In the Year of the Dragon, the art of China, Japan and Korea shines in a new ambience at the Linden-Museum. The exhibition presents archaic ritual bronzes from ancient China, burial objects from the Han to Tang dynasties (2nd century BC – 10th century AD), Buddhist art, masterpieces of Chinese ceramics, lacquer art from three millennia as well as highlights of classical Japanese, Chinese and Korean painting from the 17th – 19th centuries. There are also replicas of a Japanese teahouse and a traditional living room.

Burial cult and concepts of the afterlife in ancient China

This is followed by the extensive subject area of funerary cult and ideas of the afterlife in ancient China with ritual bronzes and grave goods. The model of a burial chamber gives an idea of the original use of such objects. Since many of the earliest achievements of ancient China were preserved primarily in the elaborately decorated tombs of high-ranking personalities, these very old objects are also presented here in an appropriate context.

Chinese ceramics

A major focus of the exhibition is the history and development of Chinese ceramics over the past 6,000 years. It begins with early finds of Neolithic ceramics – often burial objects – and traces the technical developments, glazes, styles and forms through the various historical periods of ancient China to the most delicate treasures of the finest porcelain. The trade in ceramics is also discussed, with objects salvaged from shipwrecks and export porcelains destined for the European market.

Japanese interiors

Japan is also represented with ceramics (especially tea ceramics), textiles and decorative arts made of various materials. Some of these are exhibited in replicas of a living room from the late Edo period (1603 – 1867), a lacquer studio and a tea house, reconstructed in collaboration with Japanese architects and scholars. The Lacquer Cabinet presents masterpieces of lacquer art from China, Japan and Korea.

It’s All in the Family

(from 10 November 2024)

New presentations bring together fascinating family stories – from literature and real life. The focus is on two classic novels: Cao Xueqin’s Dream of the Red Chamber (ca. 1715 – 1763) from China and Murasaki Shikibu’s Tale of Prince Genji (10th to 11th century) from Japan. Both novels are still extremely popular today and have been repeatedly adapted and reinterpreted – from hanging scrolls painted in the traditional style to television series, manga, anime and video games. We are showing works from the 18th to 20th centuries.

While Cao Xueqin depicts the decline of a family in 17th/18th century Beijing, Prince Genji shows us the turbulent life of a member of the Japanese imperial family, characterized by conflict, love and intrigue.

The family history of Wul-Soung and Erwin Kruse, which focuses on cultural identities and transcultural mediation, is completely different but just as inspiring. Both acted as important bridge builders between South Korea and Germany. They founded centers of Korean culture in Germany, initiated exchange programs for children and young people with special needs and campaigned for the integration of Korean nurses into the German healthcare system.