#北京 #中國 #China #Beijing | #紫禁城 #ForbiddenCity #January 2024 | #ForbiddenCityDairies -The Palace Museum #ForbiddenCity Collections of Chinese intangible cultural heritage. 24th December 2023- 4th January 2024….

kevinjamesngLeave a comment

On July 19th 2023 , the multilingual website of the Forbidden City Palace Museum- Beijing, China, People’s Republic of Chinawas officially released at the Digital Cultural Tourism Development Forum of the 2023 China Internet Civilization Conference! The website covers five languages: English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, and will meet the needs of audiences with different languages.

 The multilingual website of the Palace Museum is committed to establishing an international website that is concise, clear, easy to use for overseas audiences, and fits the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, including tour guides, information, panoramic tours, online exhibitions, collection appreciation, cultural topics, etc. Rich immersive content describing of the most detail collection that housed within the Forbidden City collection…. 

Qing, anonymous, baby play picture album page. The “Baby Play Pictures” album was created by a court painter. This page is one of the pages, depicting a scene of five children picking lotus flowers and playing in the water by a lotus pond, with the sun burning like fire in June. The author uses meticulous and rigorous brushwork and rich and gorgeous colors to humorously portray the naive, cute, lively and interesting image of the child. In particular, the staggering and unsteady steps of the child wearing crotchless pants when walking ashore are vividly depicted, showing the author’s keen observation. The expressive power of describing God through form.

The “embroidery patch” in the picture is also called “embroidery patch”, which refers to sewing a single piece of embroidered fabric onto the surface of the garment. The official costumes of the Qing Dynasty followed the embroidery ceremony system of official uniforms of the Ming Dynasty, and were standardized and expanded. According to the “Qing Dynasty Huidian”, civil servants should wear bird patterns, military officers should use animal patterns, and what kind of animal patterns should be used for each of the first to ninth ranks is also clearly stipulated.

Clothing habits in real life also affect the world of opera. Among the costumes and official clothes collected in the Forbidden City (Figures 7-9), there are many kinds of ornaments with exquisite patterns….

During the reign of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty, Shen Quan, Shen Shijie and Shen Shiru posted pictures of infant play. This painting contains auspicious meanings and was jointly painted by court painter Shen Quan and others. It depicts a scene of children paddling and playing in a pond with blooming lotus flowers. The lotus in the painting is not only a real scene, but also contains symbolic meaning. Through the plot of a boy playing with lotus, the homophonic pronunciation of “lotus” and “lian” is used to express the good wishes of having children in succession and having many children and grandchildren. This picture was originally a hanging painting on the wall of a palace. It not only decorated the interior space, but also conveyed the wish for many children and good fortune.

The moon flower of the eleventh month of the lunar calendar is the camellia blooming in the winter scenery of southern China. Camellia is a traditional famous flower in my country. It was first recorded in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. Because of its large and plump flowers, rich and bright colors, and its frost and snow resistance, it has been praised by literati in the past dynasties. Su Che even compared camellia with plum and chrysanthemum, two famous flowers, “the fragrance is gentle and fragrant, and the chrysanthemum is light on the cliff, and the plum blossoms are as beautiful as the mountains.

25th December 2023 At this moment,

During the reign of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty, Shen Zhenlin, a hundred sons presented an auspicious picture. According to the records of the Construction Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Qing Palace, on September 12, the 11th year of Tongzhi (1872), Emperor Tongzhi held a grand wedding ceremony in the Forbidden City. Previously, Emperor Tongzhi ordered the court painters Shen Zhenlin, Liang Derun, Zhang Kai and others of the Ruyi Pavilion to paint the “Picture of a Hundred Sons Presenting Auspiciousness” respectively on April 10th of that year, and hung it on the “﹁” on the entrance and exit of the Dongnuan Pavilion in the Kunning Palace Cave. “The curved ruler not only enhances the festive atmosphere of the wedding room, but also expresses the hope for the prosperity of the children through the pictures of a hundred children playing. This picture was carefully drawn by Shen Zhenlin, the leader of the Ruyi Pavilion. The main pattern of the painting is the Chinese character “囍” written in double hook lines. The two sides of the character “囍” are also painted with graceful floating silk ribbons, making the composition of the picture fuller and more varied. ; The outer surface of the character “囍” is painted with red cinnabar, which symbolizes joy and auspiciousness; the hollow space of the character “囍” is filled with the image of a hundred sons, and the ink calligraphy “a hundred sons are auspicious” is used to highlight the meaning of the painting.

Qing Tongzhi, red Baizi pattern damask quilt fabric. Not only did the emperors of the Qing Dynasty post the “Hundred Sons Picture” in the wedding room of the Forbidden City or in important palaces when they got married, they also often ordered the “Hundred Sons Picture” to be used as a decorative pattern on many handicrafts or daily necessities. , expressing the beautiful hope for the continuation of life. This is the damask fabric used by the royal family in the Qing Dynasty to keep warm and keep out the cold. In terms of pattern design, weavers cleverly express the auspicious and festive creative theme through the child’s lively and active posture, joyful demeanor and healthy and cute appearance: for example, the image of a child wearing a crown on his head holding a high crown in his hand means ” “Add official (crown) on top of official (crown)”; it looks like a boy playing with a lotus in his hand, which means “the lotus will give birth to a noble son”, etc. In addition, the fabric is also interspersed with auspicious patterns such as cranes, deer, chrysanthemums, pine and cypress, and Ganoderma lucidum that symbolize longevity, further expressing the pursuit and expectation of a happy life.

There are not only square embroidery patches used by civil and military officials, but also round and oval shapes, such as the dragon and python patches used by emperors, clan members, and others, as well as the “flower patches” on the clothes of concubines and official family members. . In addition to making a single piece of patchwork and sewing it separately, the special patterns of patchwork can also be directly embroidered on the clothes, called “back chest” or “chest back”.

Auspicious creatures, auspicious words, and flowers of the four seasons are wrapped in circular patterns, adding beauty to clothes and joy to life.

Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty, yellow satin embroidered gourd and hundred son picture pillow. The emperor used exquisite materials, and the patterns on this royal pillow all have auspicious meanings: for example, the gourd pattern is embroidered on the edge, which is homophonic to “Fu Lu”; the front of the pillow is embroidered with a boy pushing a wooden three-legged golden toad, which represents the Taoist “bang play” The allusion of “Golden Toad” means prosperity of wealth; the embroidered boy carries a long halberd with a chime on his shoulder, which uses the homophonic pronunciation of “halberd” and “chime” to express abundant auspiciousness and good things. Although “a hundred sons” is only an imaginary number, the emperor’s wish to sleep on it and realize many children, happiness and peace is sincere…

Guangxu, Qing Dynasty, red Nasha Baizi chart account. Nasha, also known as Naxiu, commonly known as stamped yarn, has a history of more than 2,000 years. It was very popular among the Qing royal family due to its strong decorative effect. Many royal garments, such as court robes, cloaks, dragon gowns, etc., are made of this kind of craftsmanship. The gauze tent shown in the picture is mainly in festive red color, with “囍” characters and traditional baby play patterns embroidered on it. The purpose of hoping for happy events and pursuing many children and blessings is obvious. It should be to celebrate the wedding. Made to order. The gauze tent was originally hung in the east room of Chuxiu Palace, one of the six west palaces in the Forbidden City. Empress Dowager Cixi once lived here after entering the palace in the second year of Xianfeng (1852). Four years later, Emperor Tongzhi Zaichun was born in the back hall of Chuxiu Palace.

The yellow-bellied tit is a unique bird species in China and a first-level protected bird in Beijing. Although it is small in size, the bright yellow color on its belly is very eye-catching, and its swollen little body looks soft and cute. They like to jump between branches or fly between the canopy. Except for the breeding period when they move in pairs or alone, in other periods they mostly move in groups on tall broad-leaved trees or coniferous trees, sometimes in mixed groups with other birds such as great tits. In the Forbidden City, it is easier to see groups of yellow-bellied tits in areas with trees in autumn and winter. When the weather gets warmer in the following spring, most of them leave and fly to the mountains to breed. Before winter comes, they fly to the hospital again to overwinter.

On December 28, 2023, the “Long March of National Treasures – Commemorative Exhibition of the Southward Relocation of the Forbidden City Cultural Relics” jointly launched by the Palace Museum and People’s Daily’s “National Humanities and History” magazine opened at the Shanghai History Museum. The exhibition mainly focuses on the historical materials and research results of the relocation of the Forbidden City cultural relics to the south. It returns to Shanghai, the first stop city for the relocation of the Forbidden City cultural relics to the south. Through “the national treasure’s journey southward in the beacon smoke”, “the reappearance of ancient relics in Shanghai for four years” and “the cultural context continues to flourish”. The three units “Endless” reproduce the historical memory of the relocation of cultural relics from the Forbidden City to the south, leading the audience into a time and space dialogue spanning 90 years. This exhibition will last until March 29, 2024.

29th December 2023 It’s the last Friday of 2023! The blank space in the future is waiting for you to fill it with your wishes for 2024….

Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, red satin embroidered door curtain with a picture of a hundred sons. The Qing royal family’s most fervent wish was to “integrate the family and the country” and have many children and grandchildren to protect the country forever. Therefore, the royal family often uses auspicious paintings to express their pursuit of prosperity, health and longevity for their children. This phenomenon can be seen everywhere in the decoration of royal objects. This door curtain was originally hung in the Chuxiu Palace, and represents various game activities of children in rockeries, lakes, pavilions, pavilions, and waterside gardens, playing chess, and traveling in cars. The embroidery workers used exquisite craftsmanship to freeze the children’s joy and the royal family’s hope for descendants on this door curtain, which is both a practical product and a work of art.

Purple Forbidden Yaji- January wallpapers are now online. As the New Year is approaching, appreciate the tranquility of the snow-capped mountains, the lifelike bamboo sparrows in the painting, and the vigorous dragon pattern on the bottle. Go to the official website to download high-definition wallpapers in various formats and sizes,

“Little cat head” and “pointy cat ears”, this is not a cute kitten, but a “ding” that means everything!

“Ding” is a typical pictographic character, with the bottom being the tripod’s feet, the middle being the tripod’s belly, and the top “cat ears” being the two ears of the tripod. Originally, the tripod was used as a food vessel, and people used it to cook or hold food. Later, the tripod gradually became one of the most important ritual vessels for noble banquets, sacrifices and other ritual activities. Together with the bronze bell, it formed the “bell ringing tripod food”. It is said that Yu cast the Jiuding, which symbolizes the Kyushu, so the Jiuding has become an important weapon of the country, symbolizing the supreme power.

31st December 2023 Bid farewell to the last sunset of the year and head towards the grandeur of the new year. Goodbye, 2023…

1st January 2024 Hello January! Hello, the first ray of sunshine in 2024!

2024 has arrived as promised, and the Palace Museum welcomed the first batch of visitors in the new year. The leaders of the hospital arrived in front of the Meridian Gate early, presented the brand new 2024 “Forbidden City Calendar” to the first visitors to the hospital, and sent New Year blessings to everyone. In the new year, the Palace Museum will continue to accompany you. I wish you happiness and good health in the new year and all seasons!

2nd January 2024 good morning! Welcome the first working day of 2024 with full energy..

