New exhibition will showcase ancient Chinese artifacts
Updated at 6.24pm: Some 118 artifacts that unveil the culture of the ancient Dian Kingdom of Yunnan will be on display at the Hong Kong Museum of History from Wednesday until February 21, 2005.
A government spokesman said on Tuesday the exhibition would feature an array of bronze relics selected from the collection of the Yunnan Provincial Museum.
The exhibition is called the 'Hunting and Rituals: Treasures from the Ancient Dian Kingdom of Yunnan' exhibition.
The exhibition would be presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Yunnan Provincial Museum. It was organised by the Museum of History.
At the opening ceremony on Tuesday, Leisure and Cultural Services deputy-director Choi Suk-kuen said the exhibition aimed to introduce to visitors the history and culture of the Dian kingdom of Yunnan.
'Yunnan has been settled by multiple tribes since ancient time, which lead to an orchestra of unique and colourful cultures, as exemplified by the Dian culture,?? she said. ?Though the kingdom has long gone, the dedicated efforts in archaeological excavations over the years contribute to reconstructing the distinguished Dian culture,' added Ms Choi.
The ancient Dian Kingdom was established in the southwest of China ? the Dianchi area of modern-day Yunnan.
It reached its peak development from the Warring States period (475-221 BC) to the Western Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 25). The kingdom declined in the late Western Han dynasty. It was eventually absorbed by the Eastern Han dynasty (25-220). The reign of the kingdom lasted more than 500 years.
