British Museum exhibition reveals culture, power of Ming China(2)

"These inspired the form of the Chinese pieces," said Harrison-Hall, as she pointed out a Chinese incense burner whose form was exactly the same as that of a Middle Eastern candlestick, which had been displayed next to it to illustrate the remarkable connection of cultures.

These fusion forms came about in two ways -- first by commission from the emperor and second to meet the high fashion of the elite at the time.

"There was a fashion for foreign forms inspired by the Zheng He naval expeditions," said Harrison-Hall.

"Lots and lots of these vessels have wave borders, alluding perhaps to these ocean voyages," she said.

The martial prowess of court life -- necessary because China had only just thrown off the rule of the Mongols and was often engaged in continuing war with them -- is illustrated in a six-meter long scroll painting.

Harrison-Hall said these scenes show the sports courtiers would have engaged in to keep themselves fit for military service -- including archery, polo and the sports of football and golf, which pre-date the more familiar Western versions of the games by several hundred years.

Visitors will have the unusual opportunity to see a beautiful masterpiece scroll painting by Xia Chang (1399-1470) "Spring Rain on the Xiang River", which is unrolled and displayed to its full 11-meter length.

Such exquisite bamboo scrolls are rarely if ever displayed in full, usually they are rolled out to display one scene at a time. "They would rarely if ever be fully rolled out, to see all 11 meters of it is quite remarkable," explained Harrison-Hall.

The exhibition runs until January 15 next year.