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The Colorful Phoenix Mingqi is a Luoxia-style guqin collected by the Zhejiang Provincial Museum in China. According to the inscription on the belly of the guqin, the maker was Lei Wei, a guqin maker from the Tang Dynasty

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The Colorful Phoenix Mingqi is a Luoxia-style guqin collected by the Zhejiang Provincial Museum in China. According to the inscription on the belly of the guqin, the maker was Lei Wei, a guqin maker from the Tang Dynasty

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Phoenix Coronet of Empress Xiaoduan from China's Ming Dynasty, a national treasure currently housed in the National Museum of China in Beijing. The crown dates to the Wanli Era of the Ming Dynasty.

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Phoenix Coronet of Empress Xiaoduan from China's Ming Dynasty, a national treasure currently housed in the National Museum of China in Beijing. The crown dates to the Wanli Era of the Ming Dynasty.

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A 1600-year-old celadon ox-shaped lamp unearthed from an Eastern Jin Dynasty cemetery in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. Now housed at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum in China

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A 1600-year-old celadon ox-shaped lamp unearthed from an Eastern Jin Dynasty cemetery in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. Now housed at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum in China

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The golden seal of the Empress Ashina, made in 579–580 CE with inscription "Empress Dowager Tianyuan" in large seal script. Ashina was a Göktürk princess who became an empress of the Northern Zhou dynasty by marrying the Emperor Wu. Now housed in the Xianyang Museum, China

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The golden seal of the Empress Ashina, made in 579–580 CE with inscription "Empress Dowager Tianyuan" in large seal script. Ashina was a Göktürk princess who became an empress of the Northern Zhou dynasty by marrying the Emperor Wu. Now housed in the Xianyang Museum, China

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A 2nd century BCE bamboo chest from the Western Han Dynasty, unearthed from one of the Mawangdui Tombs. Now housed at the Hunan Provincial Museum in China

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A 2nd century BCE bamboo chest from the Western Han Dynasty, unearthed from one of the Mawangdui Tombs. Now housed at the Hunan Provincial Museum in China

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A jade bear-shaped weight, unearthed from one of the Tombs of the Chu Kings at Jiangsu Province. Western Han Dynasty , now housed at the Xuzhou Museum in China

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A jade bear-shaped weight, unearthed from one of the Tombs of the Chu Kings at Jiangsu Province. Western Han Dynasty , now housed at the Xuzhou Museum in China

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A large bronze drum from Guangxi province in China, now housed at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Tang dynasty or earlier

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A large bronze drum from Guangxi province in China, now housed at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Tang dynasty or earlier

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Winged demon, thought to be from a column. China, Northern Qi dynasty . Limestone. Nelson Atkins Museum of Art collection

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Winged demon, thought to be from a column. China, Northern Qi dynasty . Limestone. Nelson Atkins Museum of Art collection

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A pagoda scroll comprised of characters from the Lotus Sutra, written by Li Zhen in 1617 CE. Ming dynasty, from China, now housed at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.

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A pagoda scroll comprised of characters from the Lotus Sutra, written by Li Zhen in 1617 CE. Ming dynasty, from China, now housed at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.

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Plum blossom wall hanging from a set of four wall hangings with flowers of the seasons. China, Qing dynasty, ca. 17th-19th c. Forged iron with wood frame. Philadelphia Museum of Art collection

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Plum blossom wall hanging from a set of four wall hangings with flowers of the seasons. China, Qing dynasty, ca. 17th-19th c. Forged iron with wood frame. Philadelphia Museum of Art collection

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A bronze dagger with hollow sheath, Western Zhou Dynasty , now housed at the Gansu Provincial Museum in China

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A bronze dagger with hollow sheath, Western Zhou Dynasty , now housed at the Gansu Provincial Museum in China

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Glass vase with Arabic inscription. China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period . Brooklyn Museum collection

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Glass vase with Arabic inscription. China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period . Brooklyn Museum collection

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Spouted vessel in the form of an elephant with masks , dragons, and snakes . China, late Shang dynasty, late Anyang period, ca. 1100 BC. Bronze. National Museum of Asian Art collection

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Spouted vessel in the form of an elephant with masks , dragons, and snakes . China, late Shang dynasty, late Anyang period, ca. 1100 BC. Bronze. National Museum of Asian Art collection

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Tribute Giraffe with Attendant. China, Ming dynasty, 16th c. Ink and color on silk; hanging scroll. Philadelphia Museum of Art collection

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Tribute Giraffe with Attendant. China, Ming dynasty, 16th c. Ink and color on silk; hanging scroll. Philadelphia Museum of Art collection

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Helmet Fittings ~ Shang dynasty. Shandong Provincial Museum, Jinan As China moved into the Bronze Age. These bronze plates, including an intimidating animal face, were originally sewn onto leather helmets.

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Helmet Fittings ~ Shang dynasty. Shandong Provincial Museum, Jinan As China moved into the Bronze Age. These bronze plates, including an intimidating animal face, were originally sewn onto leather helmets.

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Snuff dish in the form of a peach made using a sherd of ancient jun-glazed stoneware, with pewter rim. China, Qing dynasty, 19th c. Philadelphia Museum of Art collection

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Snuff dish in the form of a peach made using a sherd of ancient jun-glazed stoneware, with pewter rim. China, Qing dynasty, 19th c. Philadelphia Museum of Art collection

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Mat weight in the form of a bear. China, Western Han dynasty, 202 BC - 9 AD. Gilt bronze. Cleveland Museum of Art collection

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Mat weight in the form of a bear. China, Western Han dynasty, 202 BC - 9 AD. Gilt bronze. Cleveland Museum of Art collection

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"Two Rabbits in Winter" by Lü Ji . China, Ming dynasty, late 15th or early 16th c. Hanging scroll with ink and color on silk. Loaned to the Cleveland Museum of Art

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"Two Rabbits in Winter" by Lü Ji . China, Ming dynasty, late 15th or early 16th c. Hanging scroll with ink and color on silk. Loaned to the Cleveland Museum of Art

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A gold ewer decorated with a dragon and lion playing with a ball, Ming dynasty, 1601 CE, now housed at the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts in Xian, China

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A gold ewer decorated with a dragon and lion playing with a ball, Ming dynasty, 1601 CE, now housed at the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts in Xian, China

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Some of the collection of gold ornaments and vessels, made during the Ming Dynasty , and now housed at the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts in Xi'an, China

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Some of the collection of gold ornaments and vessels, made during the Ming Dynasty , and now housed at the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts in Xi'an, China

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