• 5,000 years riding high on the hog
Two thousand years ago, privileged Chinese, such as aristocrats or superrich businesspeople, could expect a lot upon their deaths.
Two thousand years ago, privileged Chinese, such as aristocrats or superrich businesspeople, could expect a lot upon their deaths.
The places: The ruins of Aphrodisias, or the city of Aphrodite with its history parceled up in museums. The terraced landscape of Pamukkale, endowed with many hot springs, in southwestern Turkey.Spectacular archaeological sites provide a front-row seat to
The Sogdians performed a special role on the stage of the ancient Silk RoadIf the ancient Silk Road is a theater, then the Sogdians were its most dynamic performers. Monopolizing the trans-Eurasian trade route for half a millennium between the fourth and
Few artifacts from the Sogdians have been found, but those that have offer insights into their role in the ancient world"Of all the more than 60 stone tablets unearthed in Luoyang and bearing the epitaph for their Sogdian owners, only one was discove
Han Dynasty painted wooden horse, unearthed in Gansu province.In ancient China animals did a lot of the economic heavy lifting and made a great contribution to artIn Western mythology the most famous horse is that of Troy, the giant wooden ruse that the G
A man wearing a black-rimmed long robe with his hair wrapped in black cloth charges forward on a stallion. While his right hand is placed on the halter, constantly pressing his mount, he raises his left hand, in which he holds a rolled-up document at the
At Miles upon miles: world heritage along the Silk Road exhibition in Hong Kong, a visitor is gazing at a male corpse clothed in luxurious silk, unearthed in Xinjiang. In 53 BC Marcus Licinius Crassus, a Roman general and politician who once acted as a co
Ming Dynasty gold accessories from Qichun Museum on display at a 2016 exhibition in the University of Southern California Pacific Art Museum in Los Angeles. Wherever you are on the planet, chances are that one of these days you'll be able to admire the re
Gilt bronze finials in the shape of mythical beasts inlaid with glass. After toppling its adversary, a dynasty of 2,200 years ago paid due respect to the ways of its predecessorQin, whose first emperor united China for the first time, and Han, the dynasty
Jade shroud sewn with gold wires, jade burial pillow with gilt bronze frame, all for Dou Wan. The burial garb of a regal woman who left barely a trace has crowds gaspingFor one who was given such an ostentatious sendoff when she died, the most surprising
Bronze wine retriever with birdshaped handle (left); gilt bronze elephant and groom. The people had an eye on heaven and a hand on the present, being masters of art and nation buildingChiming music rings out. Women with willowy waists dance, throwing thei
Sixty one years have passed, but Sun Xianbao well remembers exactly what he saw aftersqueezing himself through the narrow opening between two giant stone panels, panels that formthe gate to the burial chamber of Emperor Wanli (1563-1620).
It was a dark and rainy morning in the Tibet autonomous region, but my traveling companion and I could not sleep. The clock had not yet struck 4 am as we clambered out of our beds and prepared to make our way to the Shoton Festival, one of the region's la