Beneath the Golden Crown: Highlights of Silla’s Treasures

Shanghai Museum East · East Museum, Special Exhibition Hall 2, 2F · Shanghai · –

Metalwork and Buddhist art introduce Silla culture and its exchanges with other regions.

In-depth audio guide

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Closed during the exhibition
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Check the museum’s current opening, ticketing and reservation arrangements before visiting. Usually closed on Tuesdays, except public holidays. Dated closures for 2027 await confirmation of holiday arrangements; check the official schedule before a 2027 visit.

Works (11)

  1. guide-gold-crown. Gold Crown Silla (maker unknown) · Gold with jade pendants (per the museum’s description); H. 27.7 cm, diam. 19.0 cm · Silla, 5th century · National Museum of Korea — Three branches in front, two antlers behind, all cut from thin sheet gold.
  2. guide-gold-belt. Gold Belt Silla (maker unknown) · Gold; the textile backing has decayed; some pendants hold glass or comma-shaped jewels (per the museum’s description); L. 131.4 cm, H. 70.0 cm · Silla, 5th century · National Museum of Korea — Seventeen long pendants hang from the waist, each ending in an ornament.
  3. guide-gold-cap. Gold Cap Silla (maker unknown) · Gold; H. 17.6 cm (measurement as reported by The Paper) · Silla, 5th century · National Museum of Korea — A small triangular cap cut from thin gold, pierced all over with geometric patterns.
  4. guide-wing-ornament. Bird-wing Gold Cap Ornament Silla (maker unknown) · Three gold sheets joined together (as reported by The Paper); H. 45.0 cm, W. 42.0 cm (measurements from the same report) · Silla, 5th century · National Museum of Korea — Three gold sheets joined into a pair of open wings, pierced all over with patterns.
  5. guide-gyerim-dagger. Dagger with Golden Hilt and Scabbard Maker unknown (the museum suggests the Black Sea coast to Central Asia) · Gold with garnet and glass inlay (per the museum’s description); L. 36.8 cm, W. 9.05 cm · Before the 6th century · Gyeongju National Museum — The iron blade has long rotted away; what remains is the gold of hilt and scabbard, set with red stones.
  6. guide-silver-bowl. Silver Hammered Bowl Silla (maker unknown) · Silver, hammered and chased (per the museum’s description); H. 3.8 cm, diam. 8.8 cm · Silla, 5th century · Gyeongju National Museum — A silver cup under 4 cm high, its outside divided into rows of hexagons.
  7. guide-glass-cup. Glass Cup Maker and place of manufacture unknown · Glass; H. 7.4 cm, diam. 7.3 cm (measurements as reported by The Paper) · 6th century · Gyeongju National Museum — A clear blue glass cup, its wall marked with thick upright lines and small circles.
  8. guide-horn-cup. Pottery Horn Cup with Openwork Stemmed Tray Silla (maker unknown) · Pottery; H. 17.0 cm · Silla, 6th century · Gyeongju National Museum — A pointed horn cup resting on a tall stand pierced with openings.
  9. guide-roof-tile. Roof-end Tile with Beast-mask Design Unified Silla (maker unknown) · Fired-clay roof tile; H. 27.7 cm, W. 23.3 cm, thickness 7.0 cm · Unified Silla, 7th–8th century · Gyeongju National Museum — A glaring, fanged beast’s face that once guarded the end of a roof ridge.
  10. guide-sutra-case. Gilt-bronze Sutra Case Unified Silla (maker unknown) · Gilt bronze (per the museum’s description); L. 8.8 cm, W. 6.2 cm, H. 3.9 cm · Unified Silla, 9th century · National Museum of Korea — A little bronze box under 9 cm long, made to hold dharani sutras.
  11. guide-house-urn. House-shaped Pottery Funerary Container Unified Silla (maker unknown) · Pottery; H. 43.4 cm, roof L. 47.0 cm, W. 40.0 cm · Unified Silla, 8th century · National Museum of Korea — A tiled house with a hip-and-gable roof, made to hold a person’s ashes.

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