낙양 주왕성천자가육박물관 / 洛陽周王城天子駕六博物館

Luoyang Zhouwangcheng Emperor Six Horses Carriage Museum / 洛陽周王城天子駕六博物館 / 낙양 주왕성천자가육박물관

주 / 왕성 / 천자 / 가육 / 박물관이라 읽는다. 

영문 표기에서는 혼란이 있는데, 아래에 소개하는 Museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits 라는 표현이 실은 실상은 더 잘 반영한다. 

앞에 소개한 절강 항주 과호교유지박물관이 수중박물관인데 견주어 이것은 낙양의 東周시대 마차 순마갱을 그대로 지하에 보존한 지하박물관이다. 박물관 위는 광장이다. 

먼저 좀 복잡한 듯한 이 박물관 이름을 풀면 낙양에 소재하는 주周왕조 왕성王城의 천자天子가 타는 여섯마리 말이 끄는[駕六] 수레를 말한다. 

낙양 시내 중심가에 위치하는 동주왕성광장東周王城廣場의 동주왕성유지東周王城遺址區의 동북쪽에 해당한다. 

이곳에서는 동주시대 대형 거마갱車馬坑이 발견되었으니, 이를 전문 전시하기 위한 시설이라, 이를 중심으로 동주시대 왕성은 어떠했는지, 이곳 발굴성과 전반, 그리고 이 시대 왕성 왕릉 옥기를 같은 공간에서 배열해 정리한다. 

Museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits

The Museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits is seated under the Eastern Zhou Imperial City Square, on the original site of the ancient capital of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 – 256 B.C.). The museum has two exhibition halls. One houses a one-of-a-kind chariot with the skeletons of six horses lying in front of it, which was exclusive to emperors according to historical materials. The other one presents the profiles of the imperial city and other cultural relics of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.     

Exhibition One – Uncovered Historical Relics

The first exhibition is divided into four parts. The first part is a huge picture showing the locations of the five ancient capitals in Luoyang; visitors can have an overall knowledge of the imperial city by viewing the second part; the process and results of the excavation of the imperial mausoleum can be witnessed in the third part; and the fourth part exhibits numerous historical relics of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, such as potteries and bronze wares.

 

Exhibition Two – Chariots Pits

The second exhibition is the most distinctive place in the Museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits with two pits on display, among which the northern one is worth careful admiration. This one is the largest pit among all pits discovered in Luoyang, with a length of 42.6 meters (46.6 yards) and a width of 7.4 meters (8.1 yards). The remnants of chariots form into two rows, while the remains of a number of dogs are scattered in the pit. Among them, the relic of the emperor’s carriage drawn by six horses is regarded as the most important highlight. It is said that only emperors could enjoy such a luxurious treatment. It is the world’s only site to demonstrate the carriage fleet of the emperor over 2,200 years ago. This pit presents the furious scene of animal sacrifices.

If you want to know more about the chariot pits of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, there is a branch museum 500 meters (550 yards) away from the Museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits. You can see three carriages and ten horses in the two adjoining chariot pits. There is a six-horse chariot in the southern pit that is different from the one in the main site, with two horses lying in front of another four. This kind of arrangement is rarely seen in other sacrificial pits in China.

How to get to Museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits

Take bus line 4, K5, 36, K40, 48, K50, 52, K56, 77, 81, 98, and 103, and get off at Wangcheng Guangchang Station to find the main site. Walk westwards along West Tanggong Road for 500 meters (550 yards) to the branch site. 

 

Admission Fee

The main site: CNY 30;

Free for children under 1.4 meters (4.6 feet)

The branch site: CNY 10

Join ticket : CNY 35

Opening Hours 8:30 – 18:30 

(from https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/henan/luoyang/zhou-horse-museum.htm )