of Dian" engraved on its surface. It confirms the record in the Records of the Grand Historian that Emperor Wu of Han established Yizhou Prefecture and bestowed the royal seal upon the King of Dian. It is the most important material evidence of the history of the ancient Dian Kingdom.
A replica of the Western Han Dynasty "Seal of the Chancellor of the Dian Kingdom" clay seal, unearthed from the Hebosuo Site in Jinning, Kunming, Yunnan Province. The original is now housed at the Yunnan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.
Within this small space, the "Dian Kingdom" begins to emerge. This clay seal bearing the "Seal of the Chancellor of the Dian Kingdom" is a precious artifact evidence of the central dynasty's management of the southwestern frontier, and it marks the first time the name "Dian Kingdom" has appeared on an unearthed object. The "Chancellor" was the highest administrative official appointed by the Han Dynasty in the Dian Kingdom.
Eastern Han Dynasty, Peacock-shaped Covered Bronze Pot with Handle, unearthed from the Eastern Han Dynasty Tomb at Guijia Courtyard, Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, now in the collection of Yunnan Provincial Museum.
Eastern Han Dynasty, Peacock-shaped bronze ewer with handle (partial view), unearthed from the Eastern Han Dynasty tomb at Guijia Courtyard, Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, collection of Yunnan Provincial Museum.
A peacock perched on a bronze kettle, embodying both Yunnan and Han styles. The lid of the bronze kettle is cast with a peacock displaying its full plumage, its crest held high and its tail feathers magnificent. The body of the kettle is adorned with a dragon-shaped handle and a ring-shaped handle, its form inherited from the Central Plains. The peacock of Yunnan and the Han-style vessel form blend perfectly, representing not only a collision of artistic aesthetics but also a vivid testament to the fusion of Han and Yunnan cultures.
Western Han Dynasty Gilded Bronze Buckle with Two Figures Dancing, unearthed from Tomb No. 13 at Shizhaishan, Jinning, Kunming, Yunnan Province, and now in the collection of Yunnan Provincial Museum.
The dance is graceful and flowing, shimmering with golden light. Two dancers with high noses and deep-set eyes dance with plates in hand, their movements agile and their garments billowing in the wind. Their appearance and attire are different from those of the people of Yunnan, or perhaps they are "Sai people" from the far north. The entire clasp is full of exotic charm, a brilliant crystallization of the fusion of diverse cultures.
Western Han Dynasty Gold Sword Sheath with Embossed Ox Head Design, unearthed from Tomb No. 6 at Shizhaishan, Jinning, Kunming, Yunnan Province, and now in the collection of the Yunnan Provincial Museum.
The golden scabbard gleams, and the bull's head is majestic. This scabbard is made of pressed gold and is divided into three sections. The embossed bull's head pattern on the upper section blends the style of Yunnan with the atmosphere of the grasslands, highlighting the noble status of the swordsman and witnessing the artistic fusion between the ancient Dian and northern grassland civilizations.
Experts explain that the history of the Dian Kingdom and its discovery process are typical examples of "archaeological evidence of history." From the excavation of the "Seal of the King of Dian" to a series of major discoveries at the Hebosuo site in recent years, historical records and archaeological data increasingly clearly outline the historical trajectory of the Dian Kingdom from a kingdom to a prefecture, and from the border region into the Central Plains. It is a vivid and concrete regional sample in the evolution of the diverse yet unified pattern of Chinese civilization. The exhibition also clearly presents the historical process of the ancient Dian Kingdom from independent development to integration into Chinese civilization.
The pinnacle of Yunnan bronze art
Yunnan is a bronze kingdom, with a highly developed bronze civilization representing the pinnacle of Yunnan's Bronze Age. Unlike the bronze system of the Central Plains, ancient Dian bronzes are unique, mysterious, and highly distinctive. Unlike the Houmuwu Ding, the chime bells of Marquis Yi of Zeng, or the bronze sacred tree of Sanxingdui, the Dian people, through superb casting techniques and realistic representation, three-dimensionally cast scenes of social life onto their bronze vessels. These include scenes of religious rituals, warfare, and everyday life; the animal sculptures on the bronzes are vivid and realistic, while the human figures recreate the image of the ancient Dian people.
