Ordos, a glittering pearl nestled at the northern bend of the Yellow River, stands as a crossroads where agrarian and nomadic cultures converge, and a vital hub for ethnic exchanges. On October 17, the exhibition "Nine Bends of the Yellow River: Songs from the Horseback-Ordos Grassland Culture Exhibition", jointly organized by the Shanghai History Museum and Ordos Museum, officially opened at the second floor of the West Wing of the Shanghai History Museum. This cultural showcase allows Shanghai audiences to experience Ordos' unique blend of Yellow River, Great Wall, and grassland traditions up close, immersing them in the vibrant customs of the northern grasslands.
The exhibition is divided into two main sections: "Fusion of Diversity: Tales of the Grassland" and "Convergence of Traditions: Unique Customs", showcasing nearly 150 cultural artifacts. These include bronze ware, bone and horn artifacts, pottery, jade and stone objects, textiles, and other diverse categories. Through these exhibits, the exhibition paints a comprehensive social and cultural panorama, revealing Ordos' cultural charm to visitors while highlighting the significant role played by northern grassland regions in the continuity of Chinese civilization and the evolution of the Chinese nation.
Ordos boasts a long history and a brilliant culture. The first section showcases Ordos bronze artifacts with northern grassland characteristics and Yuan Dynasty pottery figurines with ethnic hues, narrating how the nomadic and agricultural cultures gradually merged here over millennia after the livestock economy separated from the agrarian economy during the Zhukaigou Culture period.
▲ Yuan Dynasty duck-shaped bronze weight
▲ Ming Dynasty colored pottery figurine
The geographical environment and subsistence practices have shaped Ordos 'distinctive folk culture, profoundly influencing its daily life and production. The second section of the exhibition showcases household artifacts, featuring unique cultural relics such as cloisonné saddles, butter jars, Mongolian chess sets, and traditional women's headwear. Visitors can not only gain a comprehensive understanding of Ordos' cultural landscape but also glimpse the people through these objects, experiencing the rhythmic pulse of daily life behind the artifacts.
▲ Mongolian chess of the Republic of China
▲ Qing Dynasty cloisonné jar
In the golden autumn, walk into the Shanghai History Museum and feel the "gentle breeze" on the northern grassland.
