Qin kneels and shoots the figurines with shining eyes, bearing thousand years of meditation; The gilded copper silkworm raises its head and records the legend of the Silk Road; The ancient ships of the Han Dynasty combined Chinese and foreign skills to witness the vicissitudes of life
On May 18, the Shaanxi History Museum, the first thematic museum in China that fully demonstrates the origin, development and contribution of Qin and Han civilization, was officially opened to the public. This is also the main venue of this year's International Museum Day in China.
During his visit to Shaanxi, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that "a museum is a big school. We should protect and manage the cultural relics embodying the traditional culture of the Chinese nation, strengthen research and utilization, and let history speak and cultural relics speak".
The culture is long and the atmosphere is myriad. Relying on the "University School" of the Museum, Shaanxi promotes the protection of cultural relics, cultural prosperity and civilization inheritance in an integrated way. The rich cultural heritage has been constantly activated and utilized, becoming an important source for people to nourish their spirit and self confidence.
Exploring the Museum, Seeking the Root, Perceiving the Charm of Cultural Heritage
Standing on the five mausoleums in the north of Weihe River and looking around, the ruins of Xianyang Palace in Qin Dynasty and other palace sites are scattered everywhere, and the tomb of Emperor Gaozu in Han Dynasty and other imperial mausoleums are standing.
Qin and Han Dynasties Hall of Shaanxi History Museum (UAV photo) taken on May 13, 2024. Photographed by Li Yibo, reporter of Xinhua News Agency
Not far away, the Shaanxi Libo Museum of the Qin and Han Dynasties has sprung up in the shape of the palace building of the Qin and Han Dynasties with "tall pavilions and beautiful palaces". The seven buildings in the main museum area, like the Big Dipper, are connected by corridors. Overlooking from the air, the ancient ruins and modern stadiums complement each other.
Entering the Hall of Qin and Han Dynasties, vivid historical materials and precious cultural relics show the vitality of the national spirit and the long history of Chinese civilization.
"If five thousand years of Chinese civilization is a general history, the Qin and Han dynasties are the brilliant chapters in it. The establishment of a unified political pattern and the foundation of political thought with Confucianism as the main body all took place in this period." Hou Ningbin, the curator of the Shaanxi Museum, said that the Qin and Han dynasties were also an important period for the formation of the Chinese nation, focusing on demonstrating the Qin and Han civilizations and guiding the audience to strengthen their cultural self-confidence, It is the mission of the Qin and Han Museum.
On May 6, 2024, the audience photographed the painted pottery figurines of the Han Dynasty in the Qin and Han Dynasties Hall of the Shaanxi History Museum. Photographed by Li Yibo, reporter of Xinhua News Agency
"System - the cornerstone of Qin and Han civilization", "Innovation - the display of cultural power", "Mutual learning - China's exploration of the world"... Exploring the root of the museum, the context of civilization development is in front of us.
"The Hall of Qin and Han Dynasties adopts the narrative mode of 'big history+small topics', in which' One World - Theme Exhibition of Qin and Han Civilization 'combs the achievements and contributions of Qin and Han Civilization from six aspects, including politics, culture and communication, by combining multimedia devices with cultural relics." Peng Wen, the exhibition planner of "One World", said.
Stone armors and stone helmets on display in the Qin and Han Dynasties Museum of Shaanxi History Museum (photographed on May 6, 2024). Photographed by Li Yibo, reporter of Xinhua News Agency
Stone armors, gilded copper silkworms, Yangjiawan Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Western Han Dynasty... trace back to the origin, and the appearance of the "Qin Yue Han Pass" is clearly presented.
"Of the more than 730 pieces (groups) of cultural relics in the 'One World' exhibition, 90% are on display for the first time." Ren Xueli, director of the exhibition department of Shaanxi Libo, said that each piece of exhibits tells the story of an endless long civilization.
Since its trial operation at the end of last year, the Qinhan Pavilion has attracted more than 300000 tourists. During the May Day holiday, Li Junchao, a Yunnan tourist, made a special trip to visit here. "The weather in the Qin and Han Dynasties is fascinating, and the pride of Chinese civilization comes into being".
