Three Yan masterpieces reveal cultural crossroads

Co-hosted by the Henan Museum, the Liaoning Provincial Museum, and the Zhengzhou Shang Dynasty Site Museum, the exhibition Masterpieces of Three Yan from Liaoning officially opened to the public on Aug 18 at the Zhengzhou Shang Dynasty Site Museum in Henan province. It will run until Nov 15.

The exhibition brings together 141 exquisite cultural relics from four institutions in Liaoning province. It systematically presents the connotations of the Three Yan culture during the Sixteen Kingdoms period (304-439), as well as their close connections with the culture of China's Central Plains, showcasing exchanges and integration across different regions.

The Three Yan culture refers to the archaeological culture of the Sixteen Kingdoms period, centered around present-day Chaoyang, Liaoning. It was dominated by the Murong Xianbei nomadic tribe, which absorbed multiple cultural elements from neighboring groups under the influence of Han culture, resulting in a rich and distinctive cultural tradition.

Historically, the Murong Xianbei established several regimes in western Liaoning, including the Former Yan, Later Yan, Western Yan, Southern Yan, and the Tuyuhun. Later, Feng Ba, a Han Chinese general who had been culturally assimilated into the Xianbei, rose to power and founded the Northern Yan. The Former Yan (337-370), Later Yan (384-407), and Northern Yan (407-436) all shared Longcheng (modern Chaoyang, Liaoning) as their capital, and are thus known collectively as the "Three Yan".

Since the 1950s, a series of archaeological discoveries in Liaoning has provided tangible physical evidence for this history that lasted over a century, making the Three Yan culture a unique cultural hallmark of Liaoning.

The exhibition is divided into four sections, showcasing the social life, tomb murals, gold ornaments, and the horse-gear art of the Three Yan culture.

The third section dazzles visitors with an array of resplendent gold artifacts, offering a glimpse into the exceptional craftsmanship and decorative artistry of the Three Yan culture. The gold ornaments of this period display distinct foreign influences in their forms, reflecting how local artisans absorbed external inspiration and reinterpreted it through localized adaptation and creative reinvention. The flourishing of goldwork not only reflects the advanced metallurgical techniques of the Three Yan era, but also underscores the pivotal role of western Liaoning as a key hub of East-West cultural exchange.

The exhibits cover multiple categories, including pottery and bronze vessels, sculptures, seals, glassware, murals, and gold ornaments. Ranging from daily utensils to ceremonial vessels, and from artistic treasures to military supplies, they collectively offer a vivid picture of the rich and diverse culture of the Three Yan.