Get your
curigh ltutre leh!
Asian Civilisation Museum
Introduction
of Asian Civilisation Museum
4
The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) is the first museum in the region to present a broad yet integrated perspective of pan-Asian cultures and civilisations. As one of the National Museums of Singapore under the National Heritage Board, we seek to promote a better appreciation of the rich cultures that make up Singapore’s multi-ethnic society. While Singapore’s forefathers came to settle in Singapore from many parts of Asia within the last 200 years, the cultures brought to Singapore by these different people are far more ancient. This aspect of Singapore’s history is the focus of the ACM. The Museum’s collection therefore centres on the material cultures of the different groups originating from China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia.
5
ASIAN CIVILISATION GALLERIES
Singapore River
8
Guess what are these items use for?
Perfume for wealthy traders Opium pipes for Chinese traders tiny bottled drinks for traders
9
Opium pipes
for Chinese traders
10
Did you get it correct? If you did, good for you! If you didn’t, just giggle because life is all about making mistakes. Did you know? There used to be a free flow of opium access before it goes banned for arousing acute mental behaviors in humans? Well, Opium is not any safe to begin with. It is as toxic as cigarettes and it provides mental pleasure to Chinese Merchants in that particular era.
Opium pipes for Chinese traders 11
Opium pipes
for Chinese traders
12
Wealthy Chinese traders often had their own opium “corners� in their homes where the drug could be imbibed in comfortable and luxurious surroundings. Opium bowls was certainly more than the average coolies could afford. The bowls were used for heating opium over a flame. Poor chinese workers could not afford to sustain their opium habit with ornamental implements. Thus, humble wooden pipeswas probably homemade, while the spindle used for scraping bits of opium, is a recycled umbrella spoke.
13
HOLD ON THERE ARE OTHER varieties in the ACM: Singapore River
In Asian Civilisation Gallery: Singapore River, You can get to see many interesting artefacts left by our ancestors who laboured so hard for a living. Things like immigration slips can be found here, as a proof to us that Singapore was once a trading port, prospered with capable traders and people. Cultures practiced in the past can also be found in this gallery as hints of music cultures like chinese musical instruments are seen on display. Scrapments of ceramic tiles tells us that people in the past actually values pottery art as variety of designs can be found in each ceramic cracks. See how much we can learn, simply from looking through a gallery. So much more effective than blindly reading through a textbook! Woohoo!
14
15
ASIAN CIVILISATION GALLERIES
Southeast Asia
18
What is this statue made of?
Lacquer and gilded wood GOld and ore Solid metal
19
Lacquer and
Gilded wood
20
Did you get it correct? If you did, good for you! If you didn’t, just giggle because life is all about making mistakes. Ever heard of Lacquer? Well, it is actually a high quality wood, made with high intricacy. You definitely can’t find these quality of wood in IKEA of any furniture shop in Singapore.
Lacquer and gilded wood 21
Lacquer and
Gilded wood 8
22
These ware represent a fraction of many varieties of lacquer made in more recent times in this region. Many were inspired by Chinese traditions. For example, red cinnabar was use by the Pyu people of Myanmar for architectural decoration by the 9th century, and its likely that they obtained it from China. Lacquerware, together with gold, jade, and elephants, was an important part of the gift exchange between Myanmar and China during the 18th century and 19th centuries. The Buddhist merit-making tradition of donating to temples also involved lacquerware. This included monks’ bowl, offering vessels, and heirloom pieces, usually with incised or painted inscriptions with dedications, donors’ names, and dates.W
9
23
HOLD ON THERE ARE OTHER varieties in the ACM: Southeast Asia
If you are a fan of exotic looking figurines and spiritual ornaments, ACM Gallery: Southeast Asia might be a paradise for you because it showcases many exotic cultures in Southeast Asia. From eight-limb goddess to intricate pottery arts, there’s so many things you can explore here! Stop using your phone and look at all these beautiful artefacts that the past has left for us to see. Don’t you find it a waste if these artefacts were just placed in a museum, without gaining any of our recognition and awe?
24
25
ASIAN CIVILISATION GALLERIES
China
28
What is the name for these dolls?
Jekyll and Hyde ROmeo and Juliet Hei Bai Wu Chang
29
Heibai
WuChang Black and White faces of Impernances
20
Did you get it correct? If you did, good for you! If you didn’t, just giggle because life is all about making mistakes. They look scary, isn’t it? Well it’s part of Chinese culture to create eye-provoking figurines to attract people’s attention. For instance, this dual puppet pair – Heibai Wuchang.
Heibai Wuchang
32
Heibai
WuChang Black and White faces of Impernances
32
The Black and White Faces of Impermanence (Heibai Wuchang) consist of General Xie and General Fan, who are also known as the Seventh Lord and the Eighth Lord, respectively. General Xie is taller than General Fan, and they are sometimes called the “Tall and short ones”. However, they can also be depicted as being of the same height, such as in hell scrolls. These portable idols were used in the pocession of the annual City God festival, which falls on the thirteenth day of the fifth lunar month in Taiwan. They are the City God’s key guardians, assisting him in the maintenance of peace in the territory under his jurisdiction. Sinners are dragged to the courts of hell where they face charges. There, General Fan and Xie mete out punishments issued by the City God, who is also a god of Hades, or by the Ten King of Purgatory
33
HOLD ON THERE ARE OTHER varieties in the ACM: China
I think most of these items should be more or less familiar to you because if you ever seen Qing Dynasty soap dramas on TV, you would probably see all these items. However, instead of seeing it on TV, you can actually see it face-to-face in ACM Gallery: China. The intricate carvings of statues and delicate caligraphy skills would wow your eye with shooting stars. No, I am definitely not being exaggerating here. Furthermore, the hand-made papers are so classic looking that you would wish to just touch it but you can’t. Oh well.
34
35
Author’s note
26
Looking through Asian Civilsation Musuem definitely sparked some curiousity in me. It made me wonder, will our pillows and sofas be some kind of “artefacts� to some other living kinds millions of years later? Well, I guess this is the power of museum. It lets you feel overwhelmed by the exotic looking artefacts and makes you curious about every single thing!
37