Qin and Han Dynasties Museum of Shaanxi History Museum, May 6, 2024. Photographed by Li Yibo, reporter of Xinhua News Agency
The ancient and modern lines have a long literary rhyme. In Xixian New District, Shaanxi, where the Qinhan Museum is located, a 302 square kilometer Qinhan New City, a cultural relics themed travel path "Purple Path of the Great Han Dynasty", which connects the ruins of Qinxianyang Palace and nine Western Han imperial tombs in the north of Weihe River, winds away. Li Gang, a citizen of Xianyang, rode here and met the Qin Palace and Han Tomb all the way. "It's like a dialogue with history. This' sense of travel 'fascinates me".
"The Qinhan New Town regards cultural heritage as wealth and adheres to the idea of protecting large sites. The 'Great Han Purple Path' relies on the existing roads and takes the protection of imperial mausoleum landscape and cultural display as the core, integrating education, tourism and leisure," said Ma Peiyuan, director of the Qinhan New Town Cultural Preservation Office.
On April 23, 2024, diners ate in the farmhouse of Liujiagou Village, Qinhan New City. Photographed by Li Yibo, reporter of Xinhua News Agency
The ruins that have been sleeping for thousands of years also benefit the surrounding people. Liujiagou Village of Qinhan New City has set up 20 farmhouses to receive an endless stream of visitors to ancient China. He Yinhong, a villager in Yaodian Village, Xincheng, Qin and Han Dynasties, who has served as a cultural security officer for more than 20 years, also took a part-time job as a tour guide.
Thousands of years of history, history and the present, the cultural context is thriving and surging
In the Qin and Han Museum, in front of an interactive device, tourists in Han suits stand opposite the Qin and Han characters on the screen, bowing to each other.
20 kilometers away, on the bank of the Bahe River, the large-scale resident performance "Boundless Chang'an" became popular. The Terracotta Warriors, Han costumes and so on have touched the cultural genes through modern stage performance.
The tribute across time and space is also the inheritance and resonance of civilization.
"The theme of the 2024 International Museum Day is' museums are committed to education and research '. In recent years, we have broken the boundaries of museums, extracted cultural elements from cultural relics and sites, developed cultural products, and embedded them in public space." Hou Ningbin said that through creative transformation and innovative development, history and culture are coming into public view with a vivid and perceptible look.
On May 6, 2024, the audience visited the painted pottery figurines of the Western Han Dynasty unearthed from the Han Tomb in Yangjiawan, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province in the Shaanxi History Museum. Photographed by Li Yibo, reporter of Xinhua News Agency
Make the past serve the present, and the national tide will rise. The national treasure Du Hufu was used as the prototype to create handicrafts such as Ruyi and bookmarks, the Qin Dynasty tile was stamped with badges, and the Han Dynasty terracotta figures turned into cartoon images... Shaanxi Libo cooperated with many cultural enterprises to develop thousands of cultural and creative products, which are very popular.
On April 23, 2024, the staff of Qinhan New Town New Silk Road Digital Culture Technology Co., Ltd. displayed a cultural and creative hand soap developed by Du Hufu. Photographed by Li Yibo, reporter of Xinhua News Agency
At the Qinhan New Town New Silk Road Digital Culture Technology Co., Ltd., more than 6000 pieces of cultural relics of the Qin and Han Dynasties were collected digitally, providing enterprises with endless inspiration for cultural and creative product research and development. "Only by telling a good story of Chinese culture can we build our core competitiveness." Tian Lin, the chairman of the company, expressed her feelings
Let cultural relics speak, let history speak and let culture speak. A picture of combining tradition and fashion is spreading in the land of Sanqin——
On the dragon head, the Weiyang Palace site in Chang'an City of the Han Dynasty witnessed the vicissitudes of life. Thousands of years ago, the Han family palace turned into dust, while traditional cultural activities, such as intangible cultural heritage performances and throwing cuju, built a space for tourists to get close to history.
At the foot of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Chang'an's twelve hour theme street was crowded. Liquors, restaurants and tea shops are lined up in rows, and "Li Bai" invites tourists to recite poems... Since its opening two years ago, this Tang style theme park has attracted more than 4 million tourists, becoming a new card of the ancient capital.
On February 2, 2024, tourists will watch the Chang'an Lantern Festival in Xi'an Tang Paradise. Photographed by Li Yibo, reporter of Xinhua News Agency
The beauty of culture breeds vitality in the deep integration with the economic society. In the first quarter of this year, Shaanxi received 217 million domestic tourists, realizing a domestic tourism revenue of 174.653 billion yuan, with year-on-year growth of 41.10% and 64.73% respectively.
"Historic sites and modern cities are wonderfully nested, and I feel the vitality of Chinese culture." Walking in Chang'an, young people in Han suits are the most beautiful scenery in the eyes of Guo Wei, a tourist in Hohhot. He enjoyed visiting places of interest and performing arts with his daughter in Hanfu.
