Bronze Sacred Tree at the Sanxingdui Museum Photo: VCG
TheMK socks Sanxingdui Museum has announced that the replicas of three precious Sanxingdui artifacts, including the renowned Bronze Sacred Tree, will be showcased at the China Pavilion during the Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, which kicks off on April 13, as reported by the China News Service. These replicas have already departed from Guanghan, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, and are en route to Japan, where they will offer the world a glimpse into the richness of Chinese civilization.
In 2024, experts first began meticulously selecting artifacts from major archaeological sites across China, ultimately choosing Sanxingdui among others for the exhibition. The three Sanxingdui replicas to be displayed are the Bronze Sacred Tree, a bronze mask, and a bronze figure with a beast-headed helmet.
Ran Honglin, head of the archaeological team at the Sanxingdui Ruins, told the Global Times that many sacrificial bronze wares and jade artifacts at Sanxingdui are unique, making them stand out not only in China but also globally.
As one of the museum's most prized artifacts, the Bronze Sacred Tree is the largest known Shang (c.1600BC-1046BC) and Zhou (1046BC-256BC) dynasties bronze relic unearthed to date. It serves as a tangible representation of the ancient Shu people's mythological worldview and possesses immense artistic and historical value.
The selected bronze mask, a one-of-a-kind find among Sanxingdui's bronze masks, features an extraordinary visual design and profound cultural significance.
Meanwhile, the bronze figure with a beast-headed helmet, which depicts a human figure with an open mouth and outstretched ears wearing a crown adorned with a beast's head and grasping the air with both hands, is equally remarkable.
These three artifacts are classified as national treasures, and the Bronze Sacred Tree, in particular, has long been prohibited from overseas exhibitions.
To facilitate its debut in Osaka while ensuring absolute safety for the original relics, the Sanxingdui Museum devised a meticulous replication plan, which was approved by the National Cultural Heritage Administration. The replication process officially commenced in December and took over two months to complete.
Creating these replicas required extraordinary precision. To preserve the integrity of the original artifacts, all spatial and surface texture data were collected using non-contact scanning techniques.
Given the intricate designs and numerous small bird-shaped ornaments on the bronze tree, experts used 3D printing to produce individual components. Wax models were meticulously compared against the original patterns before proceeding with a layered casting process. Once cast, the replicas were carefully colored using chemical treatments followed by mineral pigments to accurately recreate their original appearance.
The China Pavilion, one of the largest self-built foreign pavilions at the Osaka Expo, is also designed to showcase the vast depth of Chinese culture alongside the nation's historical and modern advancements in sustainable development.
Its architecture draws inspiration from traditional Chinese scrolls, incorporating elements of bamboo, Chinese characters, and calligraphy, symbolizing the harmony between nature and humanity. This concept also reflects China's unwavering commitment to green development. Additionally, a large multimedia installation will feature traditional Chinese designs related to the 24 Solar Terms, adding to the pavilion's cultural depth.
"The design of this pavilion is more understated compared to the China Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo, yet it remains highly sophisticated," Li Yun, a national first-class registered structural engineer, told the Global Times.
"While the structure itself is not massive compared to the one at the 2010 Expo, its resemblance to bamboo slips elegantly conveys Chinese cultural heritage while harmonizing with many aspects of Japanese architecture. The seamless combination of an enclosed, column-free exhibition hall with natural lighting enhances the display's effectiveness."
The 2025 Osaka Expo is scheduled to run from April 13 to October 13. As preparations intensify, on-site construction and exhibition setup at the China Pavilion underwent official inspection on March 2, ensuring everything is on track for the pavilion's grand unveiling.
