While walking excitedly to watch the famous HK Rugby 7s at the new Kai Tak stadium in Hong Kong last year, I was distracted by a display of Song-Yuan ceramics on display at the concourse of Sung Wong Toi MTR station.
Sung Wong Toi is allegedly the place where the last Southern Song emperor stayed when he escaped from the Mongol invasion. During the construction of the Sung Wong Toi station in 2012 to 2015, a vast quantity of Song and Yuan artifacts were excavated and studied by archaeologists.
More than 500 pieces, covering celadon , Qingbai and Cizhou ware have been on display. There are also writing tools and bronze coins.
The ceramics cover jars, meipings, ewers, tea bowls, kendi, incense burners, bowls and dishes – some were pieced together and some were displayed as sherds showing different designs. Some had stamps or inscriptions, which give valuable clues on their origins and use.
Stop by and look at these ceramic displays next time you take the MRT in Hong Kong.
Contributed by Ida Chow
