“The Sound of Harmony—Musical Instruments in Ancient China” exhibition opened to the public at the National Museum of China (NMC) on August 8, 2020. The exhibition is hosted by the NMC with the support of the Palace Museum, Chinese National Academy of Arts, Shanghai Museum, Hunan Museum, Hubei Museum, Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, Shandong Yinan Beizhai Tomb Museum and other institutions.
The exhibition is presented in a chronological order, divided into four chapters: “In Tune with Heaven and Earth: Earliest Melodies on Instruments”, “Echoes from Stone and Bronze: A System of Rituals and Music”, “A Wonderful Interplay of Regional and Exotic Tones”, and “A Tribute to Chinese Music Tradition.” It showcases more than 200 pieces (sets) of fine historical musical instruments from the NMC collection or on loan from multiple cultural heritage institutions. Highlights include a bone flute excavated from a Neolithic site at Jiahu village, Wuyang County, Henan Province, “JiuxiaoHuanpei” Zither from the Tang Dynasty, and a set of 12-pitch pipes from the Qing Dynasty. These exhibited treasures reveal a picture of the evolution of music in Chinese history, and highlight the cultural values of traditional Chinese music in promoting moral well-being, cultivating individual taste and entertaining the people.
Music is inspired by everyday life, born from its socioeconomic context and embodying the ideas and values of its time. It plays a prominent and unique role in facilitating the progress of civilization, promoting exchanges and mutual learning, as well as enriching intellectual and cultural activities. As musical instruments are the media through which music is played and performed, charting their historical development can reveal the history of music. By holding this exhibition, the NMC hopes to systematically display representative exhibits that reflect the evolution of music throughout Chinese history and demonstrate the unique charm of China’s fine traditional art of music.
Source: National Museum of China