Ancient American civilizations displayed in China

The Capital Museum in Beijing is hosting “Corn, Gold and Jaguar. Great Exhibition of Ancient Mayan and Andean Civilizations,” showcasing around 800 artifacts from Mexico and Peru spanning three thousand years of history.

The exhibit, which opened in May and runs until October 18, represents a record for the museum in terms of the number of pieces and institutional cooperation.

The exhibition is organized to present the artifacts within their original cultural contexts, divided into sections on the Mayan world, the treasures from the Royal Tombs of Sipán in Peru, and the relationship between humans and animals in ancient American societies.

Approximately 90% of the pieces in the first section are being shown in Beijing for the first time, while 80% of those from Sipán are new to China and 50% are leaving Peru for international display for the first time. The exhibition's title reflects core elements of these civilizations, corn as a base for survival, gold representing spirituality and power, and the jaguar symbolizing strength and belief.

Cultural leaders in Beijing view the exhibition as part of a broader strategy to establish China as a cultural power by 2035, emphasizing preservation, public education, research, and exchange between civilizations. Experts like He Beibei, editor-in-chief of CGTN Latinoamérica, see these exchanges as essential for building understanding between China and Latin America, noting the surprisingly shared history and ancient traditions of both regions.

Other scholars, such as Meng Xiayun, highlight the importance of person-to-person contact to avoid prejudice and foster deeper connections, while Denis Iván Falconí draws parallels between Andean cosmology and Chinese concepts of yin and yang. The exhibition aims to create a bridge between China and Latin America, allowing Chinese audiences to encounter the cultural heritage of Mexico and Peru and fostering cooperation between institutions on both sides.