China Millennium Monument: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 39°54′41″N 116°19′16″E / 39.911514°N 116.321247°E / 39.911514; 116.321247
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==Name and symbolism==
==Name and symbolism==


The monument is branded as a monumental altar ({{zh|t=壇|s=坛|p=tán}}),<ref name=Shue/> echoing the {{ill|Nine altars and eight temples{{!}}nine altars|zh|九壇八廟}} that have punctuated the symbolic landscape of Beijing since at least the [[Ming dynasty]]. Its architecture also echoes elevated circular altars where Chinese emperors practiced [[Ministry of Rites|official rites]], such as the [[Circular Mound Altar]] at the [[Temple of Heaven]] and the [[Beijing Shejitan|Altar of Land and Grain]] near the [[Forbidden City]]. More generally, the monument is imbued with references to [[ancient Chinese philosophy]], [[Chinese geomancy]], [[Chinese numerology]] as well as themes more specifically connected to 20th-century [[Chinese Communist Party]] discourse, such as the harmony of China's [[Ethnic groups in Chinese history|56 ethnic groups]].<ref>{{cite web |website=Koryo Group |title=Museums of Beijing #46: China Millennium Monument |author=Simon Cockerell |date={{date|2021/04/12}} |url=https://koryogroup.com/blog/museums-of-beijing-china-millennium-monument}}</ref> Like other initiatives such as the creation of [[Confucius Institute]]s from 2004, it has been associated with CCP efforts to re-embrace pre-Communist Chinese legacies after the less history-obsessed approach of [[Deng Xiaoping]].<ref name=Shue>{{citation |journal=Modern China |title=Regimes of Resonance: Cosmos, Empire, and Changing Technologies of CCP Rule |author=Vivienne Shue |date={{date|2022/01/11}} |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/00977004211068055}}</ref>
The monument is branded as a monumental altar ({{zh|t=壇|s=坛|p=tán}}),<ref name=Shue/> echoing the {{ill|Nine altars and eight temples{{!}}nine altars|zh|九壇八廟}} that have punctuated the symbolic landscape of Beijing since at least the [[Ming dynasty]]. Its architecture also echoes elevated circular altars where Chinese emperors practiced [[Ministry of Rites|official rites]], such as the [[Circular Mound Altar]] at the [[Temple of Heaven]] and the [[Beijing Shejitan|Altar of Land and Grain]] near the [[Forbidden City]]. More generally, the monument is imbued with references to [[ancient Chinese philosophy]], [[Chinese geomancy]], [[Chinese numerology]] as well as themes more specifically connected to 20th-century [[Chinese Communist Party]] discourse, such as the harmony of China's [[Ethnic groups in Chinese history|56 ethnic groups]].<ref>{{cite web |website=Koryo Group |title=Museums of Beijing #46: China Millennium Monument |author=Simon Cockerell |date={{date|2021/04/12}} |url=https://koryogroup.com/blog/museums-of-beijing-china-millennium-monument}}</ref> Like other initiatives such as the creation of [[Confucius Institute]]s from 2004, it has been associated with CCP efforts to re-embrace pre-Communist Chinese legacies after the less history-obsessed approach of [[Deng Xiaoping]].<ref name=Shue>{{citation |journal=Modern China |title=Regimes of Resonance: Cosmos, Empire, and Changing Technologies of CCP Rule |author=Vivienne Shue |year=2022 |doi=10.1177/00977004211068055 |s2cid=245901985 |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/00977004211068055}}</ref>


The monument's name also includes an expression ({{zh|t=世紀|s=世纪|p=shìjì}}) that depending on context may refer to a century or a less precisely defined epoch or era, including a millennium. With the latter meaning, it can be read either as "monument to the Chinese Millennium" or as "Chinese monument to the Millennium". The CCP discourse about it has emphasized the reference to five thousand years of [[Zhonghua minzu|Chinese nationhood]], rather than merely the year 2000 of [[Common Era]].<ref name=AP/> Even so, it was completed just in time to be the centerpiece of the [[Millennium celebrations]] in China, at a cost of 200 million Chinese yuan.<ref>{{cite web|website=scmp.com |title=Monument to steal show in celebrations |author=Mark O'Neill |date={{date|1999/12/31}} |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/304253/monument-steal-show-celebrations}}</ref> Nevertheless, its official inauguration was scheduled for [[Chinese New Year]] and not the new year of the [[Gregorian calendar]], on {{date|2000/02/05}}.<ref name=AP/>
The monument's name also includes an expression ({{zh|t=世紀|s=世纪|p=shìjì}}) that depending on context may refer to a century or a less precisely defined epoch or era, including a millennium. With the latter meaning, it can be read either as "monument to the Chinese Millennium" or as "Chinese monument to the Millennium". The CCP discourse about it has emphasized the reference to five thousand years of [[Zhonghua minzu|Chinese nationhood]], rather than merely the year 2000 of [[Common Era]].<ref name=AP/> Even so, it was completed just in time to be the centerpiece of the [[Millennium celebrations]] in China, at a cost of 200 million Chinese yuan.<ref>{{cite web|website=scmp.com |title=Monument to steal show in celebrations |author=Mark O'Neill |date={{date|1999/12/31}} |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/304253/monument-steal-show-celebrations}}</ref> Nevertheless, its official inauguration was scheduled for [[Chinese New Year]] and not the new year of the [[Gregorian calendar]], on {{date|2000/02/05}}.<ref name=AP/>
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==Beijing World Art Museum==
==Beijing World Art Museum==


