Imperial Crown of the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644)

Four years ago, the Beijing municipal government started the construction of the new venue to display more of the museum's relics. The old Beijing Museum, after successfully serving its mission, closed in October and was superseded by the new Beijing Museum, which opened on December 16, 2005. The 20 years of lodging at the Confucian Temple are over; the Beijing Museum now has its own place.

Many of the museum's precious relics were found in dust heaps. Almost every one has a story of hardship and struggle in the process of excavation. It is fortunate that China have many archaeological experts who have saved the relics from the river of history.

 Bronze Gui

An astonishing Gui (a round- mouthed food vessel with two or four loop handles) in Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century BC-771BC) is one of the spotlights of the relics. Its bronze material as well as its particular design catches people's eyes. The bottom pattern is composed of four creatures' face and was carved in extrusive lines. Twenty lines with a total of 198 Chinese characters of inscription under the texture describe the history of the march of Ban following Mao. This Gui was presented to Ban and Mao for their contribution in that battle. The inscription is important material for the research on the history of the Western Zhou Dynasty.

Bronze Gui

Archaeology workers found the Gui among garbage. Originally it was found in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and kept by the royal family, which passed it down from generation to generation. And in the final stages of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the Eight-Nation Alliance stole it. Finally, it was lost to civilians. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), many bronze articles had to be put in the steel-making stove. Fortunately, some experts who were very determined to protect relics saved it, finding it among the possessions of a metal provider in Beijing in 1972. This marked the first time in over 70 years that any professional archaeologist had seen it. Then the accomplished writer Guo Moruo wrote an article titled "The Exploration of Ban Gui" to commemorate the occasion.

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