Dr. Tsai Ching-Liang spent two years documenting and studying the excavation of jades, gold and bronzes from the early Spring and Autumn period (771”“476 BCE) Rui State tombs. A number of these artefacts were included in the recent History of Gold exhibition at the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. While the Rui state was among a number of Zhou dynasty vassal states that would eventually be conquered by the Qin, the excavation in 2006 and 2007 of its undisturbed tombs revealed many previously unknown treasures, and ritual methods including many heirloom jades. The tomb occupants were aristocrats and royalty. In addition to describing his experience at this archaeological site, Dr. Tsai will share his theories about Shang and Western Zhou period jade design, to be published in his forthcoming book.
Dr. Tsai Ching-Liang is a researcher in the Department of Ancient Artefacts of the National Palace Museum (Taiwan) where he has planned or collaborated on exhibitions of ancient jades and bronzes, and special exhibitions focusing on Western Zhou culture, jades of the Song to Yuan dynasties, and Qin culture. Mr. Tsai’s research focuses on archaic jades (up to the Han dynasty (221 BCE”“ACE 206) and Shang (1600”“1046 BCE) and Zhou dynasty archaeology and bronzes. He has edited and authored numerous exhibition catalogues, archaeological reports and books on ancient jades and other artefacts, including Selected Bronze, Jade and Gold Treasures from the Rui State of Early Spring and Autumn Period. He received his PhD in archaeology and museum studies from Peking University.
This talk will be presented in Mandarin, with English simultaneous translation.