Tang dynasty relics offer glimpse into 'golden age'
Around 300 treasures from the Tang Dynasty are now on display at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre. Photo: RTHK
A set of teaware from the Gongyi Museum in Zhengzhou showcases the sophisticated tea culture during the Tang Dynasty - from grinding and brewing to serving and drinking. Photo: RTHK
Commissioner for Heritage Conservation David Leung speaks to Sophie Cheung
Twenty-nine cultural relics unearthed in Hong Kong dating back to the Tang dynasty more than 1,000 years ago are now on display in the city, with organisers hoping visitors can get a sense of life during a prosperous period generally regarded as a golden age in Chinese civilisation.
The exhibition, titled "Tang Vogue Beyond the Horizons: A Golden Era of Multicultural Integration and Openness", altogether features 300 or so treasures ranging from intricate gold figurines to rare paintings preserved at museums across the country.
They were brought to the SAR under a 2022 framework agreement between the Development Bureau and the National Cultural Heritage Administration aimed at deepening exchange in heritage architecture and archaeology.
The exhibition is divided into eight sections, each illustrating a facet of society during the Tang dynasty, including maritime trade.
Lleyton Lee, an assistant curator with the Antiquities and Monuments Office under the Development Bureau, said Hong Kong had an important role to play in the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
"We particularly selected Hong Kong artefacts to put together with the Tang Dynasty artefacts," he said.
"We want to show Hong Kong's role in [that era] and that the history of that period is not blank."
The exhibition runs until December 31 at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. Admission is free, and the centre is open daily except on Thursdays.
But Lee urged people to visit quickly, saying two paintings were so precious they would be returned to storage in two months' time to limit their amount of light exposure.
"This is one of our largest and most important exhibitions", says David Leung, Commissioner for Heritage Conservation.
"It's important for us to know our history and heritage in order to build a better future."
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