a town of a
half-million people, looks much like any other large town until
you get down around the government center. Here we found spacious
lawns bordered by bountiful flower beds. Mixed into the landscape
were several old picturesque buildings which obviously had been
standing a lot longer than the surrounding government support
structures. One of these ancient masterpieces housed the Royal
Ontario Museum which was the target of this days adventure. We
found the entryway expansive with a bright gold inlaid ceiling
supporting a massive
stain-glass window that would have looked back
out onto the front steps. There were four floors to examine, each
with its own theme. We wandered through the first floor where I
found a room which displayed many precious artifacts and
sculptures of ancient China. Although for the most part the
museum was static in nature, it possessed some of the rarest of
treasures. Along with the sealed glass cases were a wondrous
amount of information on placards. While observing a detailed
carved model of a typical Chinese house we learned that many
features of the Chinese house, including the size and
decorations,
were determined not by the occupant's wealth or
taste, but by his rank in society. A person's rank dictated the
style of house in which he lived, the clothing that he wore and
the size of tomb in which he was buried. Imperial statutes (laws)
ensured that he lived in the manner appropriate to his rank. In
China, rank was conferred by the emperor, on anyone who passed
the civil service examinations. Rank was also bestowed for
personal merit. Among noble families rank could also be
inherited. The figurines were spectacular. I found that the ever
present glass cage affected both lighting and focus on such
objects as a glazed earthenware of a guardian warrior (Lokopala)
from the Tang Dynasty (695 AD-715 AD). The artifacts came in
every shape and size. We found a large collection of very ornate
miniature snuff bottles with magnificent micro-carvings 
of
every description. Such possessions were the sign of those with
rank. Of course snuff was a late introduction into the Chinese
culture. This particular bottle dates to Tang Dynasty of the 7th
to 9th century. In a display on how artifacts were packaged
against breakage, we found the most delightful head from a 12
foot guardian diety again from the Tang Dynasty. This was a great
model for the head on a walking stick and has been added to my
collection of things to do.On the second floor of the museum we found the Life Sciences. Every bit as complex and detailed as the best of natural history museums that we had visited. There were several skeletons of those imposing dinosaurs, castings only unfortunately.
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