The Chinese Art gallery at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts presents a wide-ranging selection of 150 works dating from the Neolithic period through the 19th century. The gallery displays, which are organized around six individual themes and arranged along a historical chronology, tell an exciting story of the depth and diversity of life and art in ancient China.

The first of the six themes, entitled "Life in the Eternal World," groups together ceramics from the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) and earlier, with accompanying texts to illustrate their various functions and the ways in which they reflect early Chinese visions of the afterlife. The other five themes are the "Power of Ritual" (bronze vessels), "Symbols and Ornaments" (carved jades), "Along the Silk Road" (East-West trade and Buddhist art), "Imperial Taste" (later lacquer wares), and "Purity and Elegance" (blanc-de-chine porcelain). Information panels and labels accompanying each theme offer in-depth interpretations that reflect the most recent scholarly research. In addition, the gallery's new interior design, incorporating traditional Chinese architectural motifs, provides an underlying cultural context and atmosphere. The Museum hopes not only to tell the story of the arts and cultures of ancient China, but also to help the audience visually experience this fascinating time.

The present installation includes many of the museum's most beautiful, and most historically important, works of Chinese art. For example, an exceptionally rare 10th century gilt bronze sculpture of a Bodhisattva graces the display of Buddhist art, while exquisite blanc-de-chine porcelain figures and a large Neolithic jar represent different traditions of Chinese ceramics. On view for the first time are several recent acquisitions, such as a remarkably well-preserved set of Han dynasty painted pottery tomb figures. The dramatic postures and vivid facial features of these figures, which include two gamers and two spectators, capture an exciting moment in a heated game.

Another outstanding work is a 3rd century AD funerary urn with an unusually complex structure and elaborate decoration. The upper section of the vessel represents a three-storied temple, around which gathers a troupe of musicians and entertainers, singing, dancing, playing music, clapping hands and juggling balls. Numerous exotic birds, animals, and horse-riders pack the surface of the lower section. A luxuriously gilded bronze mirror dating to the Tang dynasty (618-906), decorated with five lively lions roaming amid intertwining grapevines, is also among the museum's recently acquired works of art.

Beginning in 2004, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will undertake a major expansion, scheduled for completion in 2007. The Chinese Art gallery, together with the galleries of Indian, Himalayan and Japanese art, will move into a new wing, where it will occupy a significantly larger space. In preparation for this expansion, the museum continues to develop its Asian collections, and has made several more important acquisitions that will go on display in the new galleries. These include a monumental sculpture of the Buddha from the ancient kingdom of Gandhara (modern Afghanistan), a pair of Japanese screens from the late 16th century, and two delicately sculpted clay Bodhisattvas from northern China that date to the 11th century. These acquisitions indicate the museum's continued commitment to represent the highest artistic achievements of diverse cultures from around the world.
Jason Sun, former E. Rhoads and Leona B. Carpenter Curator, East Asian Art (Courtesy VMFA)

NOTE: The accompanying virtual tour was photographed on January 2, 2004, in the Chinese Gallery at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Va.