b1406. Gilded Splendor Treasures of China?s Liao Empire (907?1125)

Edited by Hsueh-man Shen. texts by Nicola di Cosmo, Sun Jianhua, Dieter Kuhn, Ta La, Hsuen-man Shen, Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt, and Zhang Yaqiang

5 continents editions. 352 pp., hardback, 9 x 113/4 in. 190 colour ills. New. ISBN 88-7439-332-6. Co-edition with the Asia Society, New York, Museum Rietberg, Zurich, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, Cologne [New title] Exhibition Asia Society and Museum, New York 6 October ? 31 December 2006 Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, Cologne 26 January ? 22 April 2007 Museum Rietberg, Zurich 13 May ? 15 July 2007Gilded Splendor: Treasures of China?s Liao Empire will be the first major volume to explore one of China?s most influential yet little known dynasties. Around 1000 AD, the greatest power in East Asia was not the Song dynasty or Heian court of Japan; it was the empire of Liao. Established with astonishing speed at the beginning of the tenth century by the Qidan, a confederation of a nomads whose homelands was the eastern end of the Eurasian steppes, the Liao empire eventually comprised the greater part of Manchuria, eastern Mongolia and northern China. Yet despite their power and influence, the Liao empire crumbled almost as quickly as it arose, falling in 1125 to another wave of nomads. The book will present for the first time spectacular artefacts from the most important archaeological discoveries. The masterpiece will be the complete funerary outfit of the Princess of Chen, granddaughter of the Liao Emperor Jing Zong (r. 969?982) including the gilt bronze death masks of the princess and her husband, her silver wire burial suit, silver gilt crown, boots and pillow, as well as jewellery in gold, silver and jade, and more exotic materials such as amber and crystal.
Nomad traditions are prominently represented by horse trappings in silver, jade and gold, as well and by a complete wooden saddle with silver gilt mounts. Unique Liao objects include a jade and gold wire falcon rest, a jade sceptre finial, and jade and silver hunting knives. There will be present also ceramics, textiles and wooden objects including large models of buildings. These objects reveal a highly sophisticated and complex material culture in which nomadic and Chinese traditions interacted to create a unique cultural milieu. Additionally, recently discovered pagoda reliquaries have revealed the distinctiveness of Liao Buddhist culture. The sumptuous and exotic material presented in this volume not only possesses an intrinsic appeal, but it eloquently brings to life one of China?s forgotten dynasties and its unique culture.

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