The exhibition named ’…As in a mirror. China under Emperor Jingdi’ will open at the Stavanger Museum of Archaeology on 16 January 2005. The exhibition consists of about 265 beautiful objects collected from Emperor Jingdi’s grave - terracotta models of women, servants, warriors, household animals, kitchen utensils - and mirrors. The idea behind the exhibition’s name is that the findings reflect the society during Emperor Jingdi’s reign, and that the past also reflects today’s China. Emperor Jingdi was the forth ruler under the Han Dynasty, and ruled from 157-141 BC.
The Han Yangling Museum in Xi’an is the owner of the objects found in the enormous grave complex. The work on the grave site started in 1990, and the scale of the findings can be compared to Qin Shihuangdi’s famous terracotta army in Xi’an. The exhibition to be shown in Norway is unique, and the representatives from the three Norwegian museums hosting the exhibition have themselves carefully chosen the objects.
‘…As in a mirror’ is a part of the official celebration of the 50 anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Norway and China, and is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs.
The exhibition will be shown at the Museum of Archaeology in Stavanger from the 16 January, in the Museum of History in Oslo from 24 April, and in the Museum of Science, University of Trondheim from 18 September.