Spring and Autumn Period, bronze dragon-eared gui. Bronze Gui is not only a container for holding food, but also a ritual vessel for feasts and sacrifices. It appeared in the Shang Dynasty, became popular from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period, and gradually disappeared during the Warring States Period. Gui can be either round or square. In the early stage, it had no ears. In the later stage, it appeared with two, three or even four ears. They often appear in even numbers and are used in conjunction with odd-numbered tripods. Usually the emperor has nine tripods and eight guis, the princes have seven tripods and six guis, and the ministers have five tripods…

Warring States Period, jade carved dragon-shaped pendant. The jade pendant is in the shape of a sheet, in the shape of a dragon, with the same pattern on both sides. The dragon bends down and looks back. There is a large bird on its tail, and a small bird is carved on the inside and outside of its neck and tail. The dragon’s body is fully decorated with grain patterns and has a round hole in the middle. This vessel was unearthed from a Chu tomb during the Warring States Period in Yanggong Township, Changfeng County, Anhui Province. A total of two jade pendants were unearthed at the same time. They were similar in shape and were placed on the left and right sides of the human pelvis. They should be part of a group of jade pendants. Its size reaches more than 20 centimeters, and its body is large and finely crafted, showing the noble status of the owner of the tomb. This conjoined dragon and phoenix pendant is a unique shape among the jade wares of the Warring States Period. It has exquisite curves and exaggerated techniques, reflecting the rich imagination of the maker…

Han Dynasty, jade carvings with three dragon patterns. The shape of the jade is slightly circular, flat body, with the same decoration on both sides. The carving is three intertwined dragons, and is partially decorated with low relief and incised fine lines. The seemingly complicated interspersed changes without losing the neat geometric rhythm reflect the beauty of smart curves. This type of jade ornament is more common in jade wares of the Han Dynasty and is a kind of ornament. This jade is of bright white quality and meticulously carved. It is a piece of high craftsmanship…

Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, scholars who passed the tribute examination in their hometowns were sent to Beijing by their prefectures and counties to participate in the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites, which was called “Fa Jie” or “Jie” for short. Therefore, experts believe that this is an institution that handles examination procedures for candidates. People dressed as Confucian scholars gathered around an old man. With his focused expression, he might have just handed over the materials and were inquiring about the exam information! In addition, some scholars believe that this place was a pawn shop, bookstore, fortune-telling stall, etc.

Images and visuals are from – Forbidden City –Palace Museum Beijing- China –People’s Republic of China…..

#北京 #中國 #China #Beijing | #紫禁城 #ForbiddenCity #December2023 | #ForbiddenCityDairies -The Palace Museum #ForbiddenCity Collections of Chinese intangible cultural heritage.  22nd – 24th December 2023…. Winters Snow of 2023

kevinjamesngLeave a comment

On July 19th 2023 , the multilingual website of the Forbidden City Palace Museum- Beijing, China, People’s Republic of Chinawas officially released at the Digital Cultural Tourism Development Forum of the 2023 China Internet Civilization Conference! The website covers five languages: English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, and will meet the needs of audiences with different languages.

 The multilingual website of the Palace Museum is committed to establishing an international website that is concise, clear, easy to use for overseas audiences, and fits the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, including tour guides, information, panoramic tours, online exhibitions, collection appreciation, cultural topics, etc. Rich immersive content describing of the most detail collection that housed within the Forbidden City collection…. 

Dyeing, powdering, and drawing different patterns on various colours of silk can be used as writing materials. The silk paper without writing is already beautiful!

Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, Jin Tingbiao, and the scroll of the baby’s play. This picture was created by Jin Tingbiao, a court painter of the Qianlong Dynasty, and depicts a scene of children playing in the countryside. Some of the childish and lively children picked flowers, and some competed in “grass fighting” by pulling the stems of flowers and plants together. The children’s naughty expressions are fully displayed, and the cheerful atmosphere overflows the picture. Emperor Qianlong, who was looking forward to having many children and grandchildren, was very satisfied with this picture and wrote an imperial poem on it: “Weeping poplars, strange stones, and luxuriant grass, red and green baskets are pouring out to fight against each other. The heart of a child loves business, and the famous saying is that there is a stream of water in the river.” “He also stamped more than ten square seals and included the picture in “Shiqu Baoji” to show his love.

冬至 At the winter solstice, Yang is born, and the sundial begins to grow. Today Winter solstice , the wall tiles, eaves corners, and plaques of a city are lit up with warmth, and we can’t help but look forward to the coming of the New Year….

Qianlong Qing Dynasty, anonymous, Kesi Sanduo Youqing Picture Scroll (partial). “Three mores” refers to many descendants, more blessings, and longer life. Having these “three mores” at the same time is truly a blessing in life, so “three mores are celebrated” has become a traditional blessing. In this tapestry scroll with its warp and weft cut through, the craftsman cleverly displayed the theme of “three mores” in the way of children playing: the children gathered together represent “many children”; the red bats flying in the sky allude to “the flood”. (Red) Fu (bat) Qitian” means “many blessings”; the boy holds longevity peaches in his hands, which represents “many lifespan”; and at the end of the scroll, there is a boy lifting a hammer to strike a chime, which means “chime” is homophonic to “celebration”, which completely completes the whole story. It expresses the creative theme of “three more times bring celebration”.

The pearl-necked turtle dove is a small wild resident bird of the family Dove and Columbidae that is common in cities, and is also one of the most common birds in the Forbidden City. The sides of their necks are black and densely covered with white spots, like many “pearls” scattered around their necks. This feature is only found after the Pearl-necked Turtle Dove reaches adulthood, so it can also be regarded as their “coming-of-age ceremony”.

Sun Zhiwei, a poet in the early Qing Dynasty, said in his poem “Doves in the Rain”: “The sun rises in the southeast corner, and the pigeon calls his wife.” “Banjiu” means “turtle dove”. The poem depicts a turtle dove and its partner staying together and inseparable. Pearl-necked turtle doves are usually monogamous and behave respectfully in daily life. They breed once a year, and the breeding period is from May to July. Usually the male bird first looks for a location, and then takes the female bird to choose a place that both parties think is suitable, and then build a nest with branches.

Qing, anonymous, baby play picture album page. The “Baby Play Pictures” album was created by a court painter. This page is one of the pages, depicting a scene of five children picking lotus flowers and playing in the water by a lotus pond, with the sun burning like fire in June. The author uses meticulous and rigorous writing and rich and gorgeous colors to humorously depict the cute, lively and interesting image of children. In particular, the staggering and unsteady steps of children wearing crotchless pants when walking ashore are vividly depicted, showing the author’s keen observation. The expressive power of describing God through form…

Images and visuals are from – Forbidden City –Palace Museum Beijing- China –People’s Republic of China…..

