Through the collaborative efforts of Tsinghua University and the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the much-anticipated exhibition-The Evolution of Rites in the East: The Essence of Shandong’s Ancient Civilization- is set to grace Tsinghua University Art Museum (TAM) from October 18 to January 14, 2024.
The exhibition unveils the origin and development of the Chinese idea of li jie (rites and propriety), through the exploration of nearly 440 pieces of fine artifacts. It seeks to uncover ancient wisdom, interpret China to the world, and to highlight the importance of Shandong as the origin of “Eastern Civilization” in the development of Chinese civilization.
The exhibition is structured into seven thematic sections: The Light of Dawn: Rise of the First Rite; Between Sacred Mountains and the Sea: Jade Rites in All Directions; Royal Rites in the State of Lu: Transmissions of All Under Heaven; The Noblemen at Lu: Prosperity and Glory Since the Han; Admiring Lofty Heights: Worship of Confucius, Mount Tai, and the Penglai Immortals; Pictures and Drawings of Heaven and Earth: Transmitting Antiquity through Carvings and Steles; and The Eastern Smile: Buddhist Crafts of the Northern Dynasties. Each segment provides a unique lens to appreciate the cultural fabric of the East and its dynamic evolution over time.
Renowned for its rich history, Shandong province stands tall as a cornerstone of Chinese civilization. This region has served as a fertile ground for countless luminaries over the millennia and has preserved a wealth of cultural treasures that firmly anchor Shandong's reputation as a beacon of traditional Chinese culture.
In recent years, TAM has presented a series of large-scale specialized exhibitions on the origins and historical processes of Chinese civilization, such as the Everlasting Like the Heavens: The Cultures and Arts of the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang (2019) and the Splendor of Huaxia: The Essence of Shanxi’s Ancient Civilization (2021), both of which received widespread recognition.
Editor: Li Han
