Poly Art Museum Guided Tour of Bronzes and Buddhist Statues
- Live Guide
- Instant Confirmation
- E-Ticket
- 2.5 hr
This boutique museum is a treasure house of some of China's finest 3,000-year-old bronzes and 1,500-year-old Buddhist sculptures, most of them repatriated from overseas auctions. The bronzes include sacrificial cauldrons, ritual bell sets, wine vessels, chariot parts, and sculpted animals, all covered with intricate patterns and mystic motifs. The Buddhist statues are mainly in the Qing Zhou style, the most appealing style that combines ancient Indian Gandara art with Chinese native Taoism and Confucianism. This museum lets you get close to the objects to enjoy all the fine details and take beautiful pictures. Our tour will cover the techniques of bronze making, the meanings of bronze motifs, the role of bronzes in China's feudalist society, the origin of Buddhism and its adaptation to local Chinese believers, and various Buddhist art styles. By the end of this tour, you will be an expert in Chinese bronze and Buddhist art.
Itinerary Details
Operated by: China Museum Tours
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Located on the 9th floor of the impressive Poly Plaza building and near Dong Si Shi Tiao subway station, this boutique museum is a treasure house for some of the most impressive ancient bronzes and Buddhist art collections. It does not have a lot of traffic, so you almost enjoy a private tour each time - a rare treat in Beijing! All objects are well-laid out in a grid and artfully lit so you can see and photo them well. Our tour highlights include: 1. Introduce the history and technology of ancient Chinese bronzes. 2. Identify common motifs of different periods and their meanings. 3. Learn the roles of various bronzes in ancient sacrificial rituals. 4. Discover the heritage of Chinese bronzes from the Middle-east bronzes. 5. Understand the origin of Buddhism and its adaptation to China. 6. Compare Buddhist art to Hellenistic art. 7. Discuss Zen (a branch of Buddhism developed in China) principles and how they can help people live more satisfying lives.
Duration: 2 hour 30 minutes