Western Han Dynasty, hand-shaped bronze dagger-axe, unearthed from Tomb No. 51 at Lijia Mountain, Jiangchuan County, Yuxi City, Yunnan Province, and now in the collection of the Lijia Mountain Bronze Museum, Yunnan Province.
Skilled craftsmanship forged weapons, giving them life and death in their hands. This bronze dagger was cast in the unique shape of a hand holding a short sword. It was not an ordinary weapon, but a ceremonial object symbolizing power and status. Only three such pieces have been found among the ancient Dian relics, witnessing the extraordinary artistic imagination of the Dian people.
Western Han Dynasty, bronze cowrie shell container in the shape of a stacked drum depicting a hunting scene, unearthed from Tomb No. 71 at Shizhaishan, Jinning, Kunming, Yunnan Province, now in the collection of the Yunnan Provincial Museum.
Western Han Dynasty, bronze cowrie shell container in the shape of a stacked drum depicting a hunting scene (partial view), unearthed from Tomb No. 71 at Shizhaishan, Jinning, Kunming, Yunnan Province, collection of Yunnan Provincial Museum.
Galloping horses, the hunt is in full swing. This is one of only four surviving stacked drum-shaped cowrie shell containers. The lid is carved with a vivid and three-dimensional hunting scene, with knights chasing deer on horseback, hunters surrounding them with spears, and dogs and rabbits running around. It can be called the pinnacle of ancient Dian bronze craftsmanship.
Western Han Dynasty Bronze Shell Container for Banquets and Sacrifices, unearthed from Tomb No. 12 at Shizhaishan, Jinning, Kunming, Yunnan Province, and now in the collection of the Yunnan Provincial Museum.
The feasting, singing, and dancing continued unabated. Music and dance were important rituals for communicating between humans and gods during sacrifices, and also artistic expressions of the Yunnan people's passion for life. The bronze drum surface was filled with singing and dancing, the drum chest was covered with herds of cattle and horses, and the waist of the drum was engraved with the "Jitian" grand ceremony. The three scenes complemented each other, outlining the long scroll of Yunnan people's life of music, dance, and sacrifice.
Western Han Dynasty, Bronze Cowrie Shell Container with Sacrificial Scene, unearthed from Tomb No. 69, Lijia Mountain, Jiangchuan, Yuxi, Yunnan Province, now in the collection of Yunnan Provincial Museum.
Western Han Dynasty, bronze cowrie shell container depicting a sacrificial scene (partial view), unearthed from Tomb No. 69 at Lijia Mountain, Jiangchuan, Yuxi, Yunnan Province, collection of Yunnan Provincial Museum.
The sacrificial pillar reaches to the sky, a prayer for a bountiful harvest in spring. This cowrie shell container is modeled after a bronze drum, with a trumpet-shaped sacrificial pillar in the center of the lid. Thirty-five figures walk around the pillar, presided over by a noblewoman from the Dian Kingdom riding in a palanquin, as spring plowing sacrifices and market trade activities are in full swing.
Western Han Dynasty Bronze Buckle with House Model Excavated from Tomb No. 6 at Shizhaishan, Jinning, Kunming, Yunnan Province, and now in the collection of Yunnan Provincial Museum.
The house model is based on a stilt house, with a single well-shaped room in the middle of the second floor, depicting the residential form of the ancient Dian people.
Western Han Dynasty Bronze Figurine of a Male Holding an Umbrella, unearthed from Tomb No. 51 at Lijia Mountain, Jiangchuan County, Yuxi City, Yunnan Province, and now in the collection of the Lijia Mountain Bronze Museum, Yunnan Province.
Holding a canopy, attending to the spirits in the netherworld. This is a high-level funerary object characteristic of the Dian Kingdom. The male figurine is kneeling and holding an umbrella, realistically reproducing the image and clothing of the Dian people. When unearthed, they were placed in pairs at both ends of the coffin, seemingly to protect and guide the spirits.
This exhibition is uniquely designed. Within the exhibition hall, time and space are folded, and the ancient and modern converge. Five interconnected chapters, combining sound and light projections, multimedia interaction, and scene reconstruction, guide visitors through a journey of discovery about the ancient Dian civilization—from the unknown to the known, from the mysterious to the confirmed—offering them a firsthand experience of a civilization discovery spanning millennia.
The exhibition will run until March 9, 2026.
