Shanxi Museum presents special exhibition on bronze civilization of Yellow River basin

Photo shows an ancient bronze vessel displayed at Shanxi Museum in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province. 

A special exhibition themed "Glories of the Great River" is being held in Shanxi Museum in Taiyuan City, capital of northern China's Shanxi Province.

A total of 160 pieces and sets of bronze ware selected from 30 museums across China, shed light on the development of the splendid Bronze Age in the region, highlighting how the ritual and music system evolved in ancient China.

It is learned that the early glimmers of China's Bronze Age civilization emerged along the upper reaches of the Yellow River around 5,000 years ago. About 4,000 years ago, the middle reaches witnessed the birth of early states, guided by rituals, which laid the foundation for China's ancient history centered around its heartland. The Xia Dynasty (2070-1600 B.C.) ushered in China's Bronze Age, while the Shang (1600-1046 B.C.) and Zhou (1046-771 B.C.) Dynasties marked the peak of China's bronze culture.

Photo shows visitors are looking at a bronze artifact at Shanxi Museum in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province. 

The four parts of the exhibition illustrate the development of bronze culture from the early age to the three dynasties, respectively.

The exhibition is the second exhibition featuring the Yellow River civilization by the museum, after its exhibition on the archaeological findings in the relics of Taosi and Shimao.

The exhibition runs to Dec. 17. (Edited by Li Shimeng, lishimeng@xinhua.org)