For anyone in the northeast United States this summer and early autumn, you really need to see the new exhibit at the Clark Art Institute in my hometown, Williamstown, MA, entitled: Unearthed: Recent Archaeological Discoveries from Northern China. The centerpiece of the show is a fantastic sarcophagus, in the shape of a small house, dating from about 477, during and in the geographic territory of the Northern Wei Dynasty. This photo gives a sense of the proportions of the 8-foot-by-12-foot, 10-ton stone structure:
It had been buried in the fifth century and not excavated until 2004. And it has never been shown formally in any museum, in China or elsewhere, until now. Incredible that it is now right down the street from me...
There are also some great Tang Dynasty pieces. Including this one of a foreigner:
That's what I love about the Tang: it was open and cosmopolitan, tolerant of many people moving in and out.
And check out this dude, a tomb Warrior Guardian from the Norther Qi Dyanasty (ca. 550-577):
Indeed, there are short videos of several of the pieces at the Clark's Youtube page. But none of those do real justice to the exhibition.
Come to Williamstown to see some great Chinese historical artifacts!
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