The Luoyang Museum of Ancient Tombs is a unique museum that was the first of its kind in the Middle Kingdom. Located in the suburbs of Luoyang and, in addition to the main building, the museum complex also includes a pavilion with the necessary information regarding the most important archaeological finds.
In the main building of the museum, tourists can see reproduced with maximum accuracy tombs of each particular era, from the Han Empire to the Song Dynasty.
The displays showing the oldest crypts feature a collection of clay figurines that were found near the sarcophagi, as well as drinking and eating utensils. In this case, the figurines represent the deceased's servants, concubines, guards, pets and guardian spirits. Each figurine is worked out in detail by professionals. According to the beliefs of the ancient Chinese, these tiny figures in the other world came to life and again served the owner, as it was in his lifetime.
Moving along the corridors of the Museum of Ancient Tombs, one can note the evolution of the style of tomb decoration. For example, in the Tang era it was typical to cover statuettes with polychrome glaze, which allowed them to retain the original brightness of colours. But closer to the end of the Tang era figurines began to make more primitive, and then they disappear from the funerary tradition. But they are replaced by colourful frescoes.
All the works presented in the museum are skillfully made copies by the museum staff, which fully correspond to the original findings. The originals can be seen in specially designated halls of the museum behind glass showcases.