The Beijing World Art Museum was initially intended to host a permanent collection of non-Chinese art that would be displayed in two large halls, one for [[Western art]] and the other for [[Eastern art]], flanking the monumental central (Chinese) hall on its respective western and eastern sides. No significant collection was assembled for that purpose, however, resulting in what scholar Wang Liwei, who was involved in the museum's preparatory work, has referred to in an [[UNESCO]] publication as "an embarrassing situation." To overcome that handicap, the museum has mainly mainly focused its activity on temporary exhibitions. It opened in 2006 with an inaugural exhibition titled "Mirroring the Age: Six Centuries of Italian Art" which was attended by 120,000 visitors.<ref name=WangLimei>{{citation |title= The Beijing World Art Museum at the China Millennium Monument |date=2008 |author=Wang Limei |journal= Museum international |volume=LX(60), 1-2 |pages=140-147 |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000162092}}</ref>
The Beijing World Art Museum was initially intended to host a permanent collection of non-Chinese art that would be displayed in two large halls, one for [[Western art]] and the other for [[Eastern art]], flanking the monumental central (Chinese) hall on its respective western and eastern sides. No significant collection was assembled for that purpose, however, resulting in what scholar Wang Liwei, who was involved in the museum's preparatory work, has referred to in an [[UNESCO]] publication as "an embarrassing situation." To overcome that handicap, the museum has mainly mainly focused its activity on temporary exhibitions. It opened in 2006 with an inaugural exhibition titled "Mirroring the Age: Six Centuries of Italian Art" which was attended by 120,000 visitors.<ref name=WangLimei>{{citation |title= The Beijing World Art Museum at the China Millennium Monument |date=2008 |author=Wang Limei |journal= Museum International |volume=LX(60), 1-2 |pages=140–147 |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000162092}}</ref>


Exhibitions of the museum since then have included those on [[Contemporary realism|Contemporary American Realism]] in 2012,<ref>{{cite web |website=Peter Fiore: Thoughts on Painting |title=World Art Museum, Beijing |author=Peter Fiore |date={{date|2012/09/14}} |url=https://peterfiore.blogspot.com/2012/09/american-realists-in-china.html}}</ref> the first Beijing Photo Biennial in 2013,<ref>{{cite web |website=photography-now.com |title=Exhibitions at Beijing World Art Museum & China Millennium Monument |url=http://photography-now.com/institution/exhibitions/new-millennium-art-gallery}}</ref> paintings by [[Xu Beihong]] in 2014,<ref>{{cite web |website=Ecns.cn |title=Xu Beihong's work on show at the Beijing World Art Museum (5/9) |date={{date|2014/05/09}} |author=Li Yan |url=http://www.ecns.cn/visual/hd/2014/05-09/38593.shtml}}</ref> creations of the [[Sichuan Fine Arts Institute]] in 2018,<ref>{{cite web |website=visitbeijing.com.cn |title=Art exhibition at Beijing World Art Museum of the China Millennium Monument |date={{date|2018/01/05}} |url=https://english.visitbeijing.com.cn/article/47ONyw9gChf}}</ref> works by [[Raphael]] in 2020-2021,<ref>{{cite web |website=CAFA Art Museum |title=”Raffaello: Opera Omnia” exhibition opens at Beijing World Art Museum |date={{date|2020/12/12}} |url=https://www.cafamuseum.org/en/exhibit/newsdetail/2813}}</ref> and [[Egyptian mummies]] in 2021.{{cn|date=April 2022}}
Exhibitions of the museum since then have included those on [[Contemporary realism|Contemporary American Realism]] in 2012,<ref>{{cite web |website=Peter Fiore: Thoughts on Painting |title=World Art Museum, Beijing |author=Peter Fiore |date={{date|2012/09/14}} |url=https://peterfiore.blogspot.com/2012/09/american-realists-in-china.html}}</ref> the first Beijing Photo Biennial in 2013,<ref>{{cite web |website=photography-now.com |title=Exhibitions at Beijing World Art Museum & China Millennium Monument |url=http://photography-now.com/institution/exhibitions/new-millennium-art-gallery}}</ref> paintings by [[Xu Beihong]] in 2014,<ref>{{cite web |website=Ecns.cn |title=Xu Beihong's work on show at the Beijing World Art Museum (5/9) |date={{date|2014/05/09}} |author=Li Yan |url=http://www.ecns.cn/visual/hd/2014/05-09/38593.shtml}}</ref> creations of the [[Sichuan Fine Arts Institute]] in 2018,<ref>{{cite web |website=visitbeijing.com.cn |title=Art exhibition at Beijing World Art Museum of the China Millennium Monument |date={{date|2018/01/05}} |url=https://english.visitbeijing.com.cn/article/47ONyw9gChf}}</ref> works by [[Raphael]] in 2020-2021,<ref>{{cite web |website=CAFA Art Museum |title="Raffaello: Opera Omnia" exhibition opens at Beijing World Art Museum |date={{date|2020/12/12}} |url=https://www.cafamuseum.org/en/exhibit/newsdetail/2813}}</ref> and [[Egyptian mummies]] in 2021.{{cn|date=April 2022}}


