Suzhou Dongwu Museum

Suzhou Dongwu Museum

The temporary pavilion of Suzhou Dongwu Museum opened on January 9, 2011, as a publicly funded yet privately aided museum. The museum’s name was inscribed by Mr. Lü Zhangshen, Director of the National Museum of China and a renowned calligrapher. Its collections of bronze mirrors, celadon ware, and stone carvings are particularly distinctive and outstanding in China, boasting high historical, cultural, and artistic value. The establishment of this museum holds significant importance for the development of the Grand Canal Ming-Qing Scenic Belt in the Hushu Port Development Zone, promoting regional transformation and upgrading, as well as enhancing the competitiveness of the cultural tourism industry.

The temporary pavilion of Suzhou Dongwu Museum is located at the entrance of Dabai Lake Urban Ecological Park on Hongxi Road, Hushu Port Development Zone. It has a construction area of over 6,000 square meters and features four exhibition halls and one corridor: Thousand Mirrors Hall, Celadon Studio, Ancient Treasures Hall, Bronze Charm & Wu Style, and China Stone Carving Art Gallery. The collection includes more than 2,400 items, categorized into nine series: bronze mirrors, celadon ware, stone carvings, Tang tri-color pottery, pottery, bronze ware, Tang and Song ceramics, purple clay ware, and ancient art miscellany. These items span various historical periods in China, demonstrating great diversity, large quantity, and high cultural quality.

Among the exhibits, over a hundred representative artifacts of Wu culture vividly showcase the exquisite craftsmanship of the ancestors of the Wu region and the long-standing heritage of Wu culture.

Permanent Exhibitions

Thousand Mirrors Hall: The museum houses nearly a thousand bronze mirrors from various dynasties. Mr. Shi Shuqing, Director of the National Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee, once inscribed the name “Thousand Mirrors Hall” for it. This hall represents a highlight and specialty series within the museum’s collections.

Celadon Studio: Celadon ware is one of the major, superior, and distinctive categories in the museum’s collection, holding a leading position in China. The renowned painting and calligraphy connoisseur Mr. Xu Bangda specially inscribed the name “Celadon Studio.”

Bronze Charm & Wu Style: The exhibits mainly include solemnly cast and majestically decorated ritual bronzes from the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, such as yi, ding, you, gu, jue, zun, lei, and hu, as well as uniquely characteristic bronze ware of the Wu State from the Spring and Autumn period, such as elegantly crafted portable censers, bronze mirrors, and swords. Liu Xinyuan, a leading authority on ancient Chinese ceramics, inscribed the name “Bronze Charm & Wu Style” for this hall.

Ancient Treasures Hall: This hall is divided into five thematic sections: ancient pottery, Tang tri-color pottery, Tang and Song ceramics, purple clay ware, and ancient art. The name “Ancient Treasures Hall” was inscribed by Mr. Xu Zihao, a celebrated contemporary Chinese painter, calligrapher, artist, and connoisseur.

China Stone Carving Art Gallery: The museum houses over 700 stone carving artworks, including types such as spirit way stone figures and horses, Buddhist statues, steles, various architectural components, and ornamental stone carvings. Their styles range from simple and rugged to exquisitely refined, presenting a rich diversity.