After several years of preparation, the International Consortium for Research in the Humanities at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, in cooperation with the Institute of History at the University of Münster, has achieved a milestone in the transcultural study of divination and prognostication.
Oracle bones. Inscribed turtle bones. Bing Bian 207-208.
Germanisches Nationalmuseum
Author: Dr. R. Scheuermann, IKGF (The International Consortium for Research in the Humanities "Fate, Freedom and Prognostication")
Recently, the exhibition “Zeichen der Zukunft. Wahrsagen in Ostasien und Europa. Signs of the Future. Divination in East Asia and Europe”, which has been initiated by the Consortium and displays 130 extraordinary objects from the National Museum of Taiwan History, the Academia Sinica, and the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, has been virtually opened to the public. Covering both Europe and East Asia during a period spanning from the 13th century BCE (Chinese oracle bones) to the 21st century (European tarot cards), the exhibition allows visitors to explore and compare the history of divination through time and space. Through the cross-cultural comparison of instruments, methods, forms and practices of prognostics, it is a testimony to the interdisciplinary work pursued at the Consortium. We would like to invite you to join this journey by listening to the cross-cultural dialogue formed by 130 objects and, most crucially, to reflect on the question ‘What will the future bring?’
Homepage of the exhibition: The homepage shows you the Digital Story of the exhibition, featuring interactive images, videos and short descriptions.
Open Access of the bilingual catalogue: The catalogue is containing detailed entries on the 130 objects written by distinguished international experts. Should you have a chance to pay a visit to Nuremberg, Germany, the exhibition at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum will be opened for live tours from March 2021 until September 2021.
