On July 5th, the exhibition "Shine Brightly: The Ritual Culture of Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties in Central China" opened at the Guangdong Museum, and it will run until October 12th.

Co-organized by the Guangdong Museum and the Henan Museum and supported by the Guangzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology and the Museum of the Nanyue King of the Western Han Dynasty, the exhibition features 253 artifacts from four museums, among which over 80% of the items are classified as precious cultural relics.

The ritual culture of the Central Plain evolved with the successive dynasties and extended its influence far beyond the region itself. As early as the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, it had already reached southwestern Fujian and eastern Guangdong. Ya zhang is a core ceremonial jade symbolizing royal authority. A ya zhang dating back to the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, unearthed in Honghualin, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou, exudes the solemn authority of royal power. Curator Xu Jingjing noted that it bears a striking resemblance to the ya zhang in the Central Plain during the Xia Dynasty.

"Key highlights of this exhibition include the 'Prince Wu' Ding and the bath pot, both of which are making their debut in Guangzhou," noted Xu Jingjing. The "Prince Wu" Ding is majestic and exquisitely crafted. Its owner, Prince Wu (courtesy name Zigeng), was the son of King Zhuang of Chu and served as the prime minister during the reign of King Kang of Chu. King Zhuang of Chu is known for famous historical allusions such as "Yi Ming Jing Ren" (amazing the world with a single feat) and "Wen Ding Zhong Yuan" (challenging for dominance in the Central Plains). The flat-bottomed, cinched-waist shape of the "Prince Wu" Ding also reflects King Kang of Chu's distinct aesthetic preference for slim waists.

熠熠其辉 夏商周礼乐文化展在粤博开幕

7月5日，“熠熠其辉：夏商周礼乐文化展”在广东省博物馆开幕，展期至10月12日。

据介绍，展览由广东省博物馆与河南博物院共同主办，广州市文物考古研究院和南越王博物院支持。展览汇集4家博物馆单位共253件展品，其中珍贵文物占比超过80%。

中原礼乐文化随着中原王朝的迭代不断发展变迁，其影响力不仅仅局限于中原地区，自商周时期开始便影响着闽西南乃至粤东地区。牙璋是中原夏王朝的核心玉礼器，是统治阶级王权的象征。一件出土于广州增城红花林的商周时期牙璋透着王权的威严，策展人徐晶晶指出，它与中原夏王朝牙璋高度相似。

“这次重点展品有王子午鼎、‘倗’浴缶等重量级文物，它们都是首次亮相广州。”徐晶晶向记者点出了此次展览的“明星文物”。王子午鼎外观磅礴大气又不失精致。其主人王子午，又名子庚，是楚庄王之子、楚康王时期的令尹。楚庄王曾留下了“一鸣惊人”“问鼎中原”等历史典故，王子午鼎平底束腰的外观造型，也充分体现了楚王“好细腰”的特殊审美。

文、图丨记者 何文涛 通讯员 粤博宣
翻译丨盛嘉
审校丨杨钧雅