3 museums set to stage exhibition to showcase common heritage

A total of 600 cultural relics will be shown at an upcoming joint exhibition at three museums in Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang. The exhibits will feature gold ware, jade ornaments, paintings, enamel pieces and other exquisite items. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The section in Tianjin Museum will showcase the ancient people's taste for fine art through literati paintings, calligraphy and porcelain.

According to Huang Juan, a researcher at the museum, an 18th-century tripod furnace burner decorated with cloisonne enamel (from Beijing) and a 12th-century ink-wash painting depicting a plum blossom (from Tianjin), are among the stand-out exhibits.

She also says that a special display will be set up to showcase porcelain pieces unearthed from kilns in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.

Meanwhile, Hebei Museum, which is known for its collection of bronze ware, will focus on ancient rituals.

For instance, bronze ware from the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC) to Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) shows how people used to perform sacrifices and weddings.

A jade decoration from Tianjin Museum representing the Hongshan culture gives visitors a glimpse of religious beliefs dating back 5,000 years.

"We want to trace the origins of ancient rituals and explore their influence on modern life," says Luo Xiangjun, director of the museum.

The three-museum exhibition echoes President Xi Jinping's proposal for more coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. And the exhibition is expected to be just the start of collaboration between the three institutions.

According to Luo, an academic bimonthly that publishes research done by scholars from the three museums will be launched in February, followed by programs in training and education.