PALACE MUSEUM COLLECTION OF CERAMIC TOMB FIGURES

Ancient Chinese believed that souls would remain alive after human beings died. The soul, like the living, also needs clothes meals, shelters and vehicles. Ceramic tomb figures,buried as funeral objects are symbolic objects that meet needs of the dead as when they are alive. Ceramic tomb figures appeared as early as the Spring and Autumn period（770-476BC）.     

MUSEUM OF ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE

Innumerable ancient buildings used to stand within the vast territory of China. With the passage of time, however, many grand wooden structures faded away. Shanxi Province, though, thanks to its unique geographic conditions, is still home to many ancient buildings representing a wide variety of styles. Architecture from each dynasty and era can still be found in Shanxi, and therefore the province is known as the ＂Museum of Ancient Chinese Architecture＂.     

NEW CAPITAL MUSEUM

The Capital Museum, founded in 1981, was originally seated in Beijing Confucius Temple which is a key heritage site under the state-level protection. In 2005 the museum moved into the new building located on the west end of Chang＇an Avenue. From the old, quiet temple to the modem structure with advanced facilities, the Capital Museum witnessed a thorough transformation.     

PAN YUANSHI AND HIS COLLECTION OF CHINESE NEW YEAR PRINT

Pan Yuanshi, an art teacher in his early years and a renowned print artist, enjoys high respect among southern Taiwan＇s art circle. In his professional career as the CEO of Chimei Foundation, he remarkably enhanced its public exposure and abilities to organize events, making it the most important cultural and art foundation in southern Taiwan.     

THE CULTURAL INDENTITY OF CHINA CONTEMPORARY ART

A 36-person delegation from the US President＇s Committee on the Arts and the Humanity paid an official visit to China from June 5 to 13 at the invitation of Chinese Cultural Ministry. On June 10, the delegation attended a seminar on the cultural identity of Chinese contemporary art chaired by Director Fan Di＇an in the National Art Museum of China.     

THE ART OF BLACK AND WHITE

The ten national permanent museum exhibitions of the year were announced on the World Museum Day on May 18, co-organized by China Museum Association, Xi＇an Municipality and China Heritage News. The permanent exhibition ＂The Art of Black and White＂ in Cizhou Kiln Museum won this annual award.     

BRONZE TREASURES OF THE ANCIENT KiNGDOM OF DIAN

The ten national permanent museum exhibitions of the year were announced on the World Museum Day on May 18, co-organized by China Museum Association, Xi＇an Municipality and China Heritage News. The permanent exhibition ＂Bronze-Age Civilization of Yunnan＂ by the Museum of Yunnan Province won this annual award.[第一段]     

THE MYSTERY OF SANXINGOUI CULTURE

Stories about Sanxingdui Culture published in the magazine before have caught readers＇ great interest. So far there are three major viewpoints about the origin of this mysterious culture. Some experts note that unearthed artifacts in Sanxingdui were legacies of the ancient Shu Kingdom and have nothing to do with foreign cultures. But since no written records have been left about this culture existing more than three thousand years ago, those who support this hypothesis have to resort to a smattering of clues in ancient documents of ensuing periods as well as legendary stories. A rivaling opinion argues that this culture has some relation with the ancient civilizations of Western Asia, Central Asia as well as Aegean Sea. It is believed that Ancient Egyptians already knew how to produce bronzes in the period between 3 800 and 3 500 BC and it is quite possible that the technology was imported to China in some way. In recent years, however, some scholars, based on extensive studies, assert that Sanxingdui is a result of cultural exchange and assimilation. They hold that some tribe lost its way during the great migration of the ancient India-lran tribes and misled itself to Sanxingdui. The tribe settled there and developed a culture that blends elements from both ancient central China and ancient India-lran areas.[第一段]     

COLLECTION ＆ AUCTION

China Guardian Launches Autumn Auction;Huachen Withdraws All Its Contemporary Artworks from Autumn Auction;A Long Way Ahead for Chinese Cultural Property Lost Abroad;Lang Shlh-ning＇s Painting Sold for 144 Million RMB Yuan     

THE ART OF CLAMP-RESIST DYEING

On October 30, 2007, Chen Songyao took out the two flower-print boards stored in his closet for years and to his surprise, strong herbal fragrance from the board made him so refreshed. After more than one decade of stand-by,these two old print boards were again used for producing Chinese blue calico in the clamp-resist dyeing.     

