Established in 1958, Jingzhou Museum (荆州博物馆) stands as a cultural repository with a sprawling exhibition space spanning over 50,000 square meters. The museum boasts a remarkable collection of more than 196,000 artifacts, primarily comprising archaeological discoveries. Visitors to the museum are treated to a journey through time, marveling at intricately crafted prehistoric jade ornaments, the finest silk from the Warring States period, and impeccably preserved weapons such as the glinting Yue King Sword and the spear of King Fuchai of Wu.
The exhibits extend to include vibrant and masterfully crafted lacquerware from the Warring States and Qin-Han periods. Among the museum’s treasures are ancient manuscripts, including the world’s earliest mathematical treatise, “The Arithmetic Classic,” and legal documents like Xiao He’s “Laws of the Second Year.” However, the pièce de résistance is the remarkably well-preserved “Western Han Male Corpse,” considered the oldest and most intact male corpse from that era. Jingzhou Museum, with its diverse and historically significant artifacts, offers a captivating glimpse into China’s rich cultural and archaeological heritage.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Exhibitions in Jiangzhou Museum
- Vlog about Jingzhou Museum
- Other Attractions within Jingzhou Ancient City
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 3 – 4 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 17.00; Last admission: 16.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0716-8494574 |
Location and Transportation
Jingzhou Museum is situated at 166 Jingzhong Road, Jingzhou District, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, China. Tourists can take bus 18, 19, 20, 33, or 103, get off at West Gate Stop (西门站), and walk about 200 meters to the east to reach the museum.
Exhibitions in Jiangzhou Museum
Primitive Culture in Jianghan Plain Exhibition
This exhibition provides a captivating exploration of the prehistoric cultures in the Jianghan Plain, spanning from the Old Stone Age at the Jigongshan site to the Neolithic eras of Daxi, Qujialing, and Shijiahe. It unveils artifacts such as stone tools, pottery, and jade objects used by the early inhabitants in their daily lives. The exhibition offers diverse perspectives, reconstructing the social landscape and the production and living conditions of the prehistoric era in the Jianghan Plain.
Bronze Culture of Chu and Han in Jianghan Plain Exhibition
Featuring artifacts primarily sourced from archaeological excavations over the years, this exhibition centers on bronze and jade items. Bronze artifacts include ritual objects, musical instruments, weapons, chariots, and daily-use items. Jade items are predominantly decorative pieces. Among the precious relics showcased are the Large Bronze Zun and Tiger Zun from the Shang and Zhou periods, Dong Zhou’s Tilian Pot, Large Cauldron Ding, Shengding Cauldron, Bells, Yue King’s Hook Sword, Yue King Buguang Sword, Yue King Luying Sword, “Defeating the Year God” Halberd, Silver Belt Hook, Jade Masks, Jade Walls, and Jade Rings from different periods. Additionally, there are treasures from the Qin and Han dynasties, including bronze tiger figurines, money containers, and bronze figures grinding grain.
Tomb No. 168 on Fenghuangshan Han Tomb Exhibition
Unveiling the contents of Tomb No. 168 discovered in 1975 at the southeast corner of the Chu capital Ji’nan City, this exhibition displays a remarkably well-preserved male corpse along with burial artifacts. The exhibited items include lacquerware such as earrings, round boxes, flat flasks, spoons, plates, desks, and more. Pottery items encompass containers, jars, stoves, and cauldrons. Writing tools like brushes, ink, inkstones, sharpeners, bamboo slips, as well as various fruits, eggs, poultry, and livestock bones representing the daily life of the tomb occupant are also on display. According to the excavated documents, the tomb’s occupant was a resident of Jiangling County, holding the title of “Wudaifu” (equivalent to a county magistrate). Buried in the 13th year of Emperor Wen of Han (167 BC), the tomb dates back over 2100 years. The exhibition paints a vivid picture of life during the Han Dynasty.
Ancient Lacquerware Masterpieces Exhibition
Featuring artifacts unearthed from ancient tombs during the Warring States, Qin, and Han periods, this exhibition showcases exquisite lacquerware from the Chu State and the Qin-Han dynasties. The collection includes items such as dining ware, cosmetic containers, entertainment instruments, funeral objects, and various crafts. These artifacts, with their graceful designs, exquisite craftsmanship, vibrant colors, and intricate patterns, exemplify the sophisticated aesthetic consciousness of ancient China. Noteworthy pieces include the Tiger-Seated Bird, Tiger-Seated Bird Stand Drum, Tomb Guardian Beast, Wood Carving Animal Screen Stand, Painted Mandarin Duck Beans, various painted lacquer earrings, painted lacquer round boxes, Seven-Leopard Large Flask, Painted Human Figure Turtle Shield, Needle Carved Round Dowry Box, Pig-shaped Liquor Container Box, Phoenix Lotus Beans, Dragon-Phoenix Pattern Beans, Feathered Humans, and Talisman Avoidance, making them invaluable lacquerware treasures.
Chu-Han Weaving and Embroidery Exhibition
Displaying items from the renowned Ma Shan Chu Tomb and the Fenghuangshan No. 167 Han Tomb, hailed as the “Silk Treasure Trove,” this exhibition concentrates on silk-weaving and embroidery techniques from the Chu and Han periods. These artifacts not only reflect the pinnacle of silk embroidery technology at the time but also serve as precious insights into the clothing and artistry of the Chu-Han era. The Ma Shan Chu Tomb, often lauded as China’s ancient silk treasury, contains an array of silk products such as silk, satin, gauze, brocade, damask, figured silk, silk gauze, and embroidered pieces like quilts, skirts, robes, jacket inserts, and garments. These treasures vividly demonstrate the highly advanced silk production and weaving techniques prevalent in the Chu region during ancient times. The exhibition showcases the excellence of Chu-Han textile art, presenting visitors with an unparalleled glimpse into the intricate and sophisticated craftsmanship of this bygone era.
