1300 Years Ago Underground World Opens... Turpan Astana Tomb

Bokhee and Yeoha

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] The National Museum of Korea will present the exhibition "The Eternal House of Life, Astana Tombs" in the Central Asia Room on the 3rd floor of the permanent exhibition hall starting from the 16th. This special exhibition showcases materials collected by the Japanese Otani Expedition from the Astana Tombs in the early 20th century.

The Astana Tombs are a collective burial site for the ruling class located near the ancient city ruins of Gochang Goseong, southeast of Turpan City in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Over 400 tombs have been discovered to date. Inside, paintings of Fuxi and Nuwa (upper body human, lower body serpent), dolls and pottery made of wood and clay, food, and documents have been found in remarkably well-preserved condition.

The exhibition features the largest of three Fuxi and Nuwa paintings held by the National Museum of Korea. Life-sized Fuxi and Nuwa paintings are hung from the ceiling of the exhibition room to recreate the atmosphere inside the tombs.

The "beaded ceremonial vessel and wooden stand" discovered in the tomb chamber are also displayed as a set, referencing the inventory and photographs from when they were acquired by the museum in 1916. Additionally, among the dolls placed in the adjacent chamber, the "mounted warrior statue," previously only existing as fragments, has been newly restored by reassembling the pieces. The manufacturing method revealed through computed tomography (CT) scans is also introduced.

A museum official stated, "We hope this exhibition, where visitors can encounter artifacts excavated from the Turpan Astana Tombs?essentially a 1,300-year-old underground time capsule?will offer a moment to feel the hopes of people at that time who wished for their current life to continue even after death."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.