Fu Yingqing

THE opening of the "Nation's Treasure," which displays 66 ancient Chinese artifacts at the new Shenzhen Museum venue, is a cause for celebration. It is where visitors can see ancient Chinese bronzeware, pottery, jade and silverware sculptures dating from the Neolithic Age (around 4,000 B.C.) to the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907 ). It is a place to wonder why the achievements in ancient Chinese art were virtually ignored over time and never fully exploited.

Anyone looking for aestheticism will find it in an installation that spans more than 8,000 years. The exhibition includes pottery and jade from the Neolithic Age, massive bronze artifacts dating from the Shang Dynasty (1,600-1066 B.C.) to the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) through to Tang Dynasty pottery, Buddhist sculptures and Persian-influenced silverware.

Most jade pieces are from the Tomb of Fu Hao dating back to the Shang Dynasty. The archaeological site at the ruins of the ancient Shang capital of Yin was discovered in 1976 and identified as the final resting place of queen and military general Fu Hao, who helped her husband, King Wuding expand the Shang territory. She died in the war and her husband buried her along with more than 1,200 pieces of rare jade and bronze objects used by the lady and her household.