Song Yun: A Selection of Buried Cultural Relics from Sichuan

Author: National Museum of China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: "Song Charm — Exquisite Artifacts from Sichuan Jar Caches" is composed of four sections: "Rich Simplicity," "Minimalist Luxury," "Variations on a Theme," and "Ancient Tunes, New Winds." The "Rich Simplicity" section includes 57 exquisite and elegant Song Dynasty porcelain pieces. These ceramics primarily feature Longquan and Jingdezhen kiln products, supplemented by a few Ding, Yaozhou, and Sichuan local kiln products. Among them, the Longquan kiln celadon gourd-shaped pouring pot and celadon five-pipe vessel exhibit simple yet dignified forms, with soft and delicate glazes, vividly showcasing the renowned celadon glaze varieties "Fenqing Glaze" and "Meiziqing Glaze" created by Longquan kilns in the late Southern Song Dynasty. The Jingdezhen kiln celadon incised children-playing pattern bowl and celadon printed double-fish pattern dish depict two children climbing branches and picking flowers, and two fish swimming in lotus flowers and water ripples, respectively, reflecting the aesthetic concepts and life interests of the Song people in pursuing harmony between humans and nature, making them representative products of Song Dynasty celadon ware.
The "Minimalist Luxury" section consists of 48 simple yet elegant gold and silver vessels. A significant number of Song Dynasty gold and silver artifacts originated from the (folk). They feature exquisite craftsmanship, highly variable forms, and many vessels directly mimic the shapes of flowers and fruits in nature. The decorations primarily focus on floral and bird motifs, covering all plants, animals, and narrative stories symbolizing beauty, happiness, health, and longevity. The exhibited (chrysanthemum-patterned gold bowl) integrates the motif with the vessel's shape, with the base serving as the flower's center and the walls as petals, creating a bowl that resembles a blooming chrysanthemum. The (lotus-leaf turtle-patterned silver cup) features a crawling turtle in the center of the lotus leaf on the inner base, symbolizing health and longevity with the phrase "a turtle living for 300 years on lotus leaves." The (dragon-patterned layered silver cup) represents the new craftsmanship of Song Dynasty gold and silver production, showcasing the unique characteristics of Song Dynasty gold and silver making from different perspectives.
The "Variations on a Theme" section, through the comparison of 32 exhibits, demonstrates the mutual influence of craftsmanship styles across different materials. Despite their varying materials, these exhibits share identical forms and spirits, offering visitors the experience of "variations on a theme."
The "Ancient Tunes, New Winds" section, featuring 35 exhibits, reflects the large number of Song Dynasty imitations of ancient artifacts, highlighting the retro trend in Northern Song intellectual circles. Some of these artifacts mimic ancient forms but transform the surrounding bronze patterns. "Song Charm — Exquisite Artifacts from Sichuan Jar Caches" strives to reflect the unique craftsmanship styles and popular fashion of the Song Dynasty from different perspectives, aiming to allow audiences to appreciate the charm of Song Dynasty art.