Feature Exhibition
Seen through Science: The Metalwork of the Liao Dynasty
From 916 to 1125, there was a vast dynasty spanning the Russian Far East, northeastern China, and the Mongolian Plateau. This dynasty was known as the Liao, and it was established by a nomadic people known as the Khitans. The Liao dynasty was also home to other peoples, including agriculturalists like the Han. Thanks to this diversity, a variety of cultures were able to thrive within the dynasty’s borders. In this exhibition, we are bringing together Liao metalwork from collections across Japan and showcasing them together with the latest research findings on them, like chemical analyses and CT scans. This metalwork brings us closer to real images of Liao culture – discover how it blended influences from the Tang dynasty (618–907), as well as the 6th-to-8th-century Göktürks of Central Asia and the Mongolian Plateau, with its own unique characteristics.
Exhibition Period |
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26 May (Tue) – 20 July (Mon) 2026 |
Venue |
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Room J (formerly Room 9), Cultural Exchange Exhibition Hall (Floor 4), Kyushu National Museum |
Supervised by |
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Suzuki Mai (Associate Professor of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, Kyushu University) |
Tickets (Cultural Exchange Exhibition Hall, including Permanent Exhibition) |
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| Adults | 700 yen |
| University students | 350 yen |
| High school students, under-18s, and over-70s are free | |
* For further details on ticket prices, please refer to this page.
Exhibition Leaflet |
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Exhibition Highlights
Face to face with a Liao person!
Gilded mask
Liao dynasty, 10th–12th century
The Kyoto University Museum
A dragon dances among the clouds...
Gilded ornament depicting a dragon among clouds
Liao dynasty, 10th–12th century
Kyoto National Museum
Tang-dynasty silverware that left its mark on the Liao
Important Cultural Property
Gilded silver vessel with flowers and
birds
Tang dynasty, 7th–8th century
Hakutsuru Fine Art Museum, Hyōgo
【Exhibition period】26 May – 21 June
A floral golden belt ornament that even the Heian aristocracy might have admired!
Belt ornament with floral motifs
Possibly Bohai (Balhae) kingdom, 9th century
Excavated from the Uneda Nabeta Site, Ishikawa Prefecture
Stored at Ishikawa Archaeological Foundation
See it through science!
Gilded strap junction with arabesque motifs
Liao dynasty, 10th–early 11th century
Kuboso Memorial Museum of Arts, Izumi, Osaka
The right half of this image shows 3-D data obtained via a CT scan. It reveals the elaborate original details, untouched by rust.
CT scan cross-section of a gilded horse bell
Liao dynasty, 10th–12th century
Kyushu National Museum (Donated by Mr. Agata
Kunizō)
Inside the bell, there is a ball that shows up in a different color. This tells us that the ball is made of a different material to the copper-alloy exterior.
Please note that the gilded silver vessel with flowers and birds (Important Cultural Property, Hakutsuru Fine Art Museum) is only on display from 26 May (Tue) until 21 June (Sun), while the small gourd-shaped, gilded silver bowl with flowers and birds (Hakutsuru Fine Art Museum) is only on display from 23 June (Tue) until 20 July (Mon).
Events (in Japanese only)
No booking necessary, free admission
Kyuhaku in 3-D: Deep Dive
Discoveries
“See it All through Science! The Metalwork of the Liao
Dynasty”
13:30–15:30
Suzuki Mai (Associate Professor of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, Kyushu University)
Hosted by Kawamura Yoshio