The Guimet Museum in Paris, France is inviting visitors to explore the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty by offering a unique glimpse into the rich history of China's ancient capital, Chang'an.
The exhibition, titled Tang China: A Cosmopolitan Dynasty, runs from Nov 20 to March 3.
Curators Arnaud Bertrand and Huei-Chung Tsao introduced the exhibition during a news briefing on Nov 18, where they emphasized the historical significance of the Tang Dynasty (618–907).
This golden age is celebrated as a time of cultural openness, artistic innovation, and economic prosperity.
A global hub
Chang'an, or Long Peace, was a bustling imperial city and vibrant symbol of Tang Dynasty.
At its height, it was the world's most densely populated city, with more than 1 million people living in an 87-square-kilometre area, Tsao explained.
Positioned at the crossroads of the Silk Roads, Chang'an attracted merchants, artists, aristocrats, and travelers and became a cultural melting pot where foreign beliefs and traditions thrived alongside Chinese customs.
The exhibition brings the streets of Chang'an to life with a series of striking statues and artifacts that ensure visitors encounter depictions of diverse figures, from foreign tribal chiefs to military officials and courtiers. Many of these ceramics feature a three-color glaze of green, yellow, and brown that showcases a type of craftsmanship that influenced pottery styles across Asia and beyond.
Various religions coexisted during the Tang Dynasty, including Buddhism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, and Christianity, according to Tsao. The exhibition includes a map illustrating the city's grid-like layout, which was dotted with 130 religious institutions.
Statues of genie-guardians, meditative Buddhas, and zodiac animals highlight the rich spiritual tapestry of the period.
The cosmopolitan openness extended to women of the Tang Dynasty court, who enjoyed remarkable freedoms, being able to ride horses, play polo, and adopt masculine attire, which can be seen depicted in colorful figurines unearthed from imperial tombs.
Hairstyles, considered sacred under Confucian traditions, were elaborately styled with ornate pins and gold combs, reflecting evolving beauty standards, Tsao said.
Culture and everyday life
The Tang Dynasty was also marked by economic growth and political stability, which in turn fostered a refined cultural elite.
Wealthy households replaced lacquerware with gold and silver items believed to grant immortality, while scholars celebrated tea and wine in their writings, according to Tsao.
The exhibition also highlights Tang Dynasty entertainment that included orchestras that blended diverse instruments, theatrical performances, and mesmerizing "long-sleeved" dances.
Nearly 200 artifacts, many on display outside China for the first time, bring the golden age to life, among them jewelry and decorative plates on loan from the Museum of Tibetan Medicinal Culture in Northwestern China's Qinghai province.
From the grand portico entrance evoking the drum signals that once marked the opening of city gates of Chang'an, to the colorful depictions of daily life, the exhibition offers an immersive journey into Tang Dynasty.
While many Tang-era buildings in Xi'an, the modern name for Chang'an, no longer exist, the exhibition keeps their legacy alive, celebrating a golden age that continues to inspire Chinese cultural identity. Visitors to the Guimet Museum can witness how the past grandeur of an extraordinary era resonates through art, history, and global influence.
Tang China: A Cosmopolitan Dynasty runs from Nov 20 to March 3 at the Guimet Museum in Paris. Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to step back into one of the most fascinating periods of Chinese history.