#北京 #中國 #China #Beijing | #紫禁城 #ForbiddenCity #December2023 | #ForbiddenCityDairies -The Palace Museum #ForbiddenCity Collections of Chinese intangible cultural heritage.  – 13th- 21st  December 2023 winters snow …..

kevinjamesngLeave a comment

On July 19th 2023 , the multilingual website of the Forbidden City Palace Museum- Beijing, China, People’s Republic of Chinawas officially released at the Digital Cultural Tourism Development Forum of the 2023 China Internet Civilization Conference! The website covers five languages: English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, and will meet the needs of audiences with different languages.

 The multilingual website of the Palace Museum is committed to establishing an international website that is concise, clear, easy to use for overseas audiences, and fits the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, including tour guides, information, panoramic tours, online exhibitions, collection appreciation, cultural topics, etc. Rich immersive content describing of the most detail collection that housed within the Forbidden City collection…. 

Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty, anonymous, portrait of Empress Xiaoqinxian in auspicious clothes. Empress Xiao Qinxian (1835-1908), the Empress Dowager Cixi, commonly known as the Queen Mother of the West, entered the palace in the second year of Xianfeng (1852) and was given the title Lan Guiren. In the eleventh year of Xianfeng (1861), his son Zaichun became the successor emperor, namely Emperor Mu Zong Tongzhi. Mother is more precious than child, and she is revered as the Holy Mother Queen Mother. In the nearly fifty years of Tongzhi and Guangxu dynasties, she listened to politics behind the curtain several times. This picture depicts Empress Xiao Qinxian relaxing outdoors alone

13th December 2023 The flying snow is silent, and the sky and earth are vast.

14th December 2023 – A group of red walls and white snow send everyone a limited-time winter good morning. The snowfall in Beijing is still continuing today. Everyone must slide carefully when traveling and pay attention to safety!

The image axis of Xuanwei Riyong, the queen of Xiaozhenxian, who was anonymous in Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty. Empress Xiaozhenxian (1837-1881), the Empress Dowager Ci’an, commonly known as the Empress Dowager of the East, was deeply loved by Emperor Xianfeng for her gentle personality. She entered the palace in February of the second year of Xianfeng (1852) and was granted the title of concubine. In May, she was promoted to Concubine Zhen, and in October she was enshrined as Queen. In the picture, she looks dignified, sitting calmly and calmly in a courtyard with blooming peonies. The four characters “Xuanwei Riyong” were inscribed by Emperor Tongzhi. The brushwork throughout the painting is neat and precise, the portraits are vivid and expressive, and the clothes are realistically depicted, leaving important image data for understanding the appearance of Empress Xiao Zhenxian when she was young.

I don’t know if the raindrops in the courtyard have fallen this morning, but I suspect that the forest flowers bloomed last night.

On the 14th December 2023 It snowed for two full days, meeting all our expectations for a snowy day. What winter wishes do you have yet to come true? willing____________.

There are flowers dancing outside the eaves, and the feeling of winter is deep in front of the window.

15th December 2023 Good morning on a Snowy Forbidden City Morning ..

Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, unknown, scroll of Emperor Qianlong enjoying himself during his reign. The Qing Dynasty continued the tradition of the Han nation’s isomorphism of the country and the country. As the ruler, the Qing royal family often ordered painters or craftsmen to express lively scenes of baby play or to show them and their children together through painting, weaving, embroidery, sculpture and other artistic means in order to express their good wishes of having children and grandchildren around their knees. warm time. This picture depicts the scene of Qianlong Emperor Hongli holding his young son in his arms and watching the royal children lighting firecrackers in the palace garden to celebrate New Year’s Day. Emperor Qianlong’s gentle demeanor showed his paternal side besides being an emperor, making the picture full of infinite love and tenderness.

Qing Qianlong, Jia Quan, etc., the character pictures are posted. This hanging painting was painted by Jia Quan, a court painter of the Qianlong Dynasty, and others. It was used as an interior decoration painting and was posted in the Yucuixuan in the Ningshou Palace Garden (commonly known as the Qianlong Garden) in the Forbidden City. Yucuixuan was built in the thirty-seventh year of Qianlong’s reign (1772). The pavilion is divided into three rooms with 槅 fans. This picture is posted on the back eaves wall of the main room. This picture shows the indoor leisure life of concubines and royal family members enjoying themselves in early spring. The cheerful atmosphere dispels the chill and expresses the royal family’s good wishes for the happiness and peace of the people in the world. As the couplet on the picture says: “Hundreds of millions of people live longer, and a peaceful year brings a peaceful spring.

Qianlong, Fugui, and Sui Dynasty axis of the Qing Dynasty. New Year’s Day is New Year’s Day. At the beginning of the new year, people celebrate in various ways. From the inscription “Chen Fu Gui Gong Painting” on this picture, we can know that this picture was a work dedicated to Emperor Qianlong by the court painter Fu Gui. He cleverly used the theme of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new year as the theme. By depicting children wearing colorful beaded shoes, colorful crane cloaks, playing musical instruments, skating, setting off firecrackers and other lively scenes, he expressed his hope for the prosperity of the royal descendants and the prosperity of the hundred sons. Sincere blessings…

Have you ever wondered why the electric ironing tools we use in our daily lives are called “irons”? Because its initial form is “fighting”! Our country has been using irons for more than 2,000 years. A copper bucket-shaped container has a built-in charcoal fire, and the iron can be pressed from above to smooth the fabric. As time goes by, the style of irons continues to change. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, an iron with its own “storage” base appeared. When not in use, the handle can be inserted back into the base, which is another exquisite decoration in the house; in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there were also A “portable” iron with a long handle that can be folded appeared; in addition, heating the soldering iron tip directly in the fire is also a way to use the iron. Although the shape is constantly changing, the name “iron” is still used today, fulfilling the mission of “mediating the yang and harmony in the sky, flattening the beauty and fragrance of the world”, and “ironing” our beautiful life.

