Asian Civilisation Museum - Artefact 2 : Chinese Coins

 

The Chinese coins are used as a form of money in the different era that they are minted in. 

Three differences to its modern day 

1. In the past, the coins has a square-shaped hole in the middle of the coin. This is to help the past people string and tie their coins up on a piece of ribbon or string. In the present days, the coins no longer have holes as there are purses to store the coins so that coins do not get lost unnecessarily. 

2. The coins are inscribed differently in the past from the present. In the past, the chinese coins are inscribed from the era that they are minted in and the value of the coins( circulating treasure or heavy treasure). In the present days, the coins are inscribed with the year they are minted and symbol of the government with the country's name. 

3.  In the past, Chinese people use ingots has money too but in the present days, we use notes and coins as money. The ingots are made in silver. Notes are made from paper and plastic with the value and design printed on it. 

Asian Civilisation Museum - Artefact 1 : Flask

Period of time :  China, ca. 830
Material : Gilded Silver

This artefact is a flask in the Tang Dynasty and it is used to hold or store water .

Three differences to modern day version :

1. The material the modern flask was made from were different from the flask from the Tang Dynasty. Today, the flask is made up of plastic or metal which has thermal function.  These materials were more common in the present days. Plastic would be more durable and lighter in weight as compared to gilded silver. Metal with thermal is used now as it provided people with convenience to keep the water warm, remaining at that range of temperature. Unlike ceramics, these metals will not break as easily as ceramics.

2. The appearance of the flask has also changed in the modern days. In the past, the flask was exquisitely and sumptuously decorated. It was carved with stylized louts and the centre featured a pair of mandarin ducks. Attention was paid to every detail, as the elegant handle was beautifully formed as a snake. It was in the colour of the material, silver. It looked more like a decoration piece then a household item. Now, most flasks were not decorated as  fancily as in the past. Household flasks are available in different colours and patterns They may be just a circular container or a picture printed on it.

3. The size and the shape of the flask is different from the modern version. The flask in the olden time were huge in size and the handle is like a arc over the opening of the flask. The size and shape of the flask varies more, between small and large with different types of forms and sculptured flasks.

As time passes, the flask has evolved into a lighter and much more common household item in the modern days.