Western Xia was founded in 1038, east to the Hexi Corridor stretch of the Silk Road. In its heyday, the territory of Western Xia covered what are now the entire Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, part of Gansu Province, Qinghai Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Shaanxi Province, and was said to have stretched east to the Yellow River, west to the Pass of the Jade Gate, south to the Xiao Pass and north to the Gobi Desert. Over 190 years under the reigns of ten rulers, Western Xia formed a tripartite division with Northern Song and Liao in its early stage, and it confronted Southern Song and Great Jin later. The dust of history has buried the once prosperous ancient civilization. Not until the 20th century were its documents and relics discovered in great numbers and did they re-appear to demonstrate people’s wisdom from Western Xia.

The Macao Museum and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Museum jointly organize a special exhibition “Reminiscences of the Silk Road — Exhibition of Cultural Relics of the Western Xia Dynasty” to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to China. This themed exhibition of the Western Xia relics primarily showcases the archaeological finds about the Western Xia. A fine selection of 148 pieces (sets) of relic offers a compendious interpretation of the Western Xia civilization. Some rare items make their first appearances outside the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The cultural heritage from Western Xia includes its language and printing, Buddhist scriptures and statues, also the goldwares, woodwares and glazed potteries of its artistry, as well as wadang eaves tiles and stone statues of its architecture. The display of the language, Buddhism, artistry and architecture of Western Xia offers an appreciation of the unique and splendid civilization. The culture of Western Xia constitutes an important part of the Silk Road culture, and its historical significance is worth in-depth comprehensions and interpretations so as to gain new inspirations. The exhibition of the valuable relics from Western Xia deepens our understanding of the historical background of the Belt and Road Initiative that also brings us to explore its important significance to modern and contemporary development.