Xiao Yunru, former vice-chairman of Shaanxi Federation of Literary and Art Circles, said that through integrity and innovation, the excellent traditional Chinese culture in cultural relics, historic sites and ancient books is constantly "living" and becoming a favorite among people.
Openness and inclusiveness infuse vitality into civilized development
The story 40 years ago was still moving after listening to the commentator of the Qin and Han Museum.
In December 1984, Tan Fuquan, a farmer in Shiquan County, Shaanxi Province, found a gold-plated copper silkworm about the size of a real silkworm while panning for gold in the river. He did not hesitate to borrow a toll to go to Xi'an and hand it over to the cultural relics department.
Today, this Han Dynasty cultural relic is treasured in the Qin and Han Dynasties Museum as the treasure of the town hall, telling the story of the ancient Silk Road silently.
On May 6, 2024, the audience visited the cultural relic "Silk Road No.1", an ancient ship of the Han Dynasty, at the Shaanxi History Museum Qin Han Museum. Photographed by Li Yibo, reporter of Xinhua News Agency
In the core area of the exhibition hall, the ancient ship "Silk Road No. 1" unearthed from the Weiqiao site in the north of Chang'an City in the Han Dynasty has experienced wind and rain and received visitors' admiration.
"The board is made of our local elm and locust wood, but it uses the wood dowel board and wood nail splicing method widely used in the Mediterranean area during the Roman period." The commentator Jin Xiao said that the ancient ship that combines Chinese and Western cultures is a strong proof of mutual learning of civilizations.
"The opening of the Silk Road enabled the Han Dynasty to connect with the world." Xu Chen, director of the Qinhan Museum, said that the Qin and Han dynasties were an important period for China to open its doors to the world, and openness and inclusiveness also injected vitality into Chinese civilization.
The past has lasted for thousands of years. Along the Silk Road, the pace of cultural exchanges has never stopped.
In March 2023, an exhibition of "the heritage of Chinese Qin and Han civilization" was held in the Alicante Archaeological Museum in Spain. 124 cultural relics (groups), including 10 terra cotta warriors and horses, became the "top stream" of this small city. During the exhibition, the number of visitors exceeded 280000.
On March 28, 2023, the audience visited the "Heritage of Chinese Qin and Han Civilizations" exhibition in Alicante, Spain. Photographed by Meng Dingbo, reporter of Xinhua News Agency
Seeing the Terracotta Warriors and Horses with his own eyes, local audience Juan excitedly said: "I have loved Chinese culture since childhood, and hope that more Chinese cultural relics will come to our side for exhibition, so that people can feel the" authentic "China."
The relationship between China and the rest of the world is based on people to people dating, and Juan's wish has gradually become a reality.
"Cultural relics are a golden card for cultural exchanges." Qian Jikui, deputy director of Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics, said that on the basis of joint archaeology, Shaanxi is promoting the construction of the Silk Road Archaeological Cooperation Research Center in high quality. Showing the charm of Qin and Han civilizations will be an important part of cultural exchanges in the future.
Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed, Shaanxi has held 489 cultural relics exhibitions in 52 countries and regions; Archaeologists from the Archaeological Team of Northwest University and the Archaeological Research Institute of Shaanxi Province went to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and other countries to carry out Sino foreign joint archaeology; In 2023, 22 Asian countries and 3 international organizations will participate in the first Asian Cultural Heritage Conservation Alliance Conference held in Xi'an, which will expand the cultural heritage cooperation platform.
Chen Zhanfeng, an associate professor of the Institute of Chinese Thought and Culture of Northwest University, said that the construction of the pattern of a pluralistic and integrated country, the changes of ideology and culture, and the development of civilization exchanges during the Qin and Han dynasties had a profound impact on the development of Chinese civilization.
The glorious history of the Qin and Han Dynasties is a vivid teaching material deeply rooted in cultural self-confidence, and will also provide inspiration for the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.
Written reporters: Shen Hongbing, Chen Chen, Yang Yimiao, Jiang Chenrong, Cai Xinyi
Video reporter: Wu Hongbo, Cai Xinyi
Poster design: Sun Yao
Editors: Wang Wei, Leng Yanyan, Qi Wenjuan, Xu Liang, Liu Lianfen, Wang Haocheng, Jiang Ziwei
Coordinator: Zhou Yongmin