Gentle is the autumn breeze, tender is the night. On the eve of September 16, 2017, with light music in the air, crowds of people gather at the China Institute Gallery Exhibitions in Manhattan, New York. Here ShanCha Inc. together with China Institute co-host the event “Dreams of the Kings: ShanCha and Chinese Civilization”.
At the exhibition, more than 100 pieces of 76 sets of unearthed cultural relics from kings' tombs in the Western Han Dynasty lead people to an in-depth exploration step by step! Ranging from Terracotta Warriors and Horses，carved jade and stone to bronze ware, the objects excavated in recent years and preciously preserved in the Xuzhou Museum are an extraordinary testimony to the customs and beliefs surrounding life and death during the Western Han Dynasty, one of China’s golden eras.
The exhibition has been divided into four sections: The King’s Guards explores the sculptures of the guardians of the kings, including soldiers and a warrior on horseback that were made to protect the kings in the afterlife; Dreams of Eternity focuses on the jade burial suit, which fully covers the body with more than 4000 pieces of jade tiles, and is the highlight of the exhibition; Rapt by Jade surveys the importance of jade in the Han Dynasty; and Life in the Afterlife focuses on the many everyday objects used in the afterlife, including bronze vessels and belt buckles.Ms. Weilan Hai, Director of the China Institute Gallery gave a keynote speech. First of all, she introduced the outstanding contributions of the institute in the spread of Chinese culture since its founding. Then she explained the importance of the Han Dynasty in the long history of China. Concerning the exhibits, she said, “People during the Han Dynasty treated death as birth and longed for immortality. To prepare for the afterlife, the Kings of Chu constructed their tombs to be eternal residences. The exhibition is a rare window into the extraordinarily accomplished Han civilization through these remarkable objects of the highest artistry.
Guests were greatly impressed by the exhibition. People stopped in front of every piece of the exhibit and carefully read their corresponding descriptions. Paper-cutting Master Mingliang Lu said that these exhibits are very precious and hard to find, even in China. Across the ocean in the United States, they provide us a rare opportunity to learn about the awareness of life and death among Chinese emperors and aristocrats in the Han Dynasty.
Moving to the showcase of ShanCha®, guests showed great interest in ShanCha Inc. and ShanCha® camellia oil. They were eager to learn more about the philosophy of ShanCha Inc., the past and present of camellia oil and its health benefits, as well as how to become a ShanCha® member.
After listening to the detailed introductions from the employee, many guests were thrilled by the fact that there was such hidden treasure for health still unknown to the world. At the same time, they expressed their recognition and appreciation to ShanCha Inc.’s effort to bring camellia oil from the deep mountains of China to the United States, and thanked ShanCha Inc. for providing them access to camellia oil and thus opening a channel to a much healthier lifestyle!
ShanCha Inc. provided guests with Japanese cuisine, vegetable salads and French bread. The guests tasted the difference with the very first bite: in the fragrance of the oil, there is a symphony of flavors not originally carried by food.
When they learned that all food was prepared with camellia oil, they coincidentally expressed that camellia oil not only contains an ideal nutritional value for the human body but also tastes unforgettable: light and subtle, with a refreshing fragrance.
Chinese civilization stretches for 5000 years. The Western Han Dynasty was founded more than 2,200 years ago. Camellia oil also originated 2,300 years ago as part of China’s profound culture and history. Based on the field of healthcare and humanities, ShanCha Inc. won’t forget its mission to provide our members a spiritual and cultural feast, as well as our healthcare products.
It’s now getting late! Before leaving, many shared the same sentiment: this was a wonderful and unforgettable night, both fruitful and rewarding.
