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Summer/Autumn Special Exhibition 2009
From the Lands of Oxus Central Asia, the Bridge between East and West
Saturday, July 11 to Sunday, August 16, 2009 Tuesday, September 1 to Sunday, December 13, 2009
From the lands of Oxus

Bactria and Sogdiana, which prospered along the Oxus River in Central Asia, were known since ancient times for supplying precious metals and stones as well as for bridging the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia and the Indus. Since Alexander’s expedition east, these areas have been important civilizations in bringing together the cultures of the Mediterranean, West Asia, India, and Scythia. The Sogdians, who were central to Silk Road trade at the beginning of the Middle Ages, transmitted these unique Central Asian cultures to the East and in time influenced the creation of the cosmopolitan culture of the Tang dynasty.
    This exhibition features five ancient Bactrian and Sogdian masterpieces from the Tajikistan National Museum of Archaeology as well as over a hundred pieces from ancient Persia to Tang-dynasty China that covers a period of more than a thousand years. We hope that visitors to the museum will be able to sense the universal longing for happiness in the undercurrent of this extensive cultural exchange.
Scabbard Akinaka with the image of Leo and Deer
Scabbard Akinaka with the image of Leo and Deer Fragment of Lion Griffin-shaped Rhyton 1 Scabbard Akinaka with the image of Leo and Deer Achaemenian dynasty, 5th-4th century B.C. Ivory Tajikistan National Museum of Archaeology 2 Fragment of Lion Griffin-shaped Rhyton Achaemenian dynasty, 5th-4th century B.C. Gilded Silver 3 Bixie Figurine Pre-Hand dynasty, 2nd century B.C. Bronze with gold and silver inlay
Bixie Figurine
Fragment of Lion Griffin-shaped Rhyton Bixie Figurine
The Lion-Griffin and the Bixie

Lion-griffins, symbolic protectors that purge evil in Persia from the time of the Achaemenian dynasty, were transmitted to China via Scythia. In China, these creatures also became bixie, sacred guardians against evil.

4 Metal Fitting for Carriage (detail) Han dynasty, 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D. 5 Plaque with Hunting Scene (detail) 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D. Ivory Tajikistan National Museum of Archaeology
4       Metal Fitting for Carriage (detail)
5
Plaque with Hunting Scene (detail)
Hunting Motifs

Ancient Iranian nobility practiced hunting in enclosed areas. According to some theories, the word for this hunting area is the root of the word for “paradise.” From early times, designs of hunting have been associated with images of a paradise after death.
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Four-Armed Deity (wall painting)		 6 Four-Armed Deity (wall painting) Excavated from Panjikent, 6th–8th century Tajikistan National Museum of Archaeology 7 Panel from Funerary Couch (Scene of Festival for the Goddess Nana) China, Northern Zhou dynasty, latter half of the 6th century Polychrome-painted marble
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Panel from Funerary Couch (Scene of Festival for the Goddess Nana)
Multi-Armed Deities

The Sogdians of Central Asia borrowed images of Indian gods to depict their own deities. The multi-armed gods were originally gods of combat and protective deities. Figure 6 is thought to represent a heroic god, while figure 7 appears to be the mother goddess Nana who is closely associated with funerals. The latter figure especially appears to be a decorative element on funerary objects of the Sogdians who settled in China through trade.


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