Henan Museum & The Central Plains

　　

　　Henan is the home to numerous historical relics, which lays a solid foundation for Henan Museum to develop into a remarkable one with large collections. Over 90 years, Henan Museum now keeps more than 170,000 cultural objects, among which 9 are selected as the most precious treasures that can best represent Henan’s history and culture, including Bone Flute, Fang Ding (square ritual food vessel) with Taotie and Nipple Patterns, Fu Hao Owl-shaped Zun (wine vessel), Cloud-patterned Jin (table), Jade-handled Iron Jian (sword), Lotus and Crane Fang Hu (square ewer), Four Spirits in Clouds and Ether Mural, Wu Zetian Gold Strip of Absolution and Sky Blue Glazed Incised Flower Goose-necked Ping (vase). What’s more, most of the collections were excavated in Henan’s archaeological sites, such as Fuhao’s Tomb at Yin Ruins, Shang City Ruins in Zhengzhou, Guo State Tombs in Sanmenxia and Ancient Capita City of Zheng and Han States in Xinzheng.

　　Henan Museum also collects different types of potteries from the simple wares made in 7,000-8,000 years ago to the exquisite three-color glazed potteries in Tang and Song dynasties, and porcelains from the protoporcelain in Shang Dynasty to the white porcelain in Northern Qi Dynasty, and even to the world-known Ru porcelain, Jun porcelain and rare Cizhou porcelain, all showing the splendid development of Henan　porcelain industry.

　　Henan Province is an important birthplace of bronzeware. As early as 2,000 years ago, bronze smelting and casting industry emerged in Henan area. After the constant development through Shang Dynasty, the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States Periods, variety of delicate bronze artworks sprang up. The bronze collections in Henan Museum enjoy a great reputation nationwide, such as the sacrificial vessels, musical instruments, weapons, chariots and horses, production tools, daily-life tools as well as the sculpture works of different development stages.

　　The jadeware in Henan Museum was made during the period from the Yangshao Culture era dating back to 5,000 years ago to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Most of the jadeware was excavated from the ancient tombs in Henan, among which the ones in Shang Dynasty, Zhou Dynasty and the Western Han Dynasty are the most exquisite, seen as the representative of the jadeware of the Central Plains.