The exhibition “Myriad Beings on the Walls: The Vitality of Life in Song and Jin Dynasty Murals of Shanxi” at Nanshan Museum presents 71 murals and brick carvings from the Song (960-1279) and Jin (1115-1234) dynasties. 

Vivid brick carvings are on display at the “Myriad Beings on the Walls” exhibition at Nanshan Museum. Photos courtesy of the museum

On loan from the Shanxi Museum in Shanxi Province, they vividly reconstruct the social customs, daily life, family practices, and spiritual aspirations of that era, inviting visitors into immersive scenes and a dialogue with history.

A brick carving depicts a woman opening a gate.

Since the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-A.D. 220), tomb murals have served as an important medium for expressing beliefs about the afterlife and ideals of life. From the ethereal celestial realms of Han murals and the solemn tones of Wei (403-225 B.C.), Jin (266-420), Sui (581-618), and Tang (618-907) works, to the bustling urban and domestic scenes of the Song and Jin (1115-1234) periods, these images form artistic narratives that reflect deep societal change.

Tombs in the Song and Jin periods in Shanxi were typically built of bricks and richly decorated with murals and carvings. Their imagery spans the full range of human experience — grand in scope and intricate in detail — expressing both familial and communal sentiments and an enduring aspiration for a better life.

Murals and carvings showcase exquisite craftsmanship.

Each mural is simultaneously a historical witness, a microcosm of everyday life, and a silent epic that records the thoughts and wisdom of past generations.

Highlights of the exhibition include relics from the Haojiang Jin Tomb in Jincheng City, Shanxi Province. Built in 1175, the tomb is remarkably well preserved — its structure, brick carvings, and murals remain intact. Visitors will recognize scenes such as those from the “Twenty-four Filial Exemplars,” and can admire both the exquisite craftsmanship and the breadth of themes represented.

The exhibition offers an immersive experience.

Dates: Through April 12

Tickets: Free

Venue: Nanshan Museum, Nanshan District (南山博物馆)

Metro: Line 12 to Nantou Ancient City Station (南头古城站), Exit E4