The most impressive of the numerous art exhibitions taking place this summer to celebrate South Korea and Japan's co-hosting of the World Cup soccer finals opened on Tuesday at Ueno's Tokyo National Museum. "The Dynastic Heritage of Korea," running June 11 to July 28, is the largest exhibition ever held outside Korea of the country's dynastic treasures. Showcasing some 270 works of art dating from 3,000 B.C. to the 20th century, the display includes Buddhist sculptures, ceramics, paintings, textiles, furniture, jewelry and calligraphy.

The remarkable quality of the items on show is matched only by the historical breadth they span -- the earliest pieces displayed are examples of earthenware dating back to the Neolithic Age, 5,000 years ago. The story of Korea's history is told through its artifacts: ritual objects from the Bronze Age (1,000-300 B.C.), gold ornaments of the Three Kingdoms Period (313-668), Buddhist sculptures made during the Unified Silla Period (668-935), celadon ware dating from the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) and paintings from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

One of the earliest great cultures of Korea was that of the Three Kingdoms Period, characterized by gold ornaments made to adorn its royalty. The dazzling items shown here -- including crowns, belts, necklaces, bracelets and earrings -- were excavated from royal tombs of each of the Three Kingdoms: Koguryo, Paekche, and Silla. These masterful pieces remind us of the supreme power of the early kings and also reveal the many cultural influences received and transmitted by the peoples of Korea.