On December 22, an exhibition titled "Awaken the Future: Treasures and Suspended Sculptures of Xiaoxitian Temple" opened at the National Library of China (National Museum of Classic Books). This ticketed exhibition is scheduled to run until May 8, 2026.

Located in Xi County, Shanxi Province, Xiaoxitian is a popular site which offered inspiration for the game "Black Myth: Wukong". Originally named Qianfo'an (千佛庵, which literally means "a temple of 1,000 Buddhas"), it is renowned for preserving 1,978 Ming Dynasty sculptures and is hailed as the "Museum of Chinese Suspended Sculptures".

The exhibition marks the first systematic academic sorting and public display of Xiaoxitian's historical artifacts, featuring 50 sets comprising 84 precious items. These include significant temple inscriptions, exquisite gilt bronze statues produced during the Ming and Qing dynasties, rare editions of Yongle Northern Tripitaka (永乐北藏), and fragments of suspended sculptures. The exhibits span a broad, uninterrupted chronological range, with most items being displayed publicly for the first time.

Selected volumes from Yongle Northern Tripitaka are also showcased, marking the first public display of Xiaoxitian's collection of this canon. Yongle Northern Tripitaka is an edition of the Chinese Buddhist Canon, edited and revised under the imperial commission. It preserves numerous Han Buddhist classics, which reflect the artistic characteristics of the Ming court while serving as an important artifact for studying China's history of ancient book printing. Visitors can also experience the printing process of the canon through an interactive woodblock printing simulation device.

The Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿) in Xiaoxitian will be fully recreated through digital technologies. By wearing VR glasses, visitors will be able to see both the overall layout and intricate details of this building and its sculptures. Also, through multiple interaction points powered by a gesture recognition technology, visitors can bring the static sculptures to life and learn more about the art of suspended sculptures. Additionally, visitors can engage in dialogue with a hyper-realistic virtual avatar of the Chan Master Dongming, the founder of Xiaoxitian.

During the opening hours, two public guided tours are offered daily, starting respectively at 9:30 and 13:30. The exhibition also features "cultural heritage workshops" combining the artistic features of Xiaoxitian, including traditional intangible cultural heritage items, ancient architectural model assembly, and traditional papermaking. Furthermore, the exhibition features several unique scenic spots and photo-taking areas, with nearly 60 free stamps for visitors to collect as souvenirs.

(Source: The Beijing News)