During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, there was a case of a colorful treasure. The top of the carved treasure case is in the shape of a rectangular plate, with a girdle underneath and double Kui patterns decorated with flowers between the tooth bars and horizontal beams. It has four curved legs and a square foot with mud support. The paint colors are red, yellow and green, and the surface is carved with a garden corridor. In the middle is a giant gourd with the word “大吉” and eight treasure patterns on it. There are many children around the gourd, holding flags, carrying lanterns, holding halberds and chimes, beating gongs and drums, watching calligraphy, or riding elephants. Most of them are scenes with auspicious meanings such as dramatic plots or treasure maps. interpretation. The bottom of the case is painted with black lacquer and is engraved with the name “Da Ji Bao Case” and the inscription “Made in the Qianlong Year” in gold.

In the mid-Qing Dynasty, ivory carvings flourished. The work is carved from ivory into a simulated pomegranate shape. The outer wall is divided into five petals. There is a mechanism on the top and a living axis on the bottom, which can be opened and closed freely. When closed, it looks like a complete pomegranate, with the skin dyed and lightly engraved with flowers and butterflies. When opened, it looks like a blooming flower. The inner wall is embossed with bat-flowing cloud patterns, and the bats are dyed red, which is homophonic to “Hongfu”. In the center is a round platform with carved railings on the edge. There is a two-story pavilion inside, which is exquisite and clear. Many characters are divided into several groups: some hold umbrellas and flags, as if they are traveling as ceremonial guards; some climb poles, perform horse tricks, and play lions, performing a variety of acrobatics; some pay homage, offer incense, and chat with each other… it is lively. street market scene. The craftsmanship is extremely exquisite and has a considerable degree of micro-carving. The pomegranate has many seeds, which means the pomegranate will bloom with hundreds of seeds. It is a common theme in the crafts of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the Work Documents of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Qing Dynasty, there are related records of the “ivory ashes-colored durian box with a hundred seeds” in the Yongzheng period; in the forty-fifth year of Qianlong’s reign (1780), the toothsmith Huang Zhao painted a paper pattern of “a hundred pomegranates opened in ivory” by another The toothsmith Yang Youqing made it; in the 15th year of Jiaqing (1810), the toothsmith Mo Chengji also drew and carved “Liu Kai Bai Zi”. This is the only known example of a similar work that has been handed down from generation to generation, or it may be one of the above records.

On December 20, “Cultural Confidence of Contemporary Museum People—Exhibition of Works by Staff of the Palace Museum and Anhui Museum” will be officially opened to the audience in the Zhai Palace Exhibition Hall of the Palace Museum. Through many types of art works such as calligraphy and painting, seal cutting, sculpture, lacquerware, etc., this exhibition fully demonstrates the vigorous and enterprising attitude of contemporary cultural experts, their broad and profound business skills, their sincere heart of dedication and dedication, and their determination to make new achievements. The ambition of boxing. This exhibition will be on display until January 21, 2024…

During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, a red sandalwood inlaid with jade picture of a hundred children was inserted into the screen. The screen is carved from rosewood, and inside the glass cover are double-sided openwork carvings of palaces, pavilions, mountains, rocks, trees, boats, lotuses, courtyards and other scenes. Among them are hundreds of white jade carved boys, some climbing high, some riding boats, some riding geese, and some holding lotuses. They are lively and lively, implying auspiciousness and the prosperity of a hundred children. The frame is inlaid with a silver piece and the words “engraved jade Baizi screen” indicate its product name. The base of the screen is engraved with many poems from the “Inscribed Jade Baizi Screen” made by Emperor Qianlong, including Wang Jihua, Liang Shizheng, Liu Tongxun and other ministers.

During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, there was a strong pot with a pink color baby play picture on a rouge red ground and a white ground. The jar has a straight mouth, short neck, cylindrical belly and ring feet. Attached is an umbrella-shaped cover with a raised folded edge and a bead-shaped button on the top. The inner wall of the jar is glazed with turquoise green. The cover, the shoulders of the outer wall of the jar, and near the bottom are made of purple rolling tracks, on which are painted in pastel colors a pattern of upturned clouds, and the interior is decorated with folded branches. The belly is painted with the fire scene of the Infant Play Club. In the picture, some babies are holding lanterns, some are playing drums, cymbals, and trumpets, some are holding lions and playing with balls, some are riding horses, and some are setting off firecrackers. They are surrounded by rocks, houses, plantains, and travertine. Wait, it’s a joyous and lively scene. The neck and shins are painted with blue material for a week. The outer sole is glazed with turquoise green, and the six-character and three-line inscription “Made in the Qianlong Year of the Qing Dynasty” written in alum red color is left blank.

Images and visuals are from – Forbidden City –Palace Museum Beijing- China –People’s Republic of China…..

#北京 #中國 #China #Beijing | #紫禁城 #ForbiddenCity #December2023 | #ForbiddenCityDairies -The Palace Museum #ForbiddenCity Collections of Chinese intangible cultural heritage.  4th to 12th December 2023….. First Snow of 2023..

kevinjamesngLeave a comment

On July 19th 2023 , the multilingual website of the Forbidden City Palace Museum- Beijing, China, People’s Republic of Chinawas officially released at the Digital Cultural Tourism Development Forum of the 2023 China Internet Civilization Conference! The website covers five languages: English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, and will meet the needs of audiences with different languages.

 The multilingual website of the Palace Museum is committed to establishing an international website that is concise, clear, easy to use for overseas audiences, and fits the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, including tour guides, information, panoramic tours, online exhibitions, collection appreciation, cultural topics, etc. Rich immersive content describing of the most detail collection that housed within the Forbidden City collection…. 

