Exhibition Hall No. 1 of Shaanxi History Museum

No. 1 Exhibition Hall is located on the first floor of the Shaanxi History Museum and consists of three units. It chronologically presents artifacts from prehistoric human ancestors through the Western Zhou and Qin Dynasties, vividly portraying Chinese development history.

Stepping into Unit 1 feels like traveling back to ancient times. On display here is the fossilized skull of the Lantian Man, dating back approximately 1.15 million years. Also featured are exquisitely crafted painted pottery pieces from the Neolithic Yangshao (5000 BC - 3000 BC) and Longshan (2500 BC - 2000 BC) cultures. Remarkably, these were created using a special oxidizing flame-firing technique. Despite thousands of years of weathering, their colors remain vivid, testifying to the wisdom and craftsmanship of ancient humans. In addition, there are some stone tools such as choppers, scrapers and points. Although the production technology of these tools is simple, it shows that the people one million years ago had already learned the basic production and use of tools.

Stone Tools from Prehistoric Times

Painted Potteries

Skull of People in Prehistoric Times

Pottery Basin with Human Mask and Fish Pattern

 Relics of Prehistoric Times
 Known as the “Bronze Age,” the Western Zhou Dynasty saw widespread use and development of bronze wares, which played a pivotal role in contemporary society, including tools, weapons, ritual vessels, and cooking utensils. The craftsmanship of bronze wares also reached a relatively high level. Notably, most of the bronze wares from the Western Zhou period were inscribed with characters for record-keeping, and each bronze ware had a unique story background. In this unit, visitors can view a diverse array of bronze artifacts, from large chime bells to small tripods, each unique in its own right.

Bronze Chime Bells

Inheriting the style of round tripods from the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC - 1046 BC), it is heavy and solemn in design, with exquisitely detailed patterns. The beast-face patterns adorn the area below the rim, set against a background of thunder patterns. The inscriptions on its inner wall are crucial for studying the land system in the early Western Zhou Dynasty, possessing precious historical and artistic value.
 This bronze tripod features 207 characters cast on its inner wall, documenting a land transaction event during the Western Zhou period. Due to its clear dating, it accurately reflects the bronze casting techniques of the Western Zhou period and is extremely precious.

Tripod (Ding) of Yu; Cauldron

“Fifth-Year” Tripod (Ding) of Wei; Cauldron

Hemispherical in shape, it has a relatively deep belly and hoof-shaped feet. Its decorative patterns are simple, with only two bands of string patterns on the upper part of the belly. The inner wall of it contains over 270 characters of inscriptions, ranking it among the Shaanxi-unearthed bronze wares with the most inscriptions.

Bronze Tripod with Inscriptions “Duo You”

Ancient Drinking Vessel Niu Zun

 Relics of Shang & Western Zhou Dynasties

The Qin Dynasty marked China’s first unified empire. During Emperor Qinshihuang’s reign, the military was extraordinarily powerful, boasting the world’s strongest army and finest generals. In this unit, visitors can observe swords and other weapons used by the Qin army, as well as life-sized terracotta warriors replicated according to real soldiers’ appearances, as if a battle from over 2,000 years ago were unfolding before their eyes. Additionally, Emperor Qinshihuang standardized Chinese characters, currency, and weights and measures. This unit displays various currencies, characters, and measuring instruments from the period before and after the Qin Dynasty’s establishment.

Bronze Chariots and Horses of Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum

The kneeling archer, dressed in a battle robe and wearing armor, has a bun on the left side of his head. Its left leg is bent, and its right knee is on the ground. With hands placed on the right side of the body, it appears ready to shoot, representing one of the well-preserved Terracotta Army figures.
 The Tiger-Shaped Tally of Du is the left half of the token. The tiger is depicted in a walking posture, with its head raised and its tail curled. The left half was held by military officers, while the right half was held by the emperor. The back of both halves of the tiger token usually had unique structures and engravings. Only when they matched exactly could the two halves fit perfectly, ensuring the accurate transmission of military orders.

Kneeling Archer Figure

Tiger-Shaped Tally for Generals

It’s a bronze vessel used for measuring the quantity of crops. One volume can hold approximately 0.2 kilograms of rice. Over 2,000 years ago, when there were no precise weighing devices, people had already created accurate measuring instruments through their ingenuity.

Bronze Square Measure

 Relics of Eastern Zhou and Qin Dynasties

Go to the No. 2 Exhibition Hall