Peace and Prosperity: Exhibition on Auspicious Culture in Ancient China is now open at the Shanghai History Museum, offering visitors a glimpse into the profound cultural meanings embedded in ancient artifacts.

Free to the public, the exhibition features 131 treasures from the Tianjin Museum's collection, such as ceramics, jade, textiles, and paintings.

Through exquisite craftsmanship and artistic expression, these artifacts reveal how ancient Chinese people embedded their hopes, values, and aspirations into material culture.

From imperial porcelains to intricately woven textiles, these artifacts reflect a concept of blessings deeply intertwined with a personal well-being — a belief that remains central to Chinese culture today.

The exhibition is structured around five themes, each representing a different facet of auspicious symbolism. The concept of blessing is the most comprehensive, embodying wishes for happiness and good fortune. The status reflects the ancient desire for social prestige and a stable life. Longevity highlights reverence for life and vitality, while joy captures life's happiest moments, especially in marriage. Wealth, a fundamental pursuit throughout history, showcases objects symbolizing prosperity through both hard work and divine favor.

Visitors will discover these auspicious symbols are conveyed through various artistic techniques, including symbolic motifs, homophonic puns, direct expressions, and elaborate decorative patterns. These methods, widely used in Chinese art and design, provide valuable insights into how past generations perceived the spiritual world through auspicious shapes and patterns.

As part of its mission to integrate history with urban life, the Shanghai History Museum continues to serve as a cultural hub fostering public engagement with China's rich cultural heritage. Through this exhibition, visitors can experience firsthand how ancient artifacts serve as a bridge between past and present, preserving a tradition of artistic excellence and cultural storytelling.

The exhibition will open until June 2.

If you go

Shanghai History Museum

Open: From Tuesdays to Sundays, 9 am – 5 pm, last entry at 4 pm.

Location: No 325 West Nanjing Road, Huangpu district

Source: Shanghai History Museum