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Five thousand years may seem like an infinitely distant past. Yet sometimes, fifteen minutes are all it takes for that past to cease being an abstraction.

This is precisely the experience offered by the exhibition "Ritual Connects Worlds: The Age of Liangzhu," currently hosted at the exhibition halls of the Artists' Union of Armenia and dedicated to one of China’s oldest civilizations.

Even before embarking on the main journey, the exhibition introduces visitors to Liangzhu civilization itself. As it turns out, five thousand years ago—when the great states were just taking shape in the Nile and Indus valleys—a city with an advanced governance system, large-scale hydraulic engineering projects, and a distinct ritual culture already existed in present-day China.

Artifacts of Royalty and Rituals

The journey begins with authentic archaeological finds. Visitors are first greeted by jade cong (ritual vessels), scepters, combs, jewelry, and other artifacts unearthed from Liangzhu’s royal burials. Many of these once belonged to members of the ruling elite and were used in rituals that defined the social order of the ancient state.

A closer look reveals intricate carvings, spiral motifs, depictions of mythical creatures, and symbols that, five millennia ago, reflected human ideas about power, the cosmos, and spiritual life. Among the items on display is a rare ritual scepter discovered in a royal tomb on Fanshan Hill, where it was found alongside other jade artifacts testifying to the extraordinarily high status of its owner.

A separate section of the exhibition is devoted to the royal tombs and the Yaoshan altar. Here, archaeologists discovered 13 burials and over 2,500 artifacts—the vast majority made of jade. It was these discoveries that allowed scholars to better understand the structure of Liangzhu society and the role of ritual in the life of one of China’s oldest civilizations.

A 15-Minute Leap Through Time

After exploring the archaeological finds, the next stop is the virtual reality hall, where visitors cross a five-thousand-year gap in just fifteen minutes. The VR journey is divided into three "chapters":

• Chapter One: "Origins of Civilization"

  Transports viewers back to 1936, the year of the initial archaeological breakthroughs. From the very first unearthed potsherd to the moment Liangzhu was revealed to the world, visitors witness its re-discovery, walking virtually in the footsteps of the researchers.

• Chapter Two: "The Path of Ritual"

  Takes visitors through a jade-carving workshop and along a ceremonial procession route, leading to the Mojiaoshan platform—the ancient city's central ceremonial complex where the most vital rituals took place.

• Chapter Three: "Ritual Connects the World"

  Offers a bird’s-eye view of Liangzhu. Guided by a glowing bird of light, visitors watch the ancient city literally come to life: its streets, canals, dams, and the urban expanse where one of China’s earliest civilizations flourished five millennia ago.

A Lasting Impression

Just fifteen minutes prior, visitors were looking at small jade artifacts behind display glass. Now, behind each object, one can envision an entire city, its people, its rituals, and a five-thousand-year-old history.

It is this feeling that lingers long after leaving Liangzhu. The exhibition "Ritual Connects Worlds: The Age of Liangzhu" will remain open in the exhibition halls of the Artists' Union of Armenia until August 31.

 Liana Aghajanyan

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