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Ages：Tang Dynasty
Height:199 cm; Width:154 cm
Unearthed in 1971 from Prince Zhanghuai's Tomb in Qianxian County, Shaanxi
Prince Zhang Huai was the second son of Empress Wu Zetian and the sixth son of the third Tang emperor, Gaozong. Zhang was named heir apparent in 675, but five years later was accused by his mother of plotting a coup and was banished to Sichuan. There he was later forced to kill himself. On the west wall of the passage to the tomb of Zhang Huai is a twelve meter-long painting, "Playing Polo." The game was introduced from Persia and became popular under the patronage of the Tang royal house. Polo was Prince Zhang Huai's favorite sport.
In addition to the above relics, Shaanxi History Museum has more national treasures like Painting of Hunting Procession, Beast-Head-Shaped Agate Cup, Silver Pot with A Hoop Handle and Parrot Design, Green-Glazed Pot with A Loop Handle, Black Glazed Bowl with Oil-Drop Design.
Height:58cm
Age: Tang Dynasty
Unearthed in 1959 at Niubo Village, Xi'an
A tri-colored glazed pottery of a camel and a dance group was unearthed in a Tang general's tomb. The camel is brown and stands with its head raised high. The long hairs on its head, chest, stomach and upper parts of its two front legs were carefully executed. On the camel's back is a platform covered by a rug. Seven male musicians carrying musical instruments like shengs, flutes, pi pas, kongs, hous, and clappers sit on the blanket, with a female singer standing in the middle of them. They are all clad in Han-ethnic attire, yet the musical instruments they hold are all from ethnic groups in West China. This artwork is the result of the cultural exchanges along the Silk Road in the open Tang Dynasty.
Age: Tang Dynasty
Height:5.5cm; Diameter of Mouth:13.7cm; Diameter of Base:6.7cm
Unearthed in 1970 at Hejiacun, Xi'an
This bowl was hammered into shape. Outside is engraved with two layers of lotus petal designs, and each layer has ten petals. The upper layer was engraved with various designs: fox, rabbit, river deer, deer, parrot, Mandarin duck, flower and straw. The lower layer was decorated with honeysuckle. There is a rose carved on its inner base, and on its inner belly, there were three characters "Jiu Liang Ban" written in ink.
Two identical gold bowls alike were unearthed in 1970 at Hejiacun, Xi'an. On the outer surface is engraved with two layers of lotus petal designs and each layer has ten petals. There are different patterns engraved inside each lotus petal. In the lotus petals on the upper layer are engraved with animal patterns like Mandarin ducks, mallards, parrots and foxes. In the lotus petals on the lower layer are engraved with flowers and grass. Inside each bowl is written with three Chinese characters meaning the bowl weighs nine and a half liang (one Liang equals 50 grams).
Ages：Tang Dynasty
Height:176 cm Width:196.5 cm
Unearthed in 1960 from Princess Yongtai's Tomb in Qianxian County, Shaanxi Province
Princess Yongtai was the seventh daughter of Emperor Tang Zhongzong and granddaughter of Emperor Tang Gaozong and Emperess Wuzetian. She was forced to kill herself at the age of 17 for opposing her grandmother's autocracy.
This famous painting is on the southern side of the east wall in the front tomb chamber. There are nine palace maids in the painting. The first one is marching ahead gracefully with arms crossed on stomach. The one following her is turning back and seems to tell the rest what to do. The remaining seven maids carry a tray, a box, a candle, a round fan, a duster, a parcel and Ruyi respectively. All of them have vivid facial expression and are in the position to serve the Princess to sleep. These maids have exposed necks, and seven of them wear long skirts and shawl, while the other two girls wear men's clothing. The appropriate composition, smooth lines and proper color make this fresco one of the national treasures of China.
Age：Tang Dynasty
Height:280cm; Width:280cm
Unearthed in 1971 from tomb of Prince Yide, Qianxian County, Shaanxi Province
This painting was unearthed in the tomb of Prince Yide which is located on southeast of the Qian Mausoleum. Prince Yide was the eldest of Emperor Tang Zhongtong and grandson of he third Tang emperor, Gaozong and Emperess Wuzetian. He was sentenced to death at the age of 19 for opposing his grandmother’s autocracy.
