MUZI · THE NATIONAL TREASURES

Treasures

Each object is a witness to the Chinese past. Meet the nation's treasures by type, dynasty and maker.

659treasures

9types

15dynasties

97institutions

100 Treasures

100 treasures

Through the Dynasties

16 dynasties

From prehistory to the Ming and Qing, dynasty by dynasty.

Xia (Erlitou culture) · Ritual JadesSeven-holed Jade Blade from ErlitouThe largest jade from the Xia capitalErlitou Site Museum of the Xia CapitalTE10109Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Food VesselsHoumuwu DingA royal ritual cauldron weighing over 830 kilogramsNational Museum of ChinaTE10002Early Western Zhou · Bronze Food VesselsLi GuiThe bronze that dates the Zhou conquest of ShangNational Museum of ChinaTE10001Late Warring States to Qin · Bamboo Slips & Silk TextsShuihudi Qin Bamboo SlipsThe law books a Qin clerk took to his graveHubei Provincial MuseumTE10041Western Han dynasty · Bronze Mirrors & LampsChangxin Palace LampA gilded Han lamp that swallows its own smokeHebei MuseumTE10012Eastern Wu (Three Kingdoms) · Celadon WaresCeladon Granary Jar Dated Third Year of Yong'anA dated Three Kingdoms soul jarPalace MuseumTE10159Eastern Jin dynasty · Calligraphy OriginalsWang Xizhi, Timely Clearing after SnowfallA brief letter written as the snow clearedNational Palace MuseumTE10027Southern and Northern Dynasties to Tang, 5th-8th century · Figure PaintingAdmonitions of the Instructress to the Court LadiesAn ancient scroll on the conduct of court ladiesBritish MuseumTE10030Sui dynasty · Landscape PaintingZhan Ziqian, Spring OutingWhere blue-and-green landscape beginsPalace MuseumTE10036Tang dynasty · Gold & Silver VesselsSilver Flask with Dancing Horse Holding a CupThe horse that danced for the emperor's birthdayShaanxi History MuseumTE10014Southern Tang (Five Dynasties) · Figure PaintingGu Hongzhong, The Night Revels of Han XizaiA night party seen through a court painter's eyesPalace MuseumTE10032Northern Song dynasty · Celadon WaresRu Ware Celadon Narcissus Basin without CrackleRu ware without a single crackleNational Palace MuseumTE10023All 16 treasures

Makers & Patrons

143 makers

The craftsmen, calligraphers and painters whose names survive.

Western Jin dynasty · Calligraphy OriginalsLu Ji, Pingfu TieA get-well note from seventeen centuries agoPalace MuseumTE10260Eastern Jin dynasty · Calligraphy OriginalsWang Xizhi, Timely Clearing after SnowfallA brief letter written as the snow clearedNational Palace MuseumTE10027Eastern Jin dynasty · Calligraphy OriginalsMid-Autumn LetterThe Mid-Autumn Letter of the Three RaritiesPalace MuseumTE10206Eastern Jin dynasty · Calligraphy OriginalsWang Xun, Letter to BoyuanThe one Jin original of the Three RaritiesPalace MuseumTE10251Northern Wei dynasty · Religious ImagesNine-storey Thousand Buddha Stone Pagoda of Cao Tiandu, First Year of Tian'anA Northern Wei pagoda of a thousand BuddhasNational Museum of HistoryTE10648Sui dynasty · Landscape PaintingZhan Ziqian, Spring OutingWhere blue-and-green landscape beginsPalace MuseumTE10036Tang dynasty · Calligraphy OriginalsFeng Chengsu's Copy of the Orchid Pavilion PrefaceThe closest likeness of Wang Xizhi's lost masterpiecePalace MuseumTE10025Tang dynasty · Birds, Flowers & AnimalsHan Huang, Five OxenA Tang masterpiece bought back from Hong KongPalace MuseumTE10038Tang dynasty · Calligraphy OriginalsAscending the Yang TerraceThe one piece of writing in Li Bai's own handPalace MuseumTE10205Tang dynasty · Calligraphy OriginalsXu Hao, Patent of Office for Zhu JuchuanA Tang official's letter of appointmentNational Palace MuseumTE10213Tang dynasty · Calligraphy OriginalsHuaisu, Bitter Bamboo ShootsA monk's note asking for shoots and teaShanghai MuseumTE10235Tang dynasty · Calligraphy OriginalsDu Mu, Poem to Zhang HaohaoThe one poem in Du Mu's own handPalace MuseumTE10245All 143 treasures

Treasure Canons

Twelve canons, each paired with one Muzi Canon book; being catalogued.

Featured treasure

Li Gui

Early Western Zhou · Bronze Food Vessels · National Museum of China

Its inscription records King Wu's conquest of Shang on a jiazi morning, the earliest contemporary witness to the event

The Li Gui is an early Western Zhou bronze food vessel found in 1976 at Lingkou, Lintong, Shaanxi; it stands 28 cm high. A 32-character inscription inside the base recor…

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