Qing Qianlong, Yao Wenhan, etc., Chongqing Empress Dowager’s eighty-year longevity picture is posted (partial). This picture depicts the grand occasion of Emperor Qianlong’s 80th birthday celebration held for his mother, Empress Dowager Chongqing, in the Cining Palace in the Forbidden City where she lived in November of the 36th year of Qianlong’s reign (1771). In the palace, the Queen Mother was sitting on the throne enjoying the banquet, and Emperor Qianlong was sitting sideways to accompany her. In the east and west rooms were Emperor Qianlong’s concubines and Prince Fujin, etc., and on the platform outside the palace were the princes and grandchildren. At this time, the person in charge of the Sixth Palace was the imperial concubine Wei Jia, the biological mother of Emperor Jiaqing Yong Yan, who was posthumously named Queen Xiaoyi. This picture is the only existing painting that truly shows the emperor and his family congratulating the Queen Mother on her birthday. It has precious historical value.

Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, anonymous, all nations come to court. In order to promote the majesty of the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong ordered the court painters to create several works that reflected the envoys from various countries coming to the Forbidden City to congratulate them on the New Year. This picture is one of them. The coming of all nations to court was both a family and a state matter for Emperor Qianlong. Therefore, he not only ordered the court painters to depict the lively scenes of envoys from the surrounding vassal states of the Qing Dynasty and Western countries paying homage to him, but also ordered the painters to depict the lively scenes in the paintings…

On the 7th  December 2023 The warm sun is shining, gently touching the painted pillars and caressing the railings. Today 大雪 , together with the spine beasts, we are looking forward to a heavy snowfall that will decorate the Forbidden City!

Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, unknown, scroll of all nations coming to court (detail). This picture is part of the axis of “The Map of All Nations Coming to Court”. It shows the elderly Emperor Qianlong embracing the descendants of the royal family, sitting in the Ningshou Palace area that was rebuilt for him to take care of himself after returning to power, and receiving New Year’s congratulations from envoys from various countries. For Emperor Qianlong, the dynasty was important, but the prosperity of his descendants was also a top priority. Emperor Qianlong had a total of twenty-seven children in his life. In the forty-ninth year of Qianlong’s reign (1784), his great-great-grandson was born, and he was very excited about the five generations living under the same roof. Afterwards, he added the inscription “Five Blessings and Five Dynasties Hall” to the Gyeongbokgung Palace in the Forbidden City to commemorate his wishes, and then engraved “Five Blessings and Five Dynasties Hall Ancient and Rare Emperor Treasure” to express his contented imperial life. There is no date of creation for this painting, but according to the records of the Qing Palace Construction Office, it was painted in December of the 44th year of Qianlong’s reign (1779), so the infant in his arms at this time must be his great-grandson.

Qing Jiaqing, anonymous, Emperor Jiaqing’s ancient costumes and entertainment scroll. This picture depicts Emperor Jiaqing and his concubines dressed in traditional Han costumes, relaxing and entertaining in the courtyard. Although it is a picture of a couple having fun, Emperor Jiaqing not only occupies the main position in the painting, but is also taller than his concubines who are also seated and even the standing waiters, highlighting his supreme status as the king of a country and the head of a family. The waiter came towards them with a scroll of calligraphy and painting in his hand. The gathering of couples was about to begin in the imperial garden where peonies and magnolias were in full bloom, forming an enviable scene of love.

The 40th Anniversary Exhibition of the Palace Museum Publishing House” will be officially opened to the public on December 9 in the Wenhua Hall of the Palace Museum! This exhibition unfolds the 40-year development history of the Palace Museum Press in five units, and for the first time adopts the innovative exhibition format of “books + cultural relics”. In the exhibition hall, there are not only the “Forbidden City Book Mountain” and the “Forbidden Book City” built with thousands of fine books, but also 22 precious cultural relics, including fine porcelain from the five famous kilns of the Song Dynasty, and the Qianlong Jasper Dragon Button from the Qing Dynasty. “An ancient rare treasure of the emperor” and other exquisite cultural relics. The exhibition will last until February 25, 2024. The general audience can make an appointment to visit through the “Forbidden City Museum” applet

Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty, anonymous, empress Xiaoshencheng’s lotus scroll. Daoguang Emperor Minning had four queens in his life, the second of whom was Queen Xiaoshencheng. She is the daughter of Shu Ming’a, the third-class Chengen Gong. She entered the palace during the Jiaqing Dynasty and married Minning, who was the prince at the time. In the 13th year of Jiaqing (1808), Emperor Renzong granted her the title of successor to the Jin Dynasty. In the second year of Daoguang (1822), she was canonized as queen. She was the eldest daughter of Emperor Daoguang, Princess Duan Ming Lun, but unfortunately she died in infancy. This picture shows Empress Xiaoshencheng holding a folding fan and wearing seasonal flowers as headdress while admiring the flowers and scenery in the picturesque imperial garden. A pair of mandarin ducks in the lotus pond made her stop and watch. Obviously, the flowers in the garden could not touch her heart as much as the loving mandarin ducks.

Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty, anonymous, Xiao Quancheng, Queen Xuan Palace’s spring mist scroll. This picture is a portrait of Empress Xiao Quancheng holding the prince’s hand. Empress Xiao Quancheng (1808-1840) entered the palace in the early years of Daoguang and was given the title of Quanbi. She gave birth to the third and fourth daughters of Emperor Daoguang. In the eleventh year of Daoguang (1831), when she was twenty-four years old, she gave birth to The fourth son of the emperor was Emperor Xianfeng. In the thirteenth year of Daoguang’s reign (1833), she was granted the title of Imperial Concubine by the Jin Dynasty. In October of the fourteenth year of Daoguang (1834), she was officially appointed by Emperor Daoguang as the third queen after Queen Xiao Shencheng. When she passed away, Yi𬣞 was just over nine years old. The prince she is holding in the picture may be the still young Yi𬣞. The mother and son are holding lotus leaves and lotus flowers respectively, implying the inseparable affection between flowers and leaves.