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 22:03, 22 April 2022

China Millennium Monument in June 2017
Millennium Monument viewed from Beijing’s Central Radio & TV Tower across Yuyuantan Park, with the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Museum in the background

The China Millennium Monument (simplified Chinese: 中华世纪坛; traditional Chinese: 中華世紀壇; pinyin: Zhōnghuá shìjì tán) is a monumental complex centered around a structure that evokes both a monumental Chinese altar and a sundial. Associated with Jiang Zemin, it was championed from 1994 by CCP official Zhu Xiangyuan [zh].[1] It was completed in 1999 ahead of the Millennium celebrations, for which it was the principal Chinese venue. Since 2006, it has housed the Beijing World Art Museum.[2]

Name and symbolism

The monument is branded as a monumental altar (simplified Chinese: 坛; traditional Chinese: 壇; pinyin: tán),[3] echoing the nine altars [zh] that have punctuated the symbolic landscape of Beijing since at least the Ming dynasty. Its architecture also echoes elevated circular altars where Chinese emperors practiced official rites, such as the Circular Mound Altar at the Temple of Heaven and the Altar of Land and Grain near the Forbidden City. More generally, the monument is imbued with references to ancient Chinese philosophy, Chinese geomancy, Chinese numerology as well as themes more specifically connected to 20th-century Chinese Communist Party discourse, such as the harmony of China's 56 ethnic groups.[4] Like other initiatives such as the creation of Confucius Institutes from 2004, it has been associated with CCP efforts to re-embrace pre-Communist Chinese legacies after the less history-obsessed approach of Deng Xiaoping.[3]

The monument's name also includes an expression (simplified Chinese: 世纪; traditional Chinese: 世紀; pinyin: shìjì) that depending on context may refer to a century or a less precisely defined epoch or era, including a millennium. With the latter meaning, it can be read either as "monument to the Chinese Millennium" or as "Chinese monument to the Millennium". The CCP discourse about it has emphasized the reference to five thousand years of Chinese nationhood, rather than merely the year 2000 of Common Era.[1] Even so, it was completed just in time to be the centerpiece of the Millennium celebrations in China, at a cost of 200 million Chinese yuan.[5] Nevertheless, its official inauguration was scheduled for Chinese New Year and not the new year of the Gregorian calendar, on 5 February 2000.[1]

Around the time of inauguration, the monument's was strongly associated with the leadership role of Jiang Zemin. A 2000 CCP celebratory poster by propaganda artist Liu Xiqi features Jiang together with his predecessors Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, each flanked with representative architectural icons: Tiananmen Gate for Mao, the Hong Kong skyline for Deng, and for Jiang, the China Millennium Monument on one side and the Pudong District of Shanghai on the other.[6]

The monument was prominent in CCP imagery until the end of Jiang Zemin's term. For example, it was the main venue for the July 2001 celebration of Beijing's selection to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.[7] There has been no comparably salient use of the monument since Jiang Zemin's official retirement.

