Tang Dynasty treasures unveiled in Belgium

 　　BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhuanet) - Belgium's border city of Maaseik has opened an exhibition of about 200 relics¹ and treasures of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), showcasing China's golden age of ancient civilization.

　　The exhibition, which opened Friday, continues until Oct 20, part of the city's effort to create a center of Chinese culture. Belgian Princess Mathilde struck a gong to formally open the exhibition, titled "China's Golden Age: Treasure from the Tang Dynasty".

　　The items, including gold plate and silver wares² for royal families, Tang Dynasty tri-color glazed³ figurines of women and mural paintings, have recently been on exhibit in the Dutch city of Assen.

　　The show features social components⁴ of men and women, cultural components of merchants, trade and production, sports and exercise, Buddhism⁵, mysticism, art and literature.

　　All of the exhibited items are from China's Shaanxi province and its provincial⁶ capital Xi'an, the most populous⁷ city in the world at the time and once the capital of the Tang Dynasty.

　　The Tang period is generally regarded as a high point in Chinese civilization - equal to, or surpassing that of, the earlier Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220), a golden age of cosmopolitan⁸ culture.

　　Several years ago, said Dirk Verlaak, vice-mayor of Maaseik, his city and Assen teamed up to host history and culture exhibitions of China's first two imperial dynasties, the Qin (221-206 BC) and the Han. The Chinese artifacts attracted 350,000 visitors in Assen and 190,000 in Maaseik.

　　"Westerners don't know much about China's ancient prosperity and history, and we hope the new exhibition in Maaseik can attract more visitors," said Verlaak.

　　Cao Wei, director of Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, said Shaanxi province has organized many exhibitions of its famous Terracotta Warriors⁹, but "this kind of an exhibition of so many exquisite¹⁰ pieces", is more unusual. This is a good chance for China to introduce its ancient cultures to Europe, he said.

　　Liao Liqiang, China's ambassador to Belgium, said China and Europe were linked long ago by the Silk Road, a network of trade routes that got its name from the trade in Chinese silk that began during the Han Dynasty. The Silk Road brought the Orient into contact with Western culture, and allowed lucrative¹¹ trade relations to be developed. The resulting prosperity is reflected in the magnificent material culture that developed during the Tang Dynasty.

　　"Historically, China and Europe got to know each other by trade and cultural exchanges, which have enriched our respective cultures," said Liao. "And I think the exhibition can remind us of the importance of strengthening cultural exchanges between Belgium and China nowadays."

1 relics   

[pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸

参考例句：

• The area is a treasure house of archaeological relics. 这个地区是古文物遗迹的宝库。
• Xi'an is an ancient city full of treasures and saintly relics. 西安是一个有很多宝藏和神圣的遗物的古老城市。

2 wares   

n. 货物, 商品

参考例句：

• They sold their wares at half-price. 他们的货品是半价出售的。
• The peddler was crying up his wares. 小贩极力夸耀自己的货物。

3 glazed   

adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神

参考例句：

• eyes glazed with boredom 厌倦无神的眼睛
• His eyes glazed over at the sight of her. 看到她时，他的目光就变得呆滞。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

5 Buddhism   

n.佛教（教义）

参考例句：

• Buddhism was introduced into China about 67 AD.佛教是在公元67年左右传入中国的。
• Many people willingly converted to Buddhism.很多人情愿皈依佛教。

6 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

7 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

8 cosmopolitan   

adj.世界性的，全世界的，四海为家的，全球的

参考例句：

• New York is a highly cosmopolitan city.纽约是一个高度世界性的城市。
• She has a very cosmopolitan outlook on life.她有四海一家的人生观。

9 warriors   

武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
• The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。

10 exquisite   

adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的

参考例句：

• I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
• I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。

11 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。