Exhibition showcases ancient splendor

A captivating exhibition at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco offers a clue to the vibrant Bronze Age cultures that flourished along the Yangtze River more than 2,000 years ago.

- DENG ZHANGYU and LIA ZHU

Phoenix Kingdoms: The Last Splendor of China’s Bronze Age had an appreciative audience at the museum on April 19, showcasing more than 260 items of remarkable artifacts unearthed from aristocratic tombs in Hubei province.

The exhibition, running until July 22, was co-organized by the Asian Art Museum and Hubei Provincial Museum. It showcases a diverse range of objects: intricate bronze vessels, jade ornaments, musical instruments used in ancient ceremonies, and weaponry employed in battles. Lacquerware, a hallmark of luxury and refinement, also features.

Li Qun, director of China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration, said that it is the largest show of cultural property China has organized in the U.S. in recent years and represents the magnificent and romantic allure of Chinese culture to the U.S. audience.