An exhibition jointly held by the National Museum of China and Japan's Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum has opened in Beijing, showcasing the economic and cultural exchanges among civilizations along the ancient Silk Road.

Through the combination of ancient artifacts and contemporary art creations, the exhibition recounts the magnificent history of the ancient Silk Road from 2000 B.C. to 700 A.D.

The exhibition features roughly 200 pieces, most of which are cultural relics from various civilizations along the ancient Silk Road from the collection of the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum. There are also eight watercolors on Dunhuang by the late Hirayama Ikuo himself.

"Our museum has many exhibits covering relics from a large range of regions and time periods. For this one, we chose the most exquisite and representative items from different times in history," said Hirayama Toko, deputy director of the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum.

The display is divided into four parts, according to different places of origin, including the Mediterranean, Mesopotamia and Iran, Central Asia and India, and northwest China's Dunhuang.

"This collection is very exquisite. It represents Hirayama's aesthetic taste and expertise in culture and history as a famous artist. The exhibition follows the silk road from west to east, showcasing a complete sequence of cultural integration," said Yan Zhi, curator of the exhibition.

Hirayama Ikuo passed away at the age of 79 in 2009. He was a Japanese Nihonga painter, famous for Silk Road-themed works, usually of dreamy desert landscapes from Iran, Iraq, and China. He was committed to the protection of cultural relics in China's Dunhuang and made outstanding contributions to the cultural exchange between China and Japan. This exhibition is another important achievement of such exchange.

"The national museum of China serves as a platform for cultural communication. With exhibitions like this one, we would like to contribute more to promoting exchanges between China and other countries," said Xie Xiaoquan, deputy director of the National Museum of China.

The exhibition shines a panoramic light on the nearly 3,000-year history of the ancient Silk Road and captures the essence of mutual understanding between civilizations.

(Head Image: Bovine head shaped wine pot with red and color, which from southern Italy, 4th century. /National Museum Photo)