In order to implement the spirit of the “Opinions on Promoting the Work of Ancient Books in the New Era” and deepen the protection and revitalization of ancient literature and cultural relics, the Palace Museum, on the basis of sorting, protecting and researching the engraving cultural relics in the museum’s collection, has established a monastery in the southeast of Taihe Gate. The ” 九牌馆 ” was opened in the building and the court room , and the ” 吉光片雨 – Exhibition of Qing Dynasty palace engraving cultural relics collected by the Palace Museum” was held at the same time, with more than 15,000 pieces (groups) of cultural relics displayed in a warehouse-style display. This is the first time the Palace Museum has held a special cultural relics exhibition of this type since its establishment. The exhibition will be officially open to the public from October 31, 2023, in the Southeast Chonglou and Chaofang Engraving Hall inside the Taihe Gate of the Palace Museum.

Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty, anonymous, the scroll of Emperor Daoguang’s joyful autumn garden. This painting depicts the scene of Emperor Daoguang having fun in the courtyard with his concubine, elder brother and princess. With Emperor Daoguang in the open pavilion was the 26-year-old imperial concubine, Queen Xiao Quancheng, the mother of Emperor Xianfeng. At this time, she was dignified in appearance and had just been promoted to imperial concubine due to the death of Empress Xiao Shencheng. She was in charge of the affairs of the Sixth Palace and assumed the power of the empress. Therefore, she was qualified to sit with Emperor Daoguang, but according to regulations, she could not sit side by side with the emperor, so she could only sit respectfully to the side. In front of the pavilion are the lively princes, princesses and elegant concubines. In the happiness of his family, Emperor Daoguang couldn’t help but write the title of the picture “Happiness Overflowing the Autumn Garden” in his own handwriting…..

On the 11th December 2023 Overnight, the inside and outside of the palace were wrapped in white. The glazed golden roof is covered with jade dust, and the red walls and corridors are covered with silver stars. Looking far into the distance, Danchen and green tiles meet the snow, which is the same color as the sky.

There is flying snow on the red steps, and the green branches are cold and crisp. Under the city full of silver, dots of red and golden stars are scattered among them, forming a moving picture of the Forbidden City in winter.

The white snow is the base, the yellow eaves are the lines, and the dots of vermilion dance like musical notes, like falling jade beads on a plate, composing a majestic movement of snow falling on the Danchen!

The cold stamens are rustling, and the flying feathers are fluttering. The winter elves break the tranquility among the ice and snow, adding infinite vitality…

Qing Xianfeng, Anonymous, Mei Guifei, Chun Guiren and other carnival scrolls. This picture depicts Emperor Xianfeng’s concubine Mei, the noble concubine of the spring, and Qi Chang enjoying their summer fishing activities. There is a yellow paper tag with their name stuck next to each person. Among them, the highest-ranking concubine Mei Guifei is among them, with a look of joy on her face. Their eyebrows are slender and their lower lips are a little bright red, which is the typical makeup of court women in the late Qing Dynasty. As a concrete realistic painting, this picture provides relatively precious image data for studying the costumes of concubines and palace entertainment life in the Qing Dynasty….

The river body is smooth, the eaves and ridges are smooth, and the viewing pillars are in order. The captivating sky and earth trace the changes, and the charm of six hundred years becomes more apparent.

Images and visuals are from – Forbidden City –Palace Museum Beijing- China –People’s Republic of China…..

#北京 #中國 #China #Beijing | #紫禁城 #ForbiddenCity #December2023 | #ForbiddenCityDairies -The Palace Museum #ForbiddenCity Collections of Chinese intangible cultural heritage.  – 30th  November – 4th December 2023…..

kevinjamesngLeave a comment

On July 19th 2023 , the multilingual website of the Forbidden City Palace Museum- Beijing, China, People’s Republic of Chinawas officially released at the Digital Cultural Tourism Development Forum of the 2023 China Internet Civilization Conference! The website covers five languages: English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, and will meet the needs of audiences with different languages.

 The multilingual website of the Palace Museum is committed to establishing an international website that is concise, clear, easy to use for overseas audiences, and fits the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, including tour guides, information, panoramic tours, online exhibitions, collection appreciation, cultural topics, etc. Rich immersive content describing of the most detail collection that housed within the Forbidden City collection…. 

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Shouhuang Palace held a wedding ceremony in the wedding tent was temporarily . The wedding tent was temporarily built in the Shouhuang Hall. When the emperor and queen saluted in front of the ancestors’ holy faces, they had to change the dragon robes they wore when leaving the palace into sacrificial robes. This is the place for changing clothes. In order to build the wedding tent, the palace specially made hot samples, that is, three-dimensional models. The sample shown in this picture is still well preserved. It can be seen from the roof pattern that the diamond-shaped opening is decorated with dragon, phoenix and “囍” patterns.

清宁强英 – Exhibition of Glass Collection from the Palace Museum” jointly organized by the Palace Museum and the Guardian Art Center will open on December 23, 2023 at the Beijing Guardian Art Center. This exhibition is the fifth major special exhibition jointly launched by the Guardian Art Center and the Palace Museum. It is also the first large-scale display of Chinese and Western glass cultural relics and related research results from the 17th to the 20th centuries outside the museum. The exhibition selects more than 120 pieces (sets) of glass cultural relics collected by the Forbidden City, and uses three units: “Yao Yan Reflects Color”, “Into Fire and Flowing Gold” and “Flowing Scenery and Ningxia” to display the color, shape, shape, and color of fine glass products in all aspects. Decoration, craftsmanship and their use in courtly life. Presenting to the audience a visual feast that brings together Eastern and Western craft cultures and blends traditional and modern aesthetic styles.

Exhibition location: Guardian Art Center
Exhibition time: December 23, 2023 to March 10, 2024

Encounter Ancient Characters in the Forbidden City -Today, Xiaoji will take you to learn about the food in the oracle bone inscriptions – “millet”.
The lower part of the character ” millet ” represents the roots of the plant, the middle represents the branches, and the forks at the top represent the ears, which vividly depicts the appearance of millet.
The origin of millet is in China. It is one of the oldest crops in our country and is listed as the leader of five grains. Its seeds are light yellow and are called yellow rice after peeling. They are slightly larger than millet and can be used to make food and are often used to make wine. It is an important grain in northern my country.

