Full colour version of the BP magazine

China: Journey to the East
Ancient pottery: glazed
earthenware funerary
models of food in offering
dishes, circa AD 1450-1600.
spectacular day of celebration at The
British Museum. Supported by BP in
association with CHINA NOW and China
in London, the British Museum ran an
extensive programme featuring dance and
shadow puppet troupes, music, children’s
workshops, games, films and storytelling to
celebrate the Year of the Rat.
Arecord 35,602 people attended –
including the Chinese ambassador,
Madame Fu Ying, and her staff. For
the first time since it opened to the public
in 1759, the museum had to close its doors
due to overwhelming visitor numbers.
China: Journey to the East is based around
five themes, developed with the advice of
teachers in conjunction with the partner
museums. They are play and performance;
technology; beliefs and festivals; food and
drink; plus language and writing. Among
other features, the exhibition reveals some
of the many Chinese inventions that
became part of worldwide history: silk,
crossbows, stirrups, gunpowder, compasses,
paper and printing, the abacus and
porcelain. It also includes a handling
collection, with items such as spices,
games, costumes, musical instruments and
chopsticks, so that visitors can explore
objects further.
56 Issue 1 2009 BP MAGAZINE
The cross-curricular educational
programme that complements China:
Journey to the East is targeted at schoolchildren
from seven to 14 years old, plus
their families and teachers. An important
aspect of the exhibition’s public programme
will be the role of Chinese communities in
the UK. All the venues have Chinese
neighbourhoods, including many twinning
arrangements with Chinese cities.
There have been well-established links
between China and Britain since the 17th
century, when China became a major
maritime trading nation. For many years,
the Chinese were transient visitors, but,
gradually, some settled in the UK. The 1851
census recorded just 78 Chinese-born
residents in England and Wales. However,
by 2004, some 143,500 Chinese people
were recorded living in Britain, with
growing numbers coming to study at UK
universities.
“We hope all visitors – regardless of age
or ethnicity – will be engaged by the five
themes, as well as the handling objects,”
says Frances Carey, senior consultant for
public engagement at The British Museum.
“Also, that they learn how China has a
resonance in all aspects of their lives in
ways that, perhaps, they never realised.” ■
China: Journey to the East opens at Bristol’s City Museum & Art Gallery on 24th January
2009 as part of the festivities for the Chinese Year of the Ox. It will stay there until
19th April 2009, then move on to:
— The Herbert, Coventry: 2nd May – 19th July 2009
— Willis Museum, Basingstoke: 1st August – 24th December 2009
— Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens: 29th January – 9th May 2010
— York Art Gallery: 22nd May – 5th September 2010
— Manchester Museum: 25th September 2010 – 26th June 2011
For more information, visit:
www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/touring_exhibitions_and_loans/china_journey_to_the_east.aspx