24/6 – 5/10/2015

Special Exhibition Gallery, Hong Kong Museum of History

Solely sponsored by
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust

Jointly presented by
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Art Exhibitions China

Jointly organised by
The Hong Kong Museum of History
Art Exhibitions China

A highlight programme of "Transcend – Muse Fest HK 2015
 

2015 marks the 60th Anniversary of the discovery of Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb, the Hong Kong Museum of History organizes "The Rise of the Celestial Empire: Consolidation and Cultural Exchange during the Han Dynasty" exhibition. This exhibition aims to introduce to the public the development of the history, art and culture during the Han period by featuring a number of stunning exhibits on loan from the major cultural institutions in the Mainland.

The reign of the Han dynasty was the longest lasting and one of the greatest among all unified dynasties in China, which was influential in many aspects, including politics, art, literature, religion and science, etc. Since the Han period, Confucianism was made the main stream for the academic study and gradually as the foundation of traditional thought of the country. Besides, the exploration of trade route to the West not only laid the ground for the economic development of China for centuries, but also provided the cause for cultural exchanges and further enriched the Chinese culture. This exhibition focuses on the formation of the Han Empire, the social life of the Han people as well as the cultural exchange with the West during this period. A special emphasis is put on the development of the Lingnan region (to which Hong Kong belongs) during the two Han periods.

About 162 sets of artefacts, meticulously selected from about 40 cultural institutions in over ten provinces and cities in China, including Beijing, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Henan, Hebei, Hunan, Shandong, Sichuan, Xinjiang and Shaanxi, are showcased in this exhibition. It is a very rare opportunity for the wide range of exhibits from different provinces presented altogether in Hong Kong. This exhibition lets the visitors explore the process of Chinese culture reaching its peak and the role of the Lingnan region more than 2,000 years ago.