(ECNS) -- The National Museum of China has opened an exhibition dedicated to the Nine Dragons and Nine Phoenixes Crown of Empress Xiaoduan of the Wanli Era, a popular artifact previously displayed in the museum's permanent exhibition on ancient China.
The exhibition, titled "Ming Rites and Splendor: Nine Dragons and Nine Phoenixes Crown of Empress Xiaoduan of the Wanli Era," allows visitors to view the crown from every angle and see a golden phoenix at the back that was rarely visible in the previous display.
The crown weighs 2,320 grams and is decorated with 115 gemstones (57 rubies and 58 sapphires) and 4,414 pearls. Built on a lacquered bamboo framework wrapped in silk, it features golden dragons rising above kingfisher-feather clouds and phoenixes among jeweled leaves, reflecting the artistic style and ceremonial traditions of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
The exhibition's four sections trace the crown's excavation and restoration, explain the ceremonial significance and symbolism of its nine dragons and nine phoenixes, and draw on scientific testing to show how it was made. It also explores how the crown's aesthetic has been reinterpreted in contemporary design.
One section focuses on the crown's filigree, kingfisher-feather inlay and gemstone setting. The exhibition also uses digital technology and multimedia, including an immersive film, to recreate the historical setting of the Wanli era.
The museum's cultural and creative team has also developed new products for the exhibition, which will run for an extended period.
(By Tang Yuxian)
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