ZHENGZHOU.- A breathtaking journey through the heart of the ancient Maya world has just begun in China! On May 29, 2025, the spectacular exhibition "Mayas: Ceiba and Cosmos" officially opened its doors at the Henan Museum, inviting visitors to step into a universe woven from sacred trees and cosmic connections. This monumental display will enchant audiences until October 8.


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Imagine a giant tree, its roots reaching deep into the underworld, its mighty trunk connecting to our earthly realm, and its lush canopy touching the heavens. This isn't just any tree; it's the Ceiba, the sacred axis of the Mayan cosmos, and it's the guiding spirit of this incredible exhibition. Curators have masterfully brought this ancient concept to life, showcasing how every creature and every space in the Mayan universe is deeply intertwined with this profound natural architecture.

This groundbreaking exhibition is a collaboration between Mexico's Ministry of Culture, through its National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and Chinese partners, along with several prominent Mexican museums. Together, they've assembled a stunning collection of 206 authentic Mayan artifacts, making a powerful statement about cultural exchange and shared human heritage.

Visitors to the Henan Museum will be treated to a visual feast: delicate figurines from Jaina Island, mysterious incensarios from Palenque, exquisitely painted polychrome vessels, and striking faces adorned with elaborate headdresses and cranial deformations. Even a throne etched with ancient glyphs from Tortuguero and powerful atlantes from Chichén Itzá are on display, alongside dazzling reproductions of the Calakmul mask and a ceremonial pectoral.

Curators Alejandro González Villarruel, Natalia Gabayet González, and José Luis Rojas Martínez have crafted a narrative that begins with colonial accounts, moves through archaeological discoveries, and culminates with ethnographic insights, showing the enduring power of these ancient beliefs. "The Mayan universe is divided spatially, in sections that transcend Western Cartesian conceptions of time, materiality, and geography," the curatorial team explains, inviting visitors to see the world through a truly different lens.

After its premiere in Zhengzhou, this magnificent collection will embark on a tour, bringing the wonders of the Maya to the cities of Hebei and Shanxi, forging new bonds between distant cultures and proving that the echoes of ancient civilizations can still resonate across continents.


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