Yinxu Museum helps US scholars dig deeper into Shang history

In 1977, Wilson visited China for the first time while attending college. Experiencing China's history and culture in person strengthened his determination to study it. Today, he has become a revered Sinologist in the US. He believes that Shang's most notable contribution to world civilization was the technology to produce bronzes, jades and ceramics of "incredible beauty and technical complexity".

Wilson refers to his visit to Anyang as "coming home". During his first visit to Anyang in the 1990s, he became good friends with Tang.

This visit showed not only friendship but also the power of international attraction of Anyang studies, Wilson says.

"The symbolism of having the Anyang exhibition at the time of our centennial was very rich," says Wilson, adding that the centennial was a moment to look forward and identify goals important for the next century.

Reflecting on his experiences since joining the National Museum of Asian Art in 2006, Wilson mentions that he has curated exhibitions on the Xiangtangshan Grottoes, Houma Bronzes and ancient Chinese music. He looks forward to continuing to introduce American audiences to important moments in Chinese history.

Digital products at the Yinxu Museum, such as 3D artifact short films and immersive digital exhibitions, left a deep impression on the American scholars.

"Many museums around the world hold artifacts from the Yin Ruins. We could bring together artifacts collected in different places in the form of a digital return of Yin Ruins artifacts," says Niu Shishan, a senior archaeologist of Shang's royal tombs.

Li Xiaoyang, director of the Anyang Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics, proposed various collaborative efforts, such as exchanging information on cultural relics, sharing digital projects and coproducing documentaries.

In response, Robinson says that these proposals are attractive and research projects, collaborations and exchanges can be outlined through a memorandum of understanding. Archives concerning the archaeological projects of the Yin Ruins housed at Freer can also be made available.

Gold congratulates her Chinese counterparts on "the beauty of the building and the excellent interpretation for visitors to the gallery".

She adds, "I took many photographs today of how you designed the spaces to share with audiences."

Robinson says, "You have an extraordinary facility, an extraordinary collection and a wonderful story to tell."

As Robinson concluded his first visit to the Chinese mainland, he reflected on the importance of building trust and exploring possibilities together: "I'm very pleased that we've gotten such a good start.

"What impressed us most was the great expertise that's gone into the creation of this museum. There is also great expertise on the part of the archaeologists working on the site."

May 18 marked International Museum Day, with this year's theme being Museums for Education and Research. Robinson says America's National Museum of Asian Art owns the digital platform Teaching China, which is devoted to middle school students and teachers.

"It's been immensely successful. There is a real appetite from Americans to understand Chinese culture, history and Chinese civilization," he says.

"Expertise and knowledge are the foundation for great museums. It's the foundation for great archaeology, and you have a very strong foundation."