Massive Permanent China Exhibition Opens at Chicago’s Field Museum

China

The famous Field Museum in Chicago debuted the 9,000-square-foot Cyrus Tang Hall of China this week, the Field’s first new permanent exhibition in four years.

The immense exhibit brings cutting-edge technology together with ancient Chinese relics to present a comprehensive and elegant representation of China. 

The collection of ceramics, textiles, bronzes, sculptures and more comprises 10,000 years of history from China and includes interesting pieces such as the two massive lions that flank the entrance to the exhibit, a 27-foot-long hand-painted scroll that has been reproduced on a touch-screen (where you can zoom in on specific scenes and details as you choose), foot-binding shoes (and an x-ray of the bound foot), masks, puppets, an opium tray, and the remains of a 13th century shipwreck. 

The exhibit was a massive undertaking: a team of 100 scholars and historians spent years sorting through more than 40,000 objects to choose those for display in the exhibition. 

Touch-screens below the display cases of 350 artifacts provide extensive details about each object, and all of the content will be online, in both English and Chinese, by early next year. 

However all the information is presented in an elegant, understated way, so visitors can take in how little or much they choose. 

There’s even a digital changing map that shows the history and development of China’s boundaries and dynasties throughout the centuries. 

The overall feeling of the new hall is serene, polished and contemporary while aptly displaying the ancient history. 

Tang Hall is located on second floor of the Field, on the east side. 

It is named for its primary benefactor, former Chicago businessman Cyrus Tang. 

For more information, go to: http://www.fieldmuseum.org/discover/on-exhibit/china/