1st December 2023 – In the winter of the world, the feathers are flying. The end of the year is approaching, looking back and looking forward to it. What gains and changes have you made this year? Hello December. fall in love with the forbidden city….  

Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty, anonymous, Yinzhen Xingle scroll. The concubines took care of their husbands and raised their children, were virtuous and filial, and became a model for women all over the world to follow. This month’s content not only presents the leisure activities of the concubines in the palace, but also shows the Qing royal family’s eager desire to have descendants around their knees. This picture shows Yinzhen wearing blue casual clothes and sitting indoors with a majestic expression. The concubines stood outside neatly dressed and elegantly behaved. Even in casual occasions like the courtyard, they who have received strict palace training and regulations do not dare to talk and laugh casually in front of their husband, who is the emperor.

This month’s dailyforbidden City will launch the theme of amboozhenxin , inviting you to appreciate the different forms of bamboo among the treasures of the Forbidden City. Good night tonight comes from the Song Dynasty Baitou Cong Bamboo Illustration Page.

Qing Qianlong, Chen Mei, Yue Man Qingyou picture album page. According to Emperor Qianlong’s decree, the court painter Chen Mei drew the album “Yueman Qingyou Tu”, which shows the life of court women. This picture is one of them, depicting beauties begging for tricks under the plane trees in July. “Wanshu Miscellaneous Notes” written by Shen Bang in the Ming Dynasty said: “On July 7, a bowl of water was poured into the sun. Each of them dropped a small needle on the water surface, and slowly looked at the shadow of the sun on the bottom of the water. It could be scattered like flowers, moving like clouds, as thin as a thread, or as thick as a thread. Like vertebrae, because of the skill of divination by women.” The picture shows the women gently putting the small needle into the bowl and observing it carefully. Ingenuity was the common wish of women from all walks of life at that time, even noble ladies who had no worries about food and clothing were no exception….

Swamp tits are small in size, lively and agile in movement. Although the word “swamp” is in the name, they do not actually live in swamps. They mainly live in forest areas and often move in the canopy of coniferous forests and mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests. , or cling to branches to feed on insects, and often go to bushes to peck at them. It is generally more common near water sources or humid forest areas. It is also found in parks, orchards and other environments in winter. The male and female swamp tits are of the same color. The top of the adult bird’s head to the back of its neck is metallic black. The cheeks, ear feathers and sides of the neck from the side of the head below the eyes are all slightly grayish white. There is a black feather at the base of the lower beak. From a distance, it looks like He has a black goatee-like beard. Except for the breeding season, swamp tits mostly gather in small groups and also mix with other tits

Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, unknown, Hongli Weihu obtained the deer picture scroll. This scroll is the only existing painting showing the imperial concubine following the emperor on a hunt on horseback. The picture depicts the Mulan Paddock in autumn. The imperial concubine follows Qianlong Emperor Hongli, who is drawing his bow and aiming, and offers him an arrow at a critical moment. In the end, the running deer is hit by an arrow and dies with the close cooperation of “the husband sings and the wife follows”. The princess’s hairstyle and clothing in the picture all have exotic characteristics. It is speculated that she may be Rong Fei from the Uyghur ethnic group, the legendary Xiang Fei. She entered the palace at the age of 27 and was favored by Emperor Qianlong. Her living habits and religious beliefs also received the emperor’s respect and special care.

“Qiu Hong” is a famous guqin piece handed down from generation to generation. According to legend, it was composed by Guo Chuwang, a master of the Zhejiang guqin school in the Southern Song Dynasty. The whole song is divided into thirty-six sections, making it one of the longest Qin pieces after “Guangling San”. This song uses the image of Qiu Hong flying high and marching southward, embodying ideal connotations such as “huacai” and “faithfulness”. The melody is bold and simple, the rhythm is ups and downs, and the fingering tone is high and ancient, which makes people listen. Later, I had the feeling of reaching Pingsha and thousands of miles in one fell swoop.

Horizontal axis (part) of four events of the Qing Dynasty Qianlong, Anonymous, Emperor Qianlong’s Banquet. This picture shows the concubines accompanying Emperor Qianlong to attend the banquet held by Mulan Qiuyi, and watched the lively and exciting performances of the “Four Events”, namely “Horse Fraud”, “Shibang”, “Sumo” and “Jiaojun”. As the female relatives of the harem, although they cannot attend the main venue, they can still escape to the yurt camp behind the mountain and experience the same banquet atmosphere as the main venue. Whether he was hunting in the east or north, or going to the south of the Yangtze River, Emperor Qianlong would always take his concubines with him. Mountains and water, everywhere you go, there are scenery, which undoubtedly adds endless fun to the concubine’s closed inner court life…..

On the 3rd of December 2023, in China, People’s Republic of China National Constitution Day When the court meets the Forbidden City, when the rule of law and culture meet, what kind of brilliant sparks will be produced?

On December 3, the Palace Museum and the Beijing Second Intermediate People’s Court jointly held an event themed “Carrying forward the spirit of the Constitution and building a China governed by law” to welcome the 10 National Constitution Day . Hundreds of children from Jingshan School and Banchang Primary School were invited to attend the event. Take an interesting “Constitutional Education Class”. Under the leadership of the teacher, the students searched for the legal beast Haechi in the Forbidden City, learned the history of the Forbidden City along the way, and passed on the memory of the nation under the influence of culture. They listened to the lectures on the Constitution, recited its articles, made handwritten newspapers on the spot, and had discussions with the Constitution. Intimate contact and immersive experience of a journey to find the roots of traditional legal culture and a journey of exploration of the spirit of modern rule of law.

Images and visuals are from – Forbidden City –Palace Museum Beijing- China –People’s Republic of China…..