The exhibition Boats Floating Afar: Maritime Trade of Ancient Chinese Ceramics debuted at Nanshan Museum on December 30th, 2022. The exhibition is organized by the National Museum of China and the Shenzhen Nanshan District Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau, and hosted by the Nanshan Museum in Shenzhen, China.
Over 2000 years ago, our ancestors sailed through stormy waters in faraway seas to establish the Maritime Silk Road that links the East with the West. They opened a new window for friendly exchanges between countries and penned a new chapter in the history of human development and progress. In 2013, President Xi Jinping proposed the strategic concept of building a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The proposal aims to foster exchanges and dialogue between civilizations, facilitate mutual understanding and consolidate long-term friendship within a community of shared future for humankind, strengthen friendly interactions and promote economic prosperity and regional economic cooperation of countries along the route. In line with the mission for museums to connect the past, present and future, this exhibition presents scenes of prosperity from the Maritime Silk Road, and recounts stories of countries along the route making concerted efforts to pursue common goals, friendship and shared development. The exhibition also strives to promote the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and shared benefits.
The exhibition consists of 189 selected relics (sets), primarily exported ceramics from the maritime trade in ancient China. These relics not only contain ceramics salvaged from the shipwrecks of the Nanhai No. 1, Huaguangjiao No. 1, Sandaogang, Nan’ao No. 1, and Wanjiao No. 1, but also treasures from the collections of the National Museum of China, providing a panoramic view of the exported ceramics in ancient China and the impact of ancient Chinese ceramic culture on the world.
The exhibition is open until April 2nd, 2023.
Source: Nanshan Museum