On October 11, the Wuyue Cultural Museum officially opened its doors in Lin’an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Coinciding with the opening, an exhibition titled “Wuyue Through the Ages – The Southeast Paradise during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms” showcased 350 cultural artifacts, including 150 items that are classified as national first-class cultural relics, along with a wealth of precious secret-color porcelain.
Qian Liu, the founder of the Wuyue Kingdom during the tumultuous Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, advocated policies focused on “protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people, while contributing to China.” Amidst the chaos of the era, he carved out a sanctuary and provided protection for the local populace.
According to Li Yuxin, director of the Historical Relics Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Museum and head of the Wuyue Kingdom History and Culture Research Center, secret-color porcelain, which originated in the late Tang dynasty and flourished during the Wuyue Kingdom, represents a pinnacle of ancient Chinese ceramics. It not only signifies the highest level of ceramic craftsmanship of its time but also encapsulates a wealth of social information from the Wuyue Kingdom. Secret-color porcelain, particularly the celadon from Yue kiln, became a crucial economic pillar for the kingdom and played a significant role in fostering ancient cultural exchanges between China and other countries, widely disseminating Chinese culture around the world.
For instance, the exhibited secret-color porcelain water bag pot, as explained by Bao Weihua, curator of the Lin’an Museum, showcases the cultural exchange between the Wuyue Kingdom and the nomadic cultures of the Liao Kingdom, effectively demonstrating the deep cultural integration between these regions.
The exhibition also introduced a rare combination of secret-color porcelain petal-shaped cups and plates, marking the first time these unique artifacts are being presented to the public, showcasing the exceptional porcelain-making techniques of antiquity.
Covering an exhibition space of 6,220 square meters, the display includes various types of artifacts such as ceramics, gold and silver items, jade, lacquerware, crystal, glass, textiles, and stone components. It systematically presents the political, economic, and cultural landscape of the Wuyue Kingdom, highlighting its pivotal role in the continuity of Chinese civilization.
