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China's Ming dynasty golden age to be star of British Museum blockbuster China's Ming dynasty golden age to be star of British Museum blockbuster
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There will be many surprises in the first large-scale show dedicated to a little explored Chinese golden age from 600 years ago, including the world's first encyclopaedia and a form of imperial mini-golf. And then there's the question: how did the giraffes get there?There will be many surprises in the first large-scale show dedicated to a little explored Chinese golden age from 600 years ago, including the world's first encyclopaedia and a form of imperial mini-golf. And then there's the question: how did the giraffes get there?
The giraffes in the Forbidden City were from Africa and presented as gifts to the emperor, explained Professor Craig Clunas, co-curator of what promises to be an autumn blockbuster at the British Museum. But one poor animal was, oddly, a personal present from the Sultan of Bengal. "If you know anything at all about zoology you'll know there are no giraffes in Bengal and there never were," said Clunas.The giraffes in the Forbidden City were from Africa and presented as gifts to the emperor, explained Professor Craig Clunas, co-curator of what promises to be an autumn blockbuster at the British Museum. But one poor animal was, oddly, a personal present from the Sultan of Bengal. "If you know anything at all about zoology you'll know there are no giraffes in Bengal and there never were," said Clunas.
Nevertheless, they got there – one snippet of evidence showing how brilliantly well connected China was in the first half of the 15th century.Nevertheless, they got there – one snippet of evidence showing how brilliantly well connected China was in the first half of the 15th century.
The exhibition will explore a Ming dynasty golden age between 1400-1450, a spectacularly dynamic and culturally fertile period when the capital was established in Beijing and China's borders were fixed as they are today. The exhibition will explore a Ming dynasty golden age between 1400-1450, a spectacularly dynamic and culturally fertile period when the capital was established in Beijing.
It was a time when China became a global superpower, said co-curator Jessica Harrison-Hall. "This is a period in which the bureaucrats trump the military – an incredibly important period of Chinese history that is relatively unknown outside the country. We hope this exhibition will tell a new history of this period."It was a time when China became a global superpower, said co-curator Jessica Harrison-Hall. "This is a period in which the bureaucrats trump the military – an incredibly important period of Chinese history that is relatively unknown outside the country. We hope this exhibition will tell a new history of this period."
Clunas said when he first started studying Ming China 40 years ago, the story was one of a closed and static country. But the truth could not be more different, he said.Clunas said when he first started studying Ming China 40 years ago, the story was one of a closed and static country. But the truth could not be more different, he said.
Not only was it a great age of exploration for China – with trade routes to Africa and throughout the Indian Ocean – but the Chinese were open to foreign influence, with a multicultural imperial court where you might easily bump into an Iranian astronomer, a Vietnamese architect or a Japanese weapons expert.Not only was it a great age of exploration for China – with trade routes to Africa and throughout the Indian Ocean – but the Chinese were open to foreign influence, with a multicultural imperial court where you might easily bump into an Iranian astronomer, a Vietnamese architect or a Japanese weapons expert.
The first Ming emperor used his 26 sons to secure the rivers and borders of China by creating regional courts.The first Ming emperor used his 26 sons to secure the rivers and borders of China by creating regional courts.
These courts have been the subject of recent excavation and the London show will focus on finds from three princely tombs in Sichuan, Shandong and Hubei. It will include the sword of the Yongle emperor, known as "the warrior"; the handwriting of the Hongxi emperor, "the bureaucrat"; and the paintings of the Xuande emperor, "the aesthete".These courts have been the subject of recent excavation and the London show will focus on finds from three princely tombs in Sichuan, Shandong and Hubei. It will include the sword of the Yongle emperor, known as "the warrior"; the handwriting of the Hongxi emperor, "the bureaucrat"; and the paintings of the Xuande emperor, "the aesthete".
There will also be painted images showing how imperial elite troops played forms of golf and football to keep them in shape. They needed to be fit because the battles in China were so vast and epic. They could involve up to a 100,000 soldiers rather than the comparably paltry 8,000 English who were defeating the 15,000 French at Agincourt in 1415.There will also be painted images showing how imperial elite troops played forms of golf and football to keep them in shape. They needed to be fit because the battles in China were so vast and epic. They could involve up to a 100,000 soldiers rather than the comparably paltry 8,000 English who were defeating the 15,000 French at Agincourt in 1415.
The images of the emperor playing what looks like mini-golf and a soldier keeping a football in the air will fascinate, although the museum probably won't enter the debate over who invented the sports, particularly golf.The images of the emperor playing what looks like mini-golf and a soldier keeping a football in the air will fascinate, although the museum probably won't enter the debate over who invented the sports, particularly golf.
"As a Scotsman I'm not going there," said Clunas. "The Chinese certainly played a game that involved hitting a ball with a stick but whether you'd want to call that golf … ""As a Scotsman I'm not going there," said Clunas. "The Chinese certainly played a game that involved hitting a ball with a stick but whether you'd want to call that golf … "
There will be loans from 10 Chinese institutions and 21 international lenders, with exhibits including costumes, jewellery, furniture and art coming together for a once-only show.There will be loans from 10 Chinese institutions and 21 international lenders, with exhibits including costumes, jewellery, furniture and art coming together for a once-only show.
The British Library will loan eight volumes it owns of what was the world's first encyclopaedia, a vast set made for the emperor containing everything from bean dish recipes to how to dress a corpse.The British Library will loan eight volumes it owns of what was the world's first encyclopaedia, a vast set made for the emperor containing everything from bean dish recipes to how to dress a corpse.
The show will be in the new Sainsbury exhibitions space and follow the museum's big Viking show that opens in March. It also comes seven years after the enormously successful Terracotta Army show – still the museum's most popular after Tutankhamun.The show will be in the new Sainsbury exhibitions space and follow the museum's big Viking show that opens in March. It also comes seven years after the enormously successful Terracotta Army show – still the museum's most popular after Tutankhamun.
The museum's director, Neil MacGregor, said: "The political, social and cultural changes to China during the first half of the 15th century make this a remarkable story which is only now being fully understood.The museum's director, Neil MacGregor, said: "The political, social and cultural changes to China during the first half of the 15th century make this a remarkable story which is only now being fully understood.
"New discoveries and research have led to a new perspective on this significant period that moves away from a Euro-centric view of China's history," he said."New discoveries and research have led to a new perspective on this significant period that moves away from a Euro-centric view of China's history," he said.
• The BP exhibition Ming: 50 years that changed China will take place 18 September-5 January 2015.• The BP exhibition Ming: 50 years that changed China will take place 18 September-5 January 2015.
• This article was amended on 10 January 2013. The earlier version incorrectly said that during the Ming dynasty, China's borders were fixed as they are today.
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