A museum in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has used modern technology to showcase centuries-old burial customs, giving the gravestones the potential to speak across time.
In 2007, during the construction of an underground pass in Xinjiang's Kucha City, a tomb complex dating back to the Wei and Jin dynasties (220-420) was unexpectedly discovered.
The tombs were well-preserved, and the funerary objects were exquisite, providing invaluable physical evidence for the studies of the history of the Western Regions.
Kucha, known as Qiuci in ancient times, was one of the 36 states of the ancient Western Regions. It was an important hub on the ancient Silk Road and a key intersection for the convergence of Eastern and Western cultures.
Buddhist art, music, and murals flourished, giving rise to the unique Qiuci culture.
For these tombs that had been dormant for over 1,000 years, Ma Lili, curator of the Qiuci Wei and Jin Ancient Tomb Site Museum, pondered with her team over how to bring the historical value of these relics to the public's attention.
Ultimately, the team decided to use digital technology to bring the artifacts to life.
Through interactive exhibitions, the tombs and the funerary objects were restored to their original appearance, allowing visitors to personally appreciate the brilliance and charm of Kucha culture, and breathing new life into this ancient civilization in the modern age.
She elaborated on challenges and the team's design philosophy.
"We planned to exhibit 15 tombs. But we met a challenge, that is, how to showcase these tombs with a limited number of funerary objects, as most of the unearthed objects were pottery vessels, belonging to similar categories. Further, we hoped to preserve the relics in the exhibition without causing damage to the artifacts. Our team designed the exhibition from the visitors' perspective. We asked ourselves: 'What would you want to learn?' 'Where are we?' This led us to raise one question after another," said Ma.
Using one of the tomb relics as an example, the curator explained how the museum uses digital technology to offer visitors engaging educational experience.
"We chose to use digital displays, integrating the unearthed artifacts and funerary objects into the exhibition. We tried to enhance storytelling effects through interactive activities. We also prepared information boards. This combination allowed for an engaging and informative exhibition. Visitors could gain insights into the history behind the tombs, view the artifacts, and develop a deeper understanding of the tomb structures. This proved to be an effective approach, on the whole," said Ma.
"Tomb M3 is of great historic significance. With digital reconstructions, its screen wall vividly depicts the Four Celestial Guardians: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, identical to the brick-chambered tombs in the two Han dynasties in Wuwei, Gansu. The brick carvings also depict the legendary Tianlu (celestial deer) and Xiezhi (mythical law beast), along with the jade-disc and diamond patterns. Additionally, the tombs' architecture features Han-style bracket sets with one large inverted arch holding two small ones, which are consistent with Han-style tombs in the Hexi Corridor, indicating cultural continuity," she added.
Xinjiang museum showcases centuries-old burial customs by applying modern technology