Found on the east and west walls of the tomb passage, the paintings of watchtowers display the structure of Prince Yide’s graveyard. This is the piece on the west wall. According to traditional Chinese architectural principles, a large watchtower and two small watchtowers were arranged in "Three Watchtowers." Behind them, there are trees and mountains. On the right, the low building that looks like a watchtower is the gate tower of the city.
Age：Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Height:14.3 cm
Unearthed in 1970 from hejiacun, Xi'an
This pot has a decorative design of a horse with a ribbon around its neck and its tail flowing in the air. The horse holds a drinking cup in its mouth -- an allusion to poetry from the period describing the "dancing horses." Dancing horses often performed at court The patterns confirm the historical account that Emperor Taizong trained fine horses that danced to music. It is said that during the performance, they were given wine to drink in cups that they picked up and tilted into their mouths. They used to dance to celebrate Emperor Tangxuanzong's birthday. The grand scenes of the emperor's birthday celebration party shown on the pot expresses Chinese culture as well as something of an exotic atmosphere.
Age：Han Dynasty
Height:2 cm; Side Length:2.8 cm
Unearthed in 1968 at Liangjiagou, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province
This seal was made of He Tian jade from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With a monster-shaped protrusion as a knob, the seal was inscribed with four characters 'Huang Hou Zhi Xi', which means it is an empress' seal. It was unearthed just 1 km from Changling ,the mausoleum of Emperor Gaozu (named Liu Bang) and his wife (named Lye Zhi ). Therefore, it may have been used by Empress Lye Zhi .The jade seal is one of the most important seals ever to have been found.
Age: Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD)
Height:58cm; Burner Diameter:9cm; Base Diameter:13.3cm
Unearthed in 1981 from Douma Village, Xingping County, Shaanxi Province
This incense burner falls into the category of Boshanlu, a type of incense burner popular during the Han Dynasty. Boshanlu are incense burners in the form of mountain peaks rising over waves, symbolizing the abode of the Immortals. Inlaid with gold, this incense burner is a rare artifact with fascinating craftsmanship. Nine dragons carved on this burner display imperial power, with the number "nine" and dragons symbolizing the imperial family in traditional Chinese culture. The handle was in the shape of bamboo and was divided into five sections. On the outer edge of the burner, some inscriptions indicate that this burner was the gift Emperor Han Wudi gave to his sister Princess Yangxin and her husband General Weiqing.
Age：Western Zhou Dynasty
Height:51.5 cm Diameter of Mouth:50 cm
Unearthed in 1980 from Xiaquan Village, Chang'an County, Shaanxi Province
288 Chinese characters in 22 lines are inscribed inside the vessel, recording the Zhou army led by General Duoyou, who defeated Yan Yun, an ethnic group in the northern part of China. During the reign of Emperor Zhouliwang, General Duoyou was ordered to fight against the ethnic minority Yan Yun who launched a war against the Zhou dynasty. According to the inscription, the Zhou army defeated the enemy in four battles, killing 350 and capturing 23 Yan Yun soldiers and 127 war carriages. Emperor Zhouliwang had the Duoyou Ding made to commemorate the general's extraordinary military achievements.
This vessel is of great importance in researching the war history of Western Zhou and neighboring ethnic groups.
As the seat of dozens of imperial capitals, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province is rich in cultural relics. The Shaanxi History Museum, located in Xi'an, capital of the province, is home to over 370,000 precious relics unearthed in Shaanxi over the past years. Its collections range from bronze wares to pottery figures, gold and silver wares and mural paintings from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) tombs. Among its precious collections, 18 pieces have been listed as national treasures.
Yu Ding (Bronze Tripod)
Age：Western Zhou Dynasty (about 1,100-771BC)
Height: 77 cm; Diameter: 56.5 cm
Unearthed in 1972 at Yangjia Village, Meixian County, Shaanxi
The vessel has three legs and patterns of auspicious animals carved on the surface.
This Ding was named after Yu, a Western Zhou official. 27 Chinese characters in four lines are inscribed inside the vessel, recording a king named Wang Jiang, who took back the fields he had bestowed to Shi Lu and gave them to Yu as awards. The inscription indicates the field ownership system at that time - that is, the king was the owner of all the fields under his jurisdiction and had the right to retake or bestow them to any of his subordinates.
