The new season of television program National Treasures looks at nine historical and cultural heritage institutions across the country, featuring 27 pieces from their collections, which explore the brilliant achievements of the Chinese civilization and its significant contributions to humanity.
The nine institutions include Xi'an Beilin Museum and Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum in Xi'an, capital city of Northwest China's Shaanxi province.
Produced by China Media Group and China Central Television Record International Media Co, National Treasures is a cultural exploration television series. The latest season is officially scheduled to be broadcast on CCTV-3 at 8:30 pm every Sunday, from Dec 6.
The Six Horses Stone Carvings from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). [Photo/xiancn.com]
Xi'an Beilin Museum's Six Horses Stone Carvings from the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the Yan Family Temple Stele and the Shitai Filial Piety Stele will showcase the elegance of Chinese civilization.
In order to commemorate the six horses that he rode during the founding war of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Li Shimin asked for the steeds to be recreated in stone and placed at the altar at the northern foot of the Zhaoling Mausoleum.
The Yan Family Temple Stele was erected by calligrapher Yan Zhenqing, 72 years old, for his father Yan Weizhen. The calligraphy on the stele is exquisite, making it Yan's masterpiece from his later years.
The tablet inscription of the Shitai Filial Piety Stele was prefaced and annotated by the Emperor Xuanzong Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty. The head of the stele is engraved with a dragon, an auspicious beast.
In addition, the kneeling warrior figurines, bronze crane and bronze carriages and horses in the Qinling Mausoleum from Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum will appear in the program.
The kneeling warrior figurines are the rarest of the many pottery figurines in the Qin warrior pits. The height of those kneeling is about 1.2 meters. Their heads are shaped in bun forms, facing forwards, and their eyes are slightly focused to the front right.
The unearthed bronze carriages from the Qinling Mausoleum. [Photo/xiancn.com]
The bronze crane was unearthed in the K0007 burial pit of Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum in July 2000. The crane is tall, realistic and lifelike. The unearthed bronze cranes give people a new understanding of the decorative characteristics of the bronze manufacturing process in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC).
The bronze carriages from the Qinling Mausoleum were unearthed on the west side of the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum. The main body is cast bronze, with gold and silver ornaments and the whole body is decorated with exquisite paintings.
It is the most complex and massive ancient bronze found so far.