"This exhibition is a precious chance for those who are interested in the history of the mysterious ancient kingdom," said Li Tong, deputy curator of the Ningxia Museum.

The Xixia Kingdom, established by a Dangxiang clan, was short-lived with a history of only 190 years.

According to historians, Dangxiang, or Tanguts, were remnants of the Western Qiang people.

The Qiang people led a nomadic life in ancient times, living mainly on herding sheep.

The Chinese character for sheep and goats, "yang," is very similar to the character "qiang" in grapheme.

In its early years, the Tanguts inhabited the Qinghai area and migrated to the Ningxia-Gansu areas afterwards.

The rise of the Tanguts began in the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618) and Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

Taking long-term control of the Xiazhou local authorities, they gradually raised forces.

In 1038, Li Yuanhao declared the separation from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and the establishment of Great Xia (Xixia was what the Song Dynasty used to call them) at the eastern end of the ancient Silk Road.

Confronting the dynasties of Song, Liao (916-1125) and Jin (1115-1234) successively, Xixia experienced 10 emperors' reign of 190 years.

From 1205 onward, Mongols, led by the legendary Genghis Khan and his four sons, attacked Tanguts six times and wiped out the regime in 1227.

Occupying the area along the Silk Road, Xixia developed a culture partly influenced by the Han nation but with its own distinguished characteristics.

The current exhibition includes a number of very impressive items that are evidence of the splendid culture of the Xixia Kingdom.

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