Xiongnu: Special Exhibit, Zhengzhou, 2012

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This is a special exhibit about the ancient Xiongnu people held at Henan Provincial Museum in Zhengzhou in April & May, 2012. The Xiongnu flourished on China’s northern border during the Warring States and Han eras. Several items like the gold crown overlap the Mongolia exhibit in Anyang the previous fall. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. https://picasaweb.google.com/116512474184071531500/XiongnuSpecialExhibitZhengzhou2012

Qing Royal Throne?

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This chair may have belonged to Chinese royalty. It’s probably not a throne, but, rather, a garden-parlor chair. Family tradition suggests it was possibly looted from the Summer Palace during the Boxer Uprising (Eight Power Invasion) of 1900 and brought to America. The owner is interested in returning it to its home. Any information, ideas or suggestions would be most welcome. Send to LeeFoxx1949@gmail.com. https://picasaweb.google.com/116512474184071531500/QingRoyalThrone

Buddhist Grottoes, Gongyi

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The five grottoes shown here were carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty, c. 500 AD, at about the same time as the beginning of the more famous Longmen Grottoes at Luoyang, and along the same Yi River. I have two separate albums for the Longmen Grottoes, which continued to be carved for another 400 years. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. https://picasaweb.google.com/116512474184071531500/BuddhistGrottoesGongyi

Kang Baiwan Mansion, Gongyi

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The Kang family was one of the richest families in north central China for centuries. Begun in late Ming, the family fortune continued into the early 20th century, for some 400 years. This is the mansion in Gongyi of a Chinese millionaire. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. https://picasaweb.google.com/116512474184071531500/KangBaiwanMansionGongyi

National Museum, Beijing: Special Exhibit of Ancient Coins

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I photographed all of the very old and unusual coins, but only did a representative sample of the more recent (Han and later) coins. I’ve tried to photograph them with labels and will translate them as I find time. This is one of 15 photo albums from the National Museum. The others can be found listed under April 2011, September 2011, and April 2012. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. https://picasaweb.google.com/116512474184071531500/NationalMuseumBeijingSpecialExhibitOfAncientCoins

National Museum, Beijing: Special Exhibit of Jade

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China is famous for its exquisite jade, displayed here roughly in chronological order. This gallery is in the special exhibit area. My understanding is that there will be a new permanent jade gallery some time in the future. This is one of 15 photo albums from the National Museum. The others can be found listed under April 2011, September 2011, and April 2012. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. https://picasaweb.google.com/116512474184071531500/NationalMuseumBeijingSpecialExhibitOfJade

National Museum, Beijing: Special Exhibit of Paintings

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This album was an afterthought. I didn’t plan to photograph this gallery which was in fact a temporary exhibit. I only photographed 3 long scroll paintings which depict life in late dynastic China. This is one of 15 photo albums from the National Museum. The others can be found listed under April 2011, September 2011, and April 2012. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. https://picasaweb.google.com/116512474184071531500/NationalMuseumBeijingSpecialExhibitOfPaintings#

Baoji Bronze Museum

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Baoji is about 2 hours by train west of Xi’an and is a major site of the Western Zhou Dynasty. This new museum houses nothing but ancient bronze, mostly from the Western Zhou and from Qin State in the Eastern Zhou. The inscriptions on these bronzes are a major source of historical information about this early era. There are two museum floors not yet open and which may be filled sometime in the future. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. https://picasaweb.google.com/116512474184071531500/BaojiBronzeMuseum

Xianyang Museum & Yangjiawan Terracotta Army

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Xianyang was the ancient capital of Qin and site of the palace of First Emperor Qin Shihuang. It was destroyed in the civil war following the downfall of Qin. The museum houses many artifacts excavated from the palace site. Also, in 1965, the first terracotta army was discovered in Yangjiawan Village more than a decade before the more famous full-scale Qin terracotta army was discovered. This one is about 1/3 life-size and is housed in this museum, contrary to the information found on the Internet. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. https://picasaweb.google.com/116512474184071531500/XianyangMuseumYangjiawanTerracottaArmy

Tang Tomb of Emperor Gaozong & Empress Wu Zetian and Museum

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Qianling Mausoleum is the joint tomb of the third Tang emperor and his wife who later became China’s only female emperor. She reigned from 690 to 705 AD. It apparently has never been looted, as no one knows where to find the tomb entrance. The tomb of Princess Yongtai belongs to their granddaughter. The museum features artifacts mostly from the surrounding tombs. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. https://picasaweb.google.com/116512474184071531500/TangTombOfEmperorGaozongEmpressWuZetianAndMuseum