More than 100 items of stone sculptures, foreign coins and gold and silver Buddha statues from the Northern and Southern dynasties (420-589) to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) are on display at Nanshan Museum. The items are on loan from Goldstone Museum in Luohu District.

The most highlighted exhibit is a stone bed from businessman Zhai Mensheng’s tomb in Northern Wei (386-535). He was believed to be from Sogdiana, an ancient Iranian civilization that at different times included territories located in present-day Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Zhai traveled frequently between Central Asia and China, later settling in Luoyang (in present-day Henan Province), and died in Yecheng (in present-day Hebei Province).

The stone bed, along with stone pillows and stone folding screens, was carved with Confucianism imagery, exemplifying this foreign man’s admiration for Confucianism. Other exhibited stone sculptures and buddha statues hint at the cultural achievements of the Northern and Southern dynasties at a time when Buddhism and Daoism flourished.

Dates: Until May 17, 2019

Venue: Nanshan Museum, 2093 Nanshan Boulevard, Nanshan District (南山区南山大道2093号南山博物馆)

Metro: Line 1 to Taoyuan Station (桃园站), Exit B

(Cao Zhen)