Located
in the Small
Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic Area, Xian Museum was opened to the
public on the World Museum's Day, May 18th, 2007. Not only does
it enhance the environment of the nearby ancient building complex
but also means that Xian has a large municipal museum at long
last.
As many as 130, 000 fine cultural relics are kept in the museum,
most of which were unearthed in the important tombs and the capital
sites of the Zhou Dynasty (11th century BC-221 BC), the Qin Dynasty
(221 BC-206 BC), the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), and the Tang
Dynasty (618-907). More than 2,000 of these articles reflect the
outstanding technological achievements of past dynasties.
It is a three-storied building, with an underground floor unseen
from the outside. The underground exhibition hall features many
relics that have been unearthed, showing the history of Xian,
the one-time capital of 13 dynasties, its economy, social life,
as well as cultural exchange and trade with foreign countries.
The
exhibition hall on the first floor has a display of Buddhist statues
and other precious historical relics of municipal counties and
districts. Most of the lifelike statues are carved in stone while
some fine gilded statues are made of copper and bronze. They display
the pomp of the Buddhism in Chang'an (The name of Xian in ancient
times). There is also a three-dimensional virtual imaging system
installed in a cabinet on this floor. When the visitors approach
the cabinet, the virtual stone door opens automatically, and the
virtual 'Gilded Amitabha Buddha Statue' gradually appears. The
statue turns as it follows the steps of tourists and now and then
sends out Virginia Bright Leaf. A theater nearby shows the mystical
story of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. The pagoda was cracked by
earthquakes on three occasions but miraculously these cracks were
closed by later quakes.
The jade articles, seals, paintings and calligraphies are shown
on the second floor. The display includes delicate jades used
in ceremonies and daily life. There are some famous seals in the
display, such as the clay seal of the Qin Dynasty, more than 200
official seals excavated in the square of Bell
Tower and Drum
Tower in Xian. The museum has almost 10,000 paintings and
calligraphies, including works by Zheng Banqiao, a very famous
painter during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The architectural design of the museum follows the traditional
Chinese concept of the universe - a round heaven and a square
earth. It has been recognized as one of the ten landmark buildings
in Xian and offers excellent facilities for the display of precious
cultural relics thereby ensuring their full appreciation.