On October 31, the exhibition Decorative Patterns of Cultural Relics — Educational Exhibition on the Essence of Traditional Chinese Culture opened at the Liaoning Provincial Museum. The exhibition presents 144 pieces (sets) of artifacts from the museum’s collection, including jades, ceramics, and bronzes, with 85% of them being exhibited for the first time. Using these ancient artifacts as a medium, the exhibition traces the evolution of decorative motifs from the Pre-Qin period through the Ming and Qing dynasties to shed light on their distinctive features and the aesthetic shifts across different eras.

This aesthetic journey across time and space, from the simple, unadorned lines on Pre-Qin artifacts to the magnificent patterns on relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties, showcases how each line and motif reflects the aesthetic tastes of ancient Chinese people. With the core concept of “making education enjoyable, learning fun, and teachings internalized”, the exhibition aims to allow young audiences to experience the essence of traditional Chinese aesthetics during their visit, thereby fostering cultural confidence in the younger generation. Through its intuitive presentation, it enables young visitors to absorb the cultural spirit and national sentiment embodied in the artifacts’ decorative patterns. It transforms the museum’s collection, with its distinctive aesthetic value and artistic function, into resources for aesthetic education, helping young audiences gain an immersive aesthetic experience and engage closely with the beauty of cultural relics. The exhibition is divided into five units: Patterns Illuminating Pre-Qin: The Cradle of Chinese Civilization, Patterns Signifying Unity: The Dawn of a Golden Age, Patterns Weaving a Splendid Chapter: Harmony in Diversity, Patterns Adorning an Era: Elegance through the Ages, and Patterns Radiating Splendor: Infinite Symbolism.