Description

Sundial in the Forbidden City, an inspiration for the monument's design[3]
Century Bell in the monument's park

Building

The monument's central structure takes the form of a truncated cone, supporting an inclined metal spire branded the "Time and Space Probing Pin"[3] above a central circular platform. Inside the building, a circular corridor features 40 bronze statues of important Chinese historical figures and 56 sculpted reliefs displaying China's 56 officially recognized ethnic groups. The corridor surrounds the Great Century Hall, whose 5-meter-high circular wall is adorned with episodes of Chinese 5000-years-long history sculpted in precious stone low relief.[8]

The building faces south in accordance with Feng Shui principles, and is accessed through a monumental stairway. It features 20,000 m² of exhibition space, much of it underground.[9]

Monumental causeway

Leading to the monument is a 274-meter-long causeway that starts at the intersection of the monument's north-south axis with Fuxing Road, the western part of Beijing's major axis that becomes Chang'an Avenue further west. Just north of Fuxing Road is a screen bearing the monument's name calligraphed by Jiang Zemin, and a circular plaza flanked by two arcs of water, symbolizing China's two iconic rivers the Yellow River and the Yangtze. In the center of the plaza is a sunken square space with a permanently burning torch, lighted by fire brought from the Zhoukoudian site where Peking Man was discovered in the 1920s, and symbolizing the continuity of human experience in China since times immemorial.[8][10] The plaza's northern side features a map of China in a circular gilded medallion. Between it and the monument's main structure is the causeway proper or "bronze thoroughfare", a three-meter-wide installation with events of China's 5000-year-long history inscribed on bronze plates.[11]

Millennium Monument Park

To its west, north and east, the monument is surrounded by a parking lot and beyond it, by a green space carved out from Yuyuantan Park, the Millennium Monument Park. The park features two rotundas on both sides of the monument. The eastern rotunda is graced by a small pavilion with a monumental Chinese bell, branded the Century Bell, which commemorates the return of Macau to the People's Republic of China after centuries of Western colonial occupation.[8] The western rotunda has been left empty.

Beijing World Art Museum

The Beijing World Art Museum was initially intended to host a permanent collection of non-Chinese art that would be displayed in two large halls, one for Western art and the other for Eastern art, flanking the monumental central (Chinese) hall on its respective western and eastern sides. No significant collection was assembled for that purpose, however, resulting in what scholar Wang Liwei, who was involved in the museum's preparatory work, has referred to in an UNESCO publication as "an embarrassing situation." To overcome that handicap, the museum has mainly mainly focused its activity on temporary exhibitions. It opened in 2006 with an inaugural exhibition titled "Mirroring the Age: Six Centuries of Italian Art" which was attended by 120,000 visitors.[2]

Exhibitions of the museum since then have included those on Contemporary American Realism in 2012,[12] the first Beijing Photo Biennial in 2013,[13] paintings by Xu Beihong in 2014,[14] creations of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in 2018,[15] works by Raphael in 2020-2021,[16] and Egyptian mummies in 2021.[citation needed]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c AP (2 December 1999). "China: Monument to celebrate 5000 years of civilisation". Youtube.
  2. ^ a b Wang Limei (2008), "The Beijing World Art Museum at the China Millennium Monument", Museum International, LX(60), 1–2: 140–147
  3. ^ a b c d Vivienne Shue (2022), "Regimes of Resonance: Cosmos, Empire, and Changing Technologies of CCP Rule", Modern China, doi:10.1177/00977004211068055, S2CID 245901985
  4. ^ Simon Cockerell (12 April 2021). "Museums of Beijing #46: China Millennium Monument". Koryo Group.
  5. ^ Mark O'Neill (31 December 1999). "Monument to steal show in celebrations". scmp.com.
  6. ^ Liu Xiqi (刘熹奇) (2000). "Study the speeches, cherish the party spirit, follow the party". ChinesePosters.net.
  7. ^ John Gittings (13 July 2001). "'It is our turn. This is our time.' Ecstatic Beijingers take to the streets to celebrate". The Guardian.
  8. ^ a b c "China Millennium Monument". TravelChinaGuide.
  9. ^ "Beijing World Art Museum". China Services Info. 2019.
  10. ^ "The China Millennium Monument". ForeignerCN.com. 2007.
  11. ^ "The China Millennium Monument". ForeignerCN.com. 2007.
  12. ^ Peter Fiore (14 September 2012). "World Art Museum, Beijing". Peter Fiore: Thoughts on Painting.
  13. ^ "Exhibitions at Beijing World Art Museum & China Millennium Monument". photography-now.com.
  14. ^ Li Yan (9 May 2014). "Xu Beihong's work on show at the Beijing World Art Museum (5/9)". Ecns.cn.
  15. ^ "Art exhibition at Beijing World Art Museum of the China Millennium Monument". visitbeijing.com.cn. 5 January 2018.
  16. ^ ""Raffaello: Opera Omnia" exhibition opens at Beijing World Art Museum". CAFA Art Museum. 12 December 2020.

External links

39°54′41″N 116°19′16″E / 39.911514°N 116.321247°E / 39.911514; 116.321247

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