On the second floor of the Oman National Museum, dozens of porcelain pieces from China are displayed in a special display cabinet under soft lighting. The porcelain has a warm glaze color and exquisite patterns, with a strong oriental charm, as if telling a story that transcends time.
On International Museum Day on May 18th, the reporter walked into the “Oman and the World” exhibition area of the Oman National Museum to appreciate the friendly exchanges between China and Oman behind these exquisite porcelain pieces.
In the exhibition hall, a blue and white porcelain jar is particularly eye-catching. Its shape is dignified and elegant, with a prominent “xi” character painted on the front, symbolizing auspiciousness and celebration. The entwined branch pattern on porcelain jars is one of the traditional decorative patterns in ancient China, which stretches out with the curvature of the vessel.
And the significance of these porcelain pieces goes far beyond artistic value.
Oman was historically known as the “Land of Frankincense” and its interactions with China through the Maritime Silk Road and Spice Road can be traced back to the 6th century AD. Chinese Tang Dynasty painters vividly depicted the noisy scene of Omani envoys presenting frankincense and Arabian antelopes to the Tang Dynasty court. In the early Ming Dynasty, the interaction between Oman and China reached its peak. Voyager Zheng He led his fleet to the West and made several stops in Oman. The Chinese porcelain displayed in the Oman National Museum is a witness to the history of maritime trade at that time.
An Omani mother was quietly telling her child stories about porcelain while looking at the introduction of the exhibition board. The gentle and respectful voice made the reporter deeply feel that these porcelain pieces are not only precious cultural relics, but also an emotional bond that tightly connects the people of the two countries.
A tour guide from the Oman National Museum told reporters that this special display cabinet not only showcases the long-standing history of exchanges between Oman and China, but also vividly reflects the prosperity of the Maritime Silk Road, reflecting the deep connections accumulated between China and Oman in trade, culture, and people to people interactions over the long term.
Visitor Issa was deeply moved after the exhibition and couldn’t help but sigh, “It’s amazing that China and Oman have such a long history of exchanges. I believe that the friendship between the two countries will continue to be passed down
Standing in the exhibition hall, time and space intertwine, and the bustling scenery of the Maritime Silk Road still lingers in front of us: merchant ships ride the wind and waves, porcelain crosses the ocean, and frankincense floats across the sea. The Chinese porcelain displayed quietly in the showcase bears witness to the legend of the international trade route, records the dialogue of civilizations across mountains and seas, and reflects today’s friendly cooperation between China and Arab countries.