“A treasure trove of ancient Chinese art” a whisper escapes a visitor’s lips. Welcome to the Shanghai Museum a place where history breathes.
The Shanghai Museum opened its doors in 1952. Its first home was the former Shanghai Racecourse clubhouse. The initial collection was quite unique. It was formed from artifacts gathered by the Communist 3rd Field Army. They collected these during the civil war. The army found them accidentally or confiscated them. Other artifacts came from customs confiscations. Private collectors also sold items to the government. This was due to political pressure and purges. The former Shanghai Municipal Museum joined the Shanghai Museum.
Over the years the museum’s collections grew. Other private and institutional collections joined the museum. The collection of the former Shanghai Museum of the Royal Asiatic Society was added. This was as foreign institutions left the city in the 1950s. The museum moved to a new location in 1959. It moved to the Zhonghui Building. The Great Leap Forward almost destroyed some of the collection. A metal-gathering campaign threatened bronzeware. The museum rescued many pieces. Before the Cultural Revolution wealthy collectors donated regularly. The Cultural Revolution halted much of the museum’s work. After the revolution the museum’s work continued. The collections were enriched by donations. The government made purchases. Important archaeological finds were also added.
The museum’s growth meant a need for more space. Director Ma Chengyuan played a key role. He secured funding for a new building. He raised funds by leasing the old building. He also got donations from the Shanghai diaspora in Hong Kong. The city government helped with funds. Construction began in August 1993. The new building opened October 12 1996. It received wide acclaim. The building design is quite unique. It is in the shape of an ancient bronze cooking vessel a ding. The architect was Xing Tonghe. The building symbolizes “round sky square earth.”
Today the Shanghai Museum holds over 120 000 pieces. These include bronze ceramics calligraphy furniture jades and ancient coins. There are also paintings seals sculptures and minority art. The museum also has foreign art. The museum has several nationally important items. One is a transparent bronze mirror from the Han dynasty. An important collection of ancient coins is from the Silk Road. Linda and Roger Doo donated these since 1991. The collection has 1783 pieces. They range from the Greeks to the Mongol Empire. This museum is a must-see for any visitor to Shanghai. It truly brings Chinese art and history to life.