China Crafted | Treasured Tang: Openness forged in gold and silver

At the height of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the world converged in its capital Chang'an. What moved along the Silk Road was not only goods, but techniques, motifs and aesthetics that shaped how objects were made and used. That world can still be traced today – not through chronicles alone, but through the objects it left behind.

Treasured Tang is an immersive virtual exhibition that introduces crafts from China's Tang Dynasty through scenes of adornment, exchange and celebration at the zenith of a cosmopolitan empire.

It is part of China Crafted – the latest edition of CGTN's Art Series – that invites viewers to explore the beauty of ancient Chinese artifacts from four major dynasties: Shang, Han, Tang and Song.

The story opens in Chang'an, where banquets reflected the dynasty's openness. Music and dances were shaped by influences from across Eurasia – visible in instruments, rhythms and styles of movement.

Spotted at the banquet is a personal object – a silver incense burner. Small enough to be worn, it carried fragrance through daily life. Historical records link such sachets to Yang Yuhuan, the favored consort of Emperor Xuanzong.

Its design is truly ingenuine. The outer shell rotates while the inner chamber stays level, allowing incense to burn without spilling – a principle similar to the modern gyroscope. Tang craftsmanship was not only refined, but technically advanced.

Steeped in fragrance, the story then moves to adornment. Gold-inlaid jade armlets, combining two prized materials, were more than jewelry. They signaled status, wealth and refinement. Hinged segments and flexible joints show attention to both form and wearability.

The exhibition then moves towards revelry through its vessels. Gilt silver cups, often faceted and richly decorated, depict musicians, dancers and attendants in motion, capturing performance, service and celebration in a shared setting.

These forms also reflect their origins. Influences from Byzantium, Sogdiana and the Persian Sasanian world were adapted into new forms that are both international and distinctly Tang.

The dining vessels themselves express abundance. Gold bowls shaped with lotus petals, silver vessels with floral and animal motifs, and finely worked utensils reflect both visual richness and symbolic depth. Lotus patterns, scrolling vines and cloud forms carry associations of prosperity, continuity and belief.

Animal motifs add another layer. Birds, deer and other creatures move across these surfaces, exuding a vivid sense of life and reflecting the influence of exchanges across regions.

Beyond spectacle, the banquet had its own rituals. Drinking games, guided by inscribed tokens, structured interaction among guests. Some quote classical texts before assigning actions, turning the gathering into a space where literature, etiquette and play intersect.

At the imperial level, celebration expands further. Records describe birthday banquets for Emperor Xuanzong, where music, dance and trained horses raising toasts became part of the performance. Silver vessels decorated with dancing horses preserve these moments.

Every object in Treasured Tang reflects a connected world. Incense burners carry memory, armlets express identity and vessels record shared experiences shaped by many cultures. Together, they show how the Tang Dynasty absorbed outside influences and made them its own. They reveal a civilization defined not only by prosperity, but by openness to the world.