Fusion of Hu and Han Cultures: The Splendor of Pingcheng

Stepping into the Datong Museum, the spiraling exhibition halls feel like a time tunnel, drawing me into the millennia-old splendor of the Northern Wei capital, Pingcheng. On the second floor, the "Capital of Wei: Pingcheng" exhibition showcases treasures like the lacquered screen from Sima Jinlong's tomb, featuring vivid depictions of filial sons and virtuous women outlined in cinnabar, reminiscent of Gu Kaizhi's artistic style. The colors, even after 1,500 years, remain strikingly vibrant. The stone-carved bed adorned with musical child figures and honeysuckle patterns narrates the dazzling Silk Road music and dance, while the array of 238 pottery figurines vividly recreates the ceremonial processions of Northern Wei nobility. The volcanic rock textures of the architectural dome intertwine with the interplay of light and shadow on the glass curtain walls, symbolizing the collision of the grasslands traversed by Xianbei cavalry and the fertile Central Plains. As I pause, the symphony of Hu and Han cultures resonates deeply, revealing how the openness of the Pingcheng era laid the groundwork for the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.

Post by Henry Ou | Sep 26, 2025