Step into the Shanghai Museum East Branch (Part 10): Sculpture Gallery

The Shanghai Museum East Branch, located on Century Avenue in Pudong New District, Shanghai, officially opened to the public in December of last year. The museum houses 20 exhibition halls, including eight permanent exhibition halls: the Bronze Gallery, Calligraphy Gallery, Painting Gallery, Seal Carving Gallery, Ceramics Gallery, Currency Gallery, Sculpture Gallery, and Jade Gallery. All exhibits are arranged chronologically according to ancient Chinese history, showcasing a comprehensive collection of artifacts from various periods. Each permanent exhibition hall is a "museum sanctuary" in its respective field. This post highlights the essence of the exhibits in the *Chinese Ancient Sculpture* exhibition hall on the 1st floor of the Shanghai Museum East Branch: 1️⃣ Two "Treasures of the Museum" at the entrance/exit (Figures 2 & 3) ⭐⭐ Tang Dynasty White Marble Offering Bodhisattva Statue This statue is part of a group sculpture consisting of a main Buddha statue and surrounding attendants. It depicts an offering Bodhisattva located below the main Buddha and is considered a masterpiece of Tang Dynasty white marble sculpture. ⭐⭐ Jin Dynasty Lacquered and Painted Wooden Sculpture of Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva During the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, wooden sculptures flourished in the Fen River Valley of southern Shanxi. These sculptures are characterized by robust figures, ornate decorations, three-dimensional carving, flowing lines, and exaggerated features. This style continued to influence local temple murals during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, fully demonstrating the combination of painting and sculpture in ancient Chinese sculptural art. 2️⃣ Sculptures from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties to the Han Dynasties (Figures 4-10) ⭐ Shang Dynasty Bone Spatula with Animal Mask Decoration and Bronze Owl Zun; Western Zhou Dynasty Bronze Chariot Ornament with Double Rabbit Design; Warring States Period Bronze Human-shaped Vessel Stand ⭐ Spring and Autumn Period Bronze Panlong Drum Stand ⭐ Warring States Period Painted Wooden Figurine ⭐ Warring States Period Painted Lacquered Wooden Tomb Guardian Beast; Eastern Han Dynasty Bronze Money Tree Ornament, Bronze Mirror with Depiction of Deities, Dragons, Tigers, and Humans, and Bronze Mirror with Portrait of the Long Family ⭐ Western Han Dynasty Bronze Cowrie Shell Container with Seven Oxen ⭐ Western Han Dynasty Gilt Bronze Tiger-shaped Paperweight ⭐ Eastern Han Dynasty Pottery Dog, Pottery Figurine Playing the Qin, and Pottery Figurine of a Woman Holding a Dustpan; Western Jin Dynasty Celadon Jar with Modeled Figures and Pavilions 3️⃣ Sculptures from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Tang and Song Dynasties (Figures 11-18) ⭐⭐ Southern Dynasties Stone Statue of One Buddha and Two Bodhisattvas The statue's face is serene and subtle, with a long neck and sloping shoulders, reflecting the delicate and refined characteristics of Southern Dynasties sculptures. Extant single sculptures from the Southern Dynasties are mostly found in Chengdu, Sichuan, and the upper reaches of the Minjiang River. This statue, originating from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River during the Southern Qi and Liang Dynasties, is therefore particularly precious. ⭐ Northern Wei Dynasty Stone Head Fragment of an Apsara from the Yungang Grottoes; Northern Qi Dynasty White Marble Buddha Head and Stone Statue of Prince by Dao Chang ⭐ Northern Zhou Dynasty Stone Thousand Buddha Stele ⭐⭐ Tang Dynasty Lacquered Wooden Head of Kasyapa ⭐ Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Tomb Guardian Beasts, Painted Pottery Figurine of a Lady, Polychrome Glazed Pottery Warrior Figurine, and Polychrome Glazed Pottery Official Figurine ⭐ Sui Dynasty Bronze Statue of Amitabha Buddha Triad; Tang Dynasty Gilt Bronze Contemplative Bodhisattva Statue, Stone Statue of Laozi, and Stone Statue of Yuanshi Tianzun Triad ⭐⭐ Northern Song Dynasty Lacquered and Painted Wooden Guanyin Bodhisattva Statue ⭐ Northern Song Dynasty Iron Arhat Statue All photos were taken by me with my mobile phone. Please do not reprint or use them.