The peak of the exhibition
The theme of the fourth area is "applied aesthetics." Information is presented on how jade was worn and used by the emperors Qin Shi Huang and Tang Taizong and by Qing-Dynasty empresses. This brings out the connections between jade and the Chinese way of life, and recalls the aphorism, from the Book of Rites, that the superior man always keeps jade with him to remind him of virtue and divert him from unworthiness in his everyday behavior.
Tan relates that in ancient times the nobility often had jade shoulder clasps with cloud motifs, or small jade bangles or beads, embroidered into the lower hem of a long robe or dress. Besides simply looking nice, these objects were also functional, serving to pin clothes together or keep the hems of robes or skirts from flying in the wind. This area of Aurora's pavilion is packed with fun facts of this kind that illustrate the day-to-day practice of historical culture.
The fifth and last exhibition area punctuates the pavilion with a 2.5 ton "jade mountain." This term describes a large lump of jade carved to retain the shape of a natural setting (like a mountain or boulder) with figures of people, animals, or plants.
The provenance of the Aurora Pavilion's "jade mountain" is far from ordinary. In its original incarnation it was a large piece of deep green "Mi" jade from Henan Province, found in the 1960s. (Internationally this type is often known as "Henan jade" or "Mi County jade.") In China, it is considered one of the "four renowned types of jade," alongside Tian (or Hetian) jade from Xinjiang, Xiu (or Xiuyan) jade from Liaoning, and Dushan jade, also from Henan. They are divided by hue into green, red, white, and black varieties, with deep green being the most highly valued.
The work on display commemorates the first-ever ascent of the north face of Mt. Everest, achieved by a Chinese mountaineering team in 1960. A few years after the event, the mainland authorities invited 13 top-level jade sculptors to create this massive piece, which took three-and-a-half years to complete, illustrating the struggle of the team members against the Himalayas. With the jade texture and colors fully exploited to represent mountains and snow, the resulting image is vivid and realistic. When former PRC premier Zhou Enlai visited its exhibition, accompanied by US president Richard Nixon, in 1972, he proclaimed it to be a "national treasure."
In addition, examples of the medals awarded during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which are inlaid with jade, are also on display here. Visitors can get an up-close and personal look at the stylishness of these first-ever medals in Olympic history to combine the splendors of this precious stone with the precious metals of gold, silver, and bronze.
When you leave the five exhibition areas, there are three "Aurora robots" that can sing, dance, and converse interactively, to say farewell to visitors. "From ancient culture you can walk through to modern technology, putting a perfect ending to the visit." Tan describes this journey through time and space that combines ancient and modern as "certain to provide endless memories."
As the first ever Taiwanese firm to have its own pavilion at a World's Fair, the Aurora Group brings with it a cultural commitment of nearly half a century. Although you won't find a single object on display related to office furniture or equipment, the pavilion's elegance somehow percolates into your brain and creates quite an aura for Aurora. This may very well be the best kind of marketing of all!
(right) A 2.5 ton "jade mountain" in the Aurora Pavilion commemorates the first ever ascent of the north face of Everest, achieved by a Chinese team in 1960. It is an impressive and evocative work.