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Reflections on bronze

During his reign, Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) ordered the making of various works of art and craft styled in the forms of art of previous dynasties. For example, he supervised the production of a set of 10 bronze mirrors that adopted the patterns of several famed mirrors from centuries ago. The set is on display for a long-term exhibition at the Shenyang Palace Museum where the items are housed. The manufacturing of bronze mirrors dates back 4,000 years in China. People cast on the back of mirrors decorative motifs, reflecting social norms, religious beliefs, daily routines and takes on beauty. People also cast mottos and proverbs for the purpose of self-cultivation of morality. The 10 mirrors from Qianlong's period are each stored in a specially made wood case. One imitates a mirror from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) that bears a wish for fertility and prosperity, and another replicates grape patterns on a Tang Dynasty (618-907) mirror to show exchanges between ancient China and the world.

8:30 am-5 pm, April 10-Oct 10, 9 am-4:30 pm, Oct 11-April 9, closed on Mondays. 171 Shenyang Road, Shenhe district, Shenyang, Liaoning province. 024-2484-3001.