Glamorous Xianbei treasures stun in Shenzhen

On one side, a gold, tree-shaped headdress, with delicate leaves trembling with every step, was designed to catch the light and rustle in the wind.

On the other, a suit of iron armor: cold, crushing, was built to absorb the impact of lances and arrows.

Both were made by the same people 1,600 years ago — the Murong Xianbei.

A restored set of cataphract armor for both rider and horse is on display at the exhibition. Photos courtesy of the exhibition organizer unless otherwise stated

An installation shows maps of the Three Yan.

A new exhibition at the Shenzhen Museum’s Ancient Art Division is showcasing 157 sets of treasures from the Xianbei culture, bringing the world of the Murong Xianbei to Shenzhen. Come see how the ultimate lifestyle of 1,600 years ago was both beautiful and battle-ready.

The Murong Xianbei were a tribe of the ancient nomadic Xianbei people. They founded the Former Yan (337-370) and Later Yan (384-407). A Han Chinese nobleman, Feng Ba, who had adopted Xianbei culture, seized power and established the Northern Yan (407-436). 

Together, the three regimes — whose capital for much of their existence was Longcheng (today’s Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province) — are known as the Three Yan.

An eaves tile with a human-face design from the Former Yan period. Photo by Cao Zhen

A tiger-shaped bronze vessel from the Northern Yan period. Photo by Cao Zhen

The exhibition explores the migration, cultural fusion, wars, daily life, and clan history of the Three Yan. The 157 artifacts — made of gold, glass, bronze, iron, and pottery — trace nearly a century of Xianbei glory and nomadic life.

One highlight is a series of gold headdress ornaments featuring shimmering, swaying leaves, known as buyao (步摇), literally meaning “swaying with steps.” The leaf motif originated in Western Asia and was introduced to northern China via the Silk Road. Over time, it became a key feature of the Three Yan culture.

Gold headdresses from the Three Yan period. 

A pair of stirrups from the Northern Yan period. 

Also on display are one of the earliest sets of stirrups with an absolute date — a revolutionary invention that transformed cavalry and warfare. With stirrups, early warriors could free both hands for combat. Crafted from finely worked wood and gilt bronze, the stirrups are considered masterpieces of Northern Yan gilded craftsmanship.

The exhibition further presents a restored set of cataphract armor for both rider and horse, offering a glimpse of the distinctive look and imposing spirit of China’s ancient heavy cavalry. 

A hall displays mural copies that restore the spatial relationship between murals and tomb chambers, revealing the subtle interplay of space and painting in Chinese burial art.

Visitors observe the mural copies. Photo by Cao Zhen

Part of a mural copy. Photo by Cao Zhen

The Three Yan culture may be a lesser-known chapter of Chinese history — distant in time and remote in place — but this exhibition bridges that gap with interactive games and jigsaw puzzles that invite visitors to piece together the story.

One especially thoughtful installation asks visitors: “Where do you come from?” It connects the Xianbei migration story with Shenzhen’s identity as a city of migrants. Visitors can pick a colorful thread, tie one end to the pin marking your birthplace on a map of China, and hook the other end onto the pin marking Shenzhen. Watch as countless colorful threads snake across the wall, mapping a nation of personal journeys. 

A jigsaw puzzle to piece together an armored horse. Photo by Cao Zhen

An installation introduces social class in the Three Yan period. Visitors press a button, and a card showing a randomly assigned status comes out. Photo by Cao Zhen

A visitor ties a thread to the pins marking her birthplace and Shenzhen on a map of China.

Dates: Through July 26

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Mondays

Venue: Shenzhen Museum’s ancient art division, Tongxin Road, Futian District 深圳博物馆同心路馆(古代艺术) 

Metro: Line 9 to Hongling South Station (红岭南站), Exit A