An exhibition featuring traditional Chinese wooden plaques is currently on display at the Liaoning Provincial Museum in Shenyang, Liaoning province, running through July 29. The exhibition, titled "Emblems of Virtue: Exhibition of Plaque Artifacts," presents 76 intricately carved plaques from the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. These artifacts, sourced from the Shenzhen Museum in Guangdong province, predominantly originate from Hakka regions in Fujian, Guangdong, and Jiangxi provinces.

These wooden plaques, known as bian’e, were typically hung above door lintels and beneath eaves in traditional Chinese architecture, including halls, chambers, pavilions, and terraces. They held significant cultural and social meaning, reflecting the artistic excellence and moral values of their time.

Boasting a history spanning more than 2,000 years, these plaques integrate multiple facets of Chinese culture, including poetry, prose, calligraphy, seal carving, lacquer craftsmanship, architectural art, and folk traditions. According to Wang Zhonghua, director of the academic research department at the Liaoning Provincial Museum, the inscriptions use concise, classical language to convey moral virtues and personal ideals rooted in Confucian philosophy. The plaques often feature regular and running script calligraphy emphasizing refined brushwork and stylistic elegance typical of ancient Chinese scholars.

Plaques bearing names ending in "tang" (hall) or "di" (residence) were closely tied to clans or families, reinforcing social status and family honor. Hall name plaques were often placed in studies or main halls to express personal aspirations, in ancestral halls to declare lineage, or above shops to attract customers with auspicious messages. In contrast, residence name plaques were displayed at entrances or within mansions mostly to denote a family member's identity or official rank.

Among the exhibits is a plaque inscribed with "yinyi tang," with characters derived from The Analects (Lunyu), signifying the hope for harmony and close bonds among brothers within the household. Other plaques commemorate scholarly titles earned through the imperial examination system––such as jinshi, denoting those who passed the final stage––or serve as honors from local officials or clans recognizing literary talent and achievements.

Plaques celebrating longevity were common among the gentry and influential families, often inscribed with quotations from classical texts praising virtue or wishing health and long life. During the Ming and Qing periods, plaques presented by local authorities or social elites also functioned to commend individual or family virtues, aiming to promote Confucian ethical models and strengthen communal values.

One notable piece in the exhibition is a large red-lacquered plaque with gold characters reading "ming bozhe ci" ("fame spreads to western Zhejiang"). Calligraphed by Wang Jie, a Qing Dynasty scholar-official, and awarded to Ling Menglong, an assistant county magistrate in Zhejiang, this plaque highlights Ling’s reputation for diligent governance and public service, a distinction considered unusual given the disparity in official rank.

The exhibition is jointly organized by the Liaoning Provincial Museum and the Shenzhen Museum. It seeks to foster appreciation of traditional Chinese culture by showcasing core values such as loyalty, filial piety, virtue, and respect for learning and elders. By presenting these plaques outside their original architectural settings, the exhibition invites visitors to engage more directly with their aesthetic, cultural, and intellectual significance.