An Exhibition that Pays Homage to the Year of the Rabbit

To celebrate the Year of the Rabbit - an auspicious animal, appreciated for its agility and speed - The National Museum of China presents a vast group of archeological finds and handicrafts from the museum’s Collection centred around the figure of the rabbit. The pieces on display are from various epochs, from the Shang Dynasty (1600 B.C.) up to the XX Century. It is a unique occasion to appeciate, up close, around 80 works which depict one of the most beloved animals of the Chinese zodiac and reinforce the importance of the celebrations of the New Year in contemporary Chinese culture, as pointed out by the exhibition’s curator Gao Xiuqing. A sculpture of a rabbit’s head from the ancient Beijing Summer Palace is placed next to a white jade cup with rabbit-shaped handles and a miniature jade rabbit in a display with exalts the capacity and detail of Chinese artisans and the role of tradition today. Completing this itinerary spanning numerous epochs are multimedia works which make the visit even more engaging for a contemporary audience.