THE APPEAL OF BLACK ：An interview with lacquer artist Zheng Chongyao

Autumn is the most beautiful season in Beijing. In the Chinese Lacquer Art Center located in the 798 Art District in the city＇s northeast suburb, soft golden sunrays of the autumn cast on an old-fashioned square table at the window, where Zheng Chongyao and I had an interesting discussion about lacquer.     

FOUNDATION OF THE FORUM OF CULTURE AND ARTS OF UZBEKISTAN：BRINGING PEOPLE CLOSER

Foundation of the Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbeldstan today is well known not only in Uzbekistan, but also abroad. Initially created for promotion of national arts and culture on international arena, the Foundation has developed a wide scope of activities in various directions of culture,     

A JOURNEY TO THE MYSTERIOUS LAND OF WOMEN

Several years ago when I worked in Beijing, I read information about Lake Lugu which I felt like a mysterious, marvelous and primitiveland, In the matriarchal society, at Lake Lugu where mosuo people live, the primitive tradition of ＂walking marriage＂ （marriage by exchange） is Still preserved.[第一段]     

THE TIME-HONORED ART OF CHINESE PUPPET AND SHADOW PLAY

Puppet and shadow plays are two old artistic expressions that integrate painting, engraving, carving and performing. Their history in China can date back to at least more than 2500 years.     

INSIDE THE HOMETOWN OF GIANT PANDA：Diplomatic missions tour to cultural heritage sites in Sichuan

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China launched the series program ＂diplomatic missions tour to cultural heritage sites in China＂ in 2006, with an aim to showcase the country＇s rich cultural heritage resources and achievements in heritage protection to the international community. From October 20 to 25, 2007, 17 diplomatic envoys from ten countries as well as international organizations joined the study tour to Sichuan hometown of giant panda. During the five-day visit, they visited several World Heritage sites and appreciated unique folk arts in Sichuan, from mysterious archeological sites in Jinsha to magnificent Leshan giant Buddha, from beautiful Mt. Emei to the ancient irrigation system in Dujiangyan, from years-old liquor workshops to the well-preserved old town in Langzhong, from exquisite Song- Dynasty porcelains to the state-of-art research base for giant panda, from the miraculous face-off stunt of Sichuan opera to the highly skilled art of shadow play. All these attractions have imprinted deep memories in these diplomats＇ minds.     

Antiques in the Alley： Guan Fu Classical Art Museum

Nestled in an alley off South Chaoyangmen Nei Street in Beijing is Guan Fu Classical Art Museum, China‘s first privately owned and operated antique museum run by one of the country‘s most ardent collectors,     

Lizhuang： A Living Museum of Historic Architecture

Thanks to its even terrains, fertile land suited for the growth of varieties of crops and its rich reserve of natural resources, Lizhuang attracted many immigrants from other provinces in the immigration boom taking place during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties （approx. 16th - 18th centuries）. In order to protect their own interests, immigrants gradually established guilds, communities composed of people from certain trades or geographic origins.     

THE STORY OF LIN HWAI-MIN AND HIS CLOUD GATE DANCE THEATRE

The Forum of Chinese Modern Dance took place in Beijing in July, attracting cultural celebrities, scholars and dancers from Mainland China, Hong Kong and     

Wu Zishen： Patron of Suzhou Art Museum

＂He who patronizes art patronizes progress of history and evolution of civilization.＂ 1 cannot remember who said this, but it has reminded me of 54,000 silver dollars patronized to Suzhou Art Museum by Wu Zishen in 1931.     

Henan Museum：A Panorama of Chinese Civilization

Henan, located in the heart of China, is known as one of the most important birthplaces of Chinese civilization. A long history and numerous ancient sites and monuments have gained her reputation as ＂a natural museum of history＂. Founded in 1927, Henan Museum boasts large collections, thanks to the province＇s endowed geographical location and rich resources in cultural heritage.