On July 19th 2023 , the multilingual website of the Forbidden City Palace Museum- Beijing, China, People’s Republic of China was 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….
中国romantic farewell Hangzhou Asian Games In the eighth month of the lunar calendar, the osmanthus flower blooms and is the official flower of that month. In ancient times, the sweet-scented osmanthus was regarded as a good omen for success, and now it also contains the good expectations of “winning the laurels in the toad palace” and “winning the laurel crown”. The Hangzhou Asian Games will close tonight. Let us give a golden osmanthus to the athletes who are working hard to achieve greater success in their future journey!
Qing Dynasty, yellow satin embroidered pillow with gourd and 囍 characters, dragon and phoenix patterns. Pillows are bedding that is placed under the head to help people sleep. In the early days, they were mostly wooden and porcelain pillows, and later gradually became soft and comfortable fabric pillows. The pillow shapes include rectangular, round waist, cloud heads, petals, silver ingots, chicken hearts, etc. The most common decorative patterns are the lions who control the house, children praying for children, peonies hoping for wealth, dragons and phoenixes blessing marriage, etc. This pillow is used in the bridal chamber for weddings. It is embroidered with yellow satin, with the word “囍” in the center, dragon and phoenix patterns on both sides, and gourd patterns on the edges, which is consistent with the overall decoration theme of the bridal chamber.
Forbidden City Autumn Popular Colour – Sapphire Blue “A crane lining the clouds in the clear sky brings poetry to the blue sky.” Autumn chrysanthemums, okra, and begonias blend into the gem-like blue sky of autumn.
[Clothing] Royal blue satin robe with flat gold embroidery and cloud and crane pattern, blue satin embroidered chrysanthemum and butterfly pattern bordered pipa lapel waistcoat, royal blue three-autumn pattern makeup satin [Daily necessities] Warm bowl with enamel painted with the Chinese character “Happiness” and treasure phase pattern, blue and white Snuff bottle with cloud and dragon pattern, blue and white snuff bottle with cloud and dragon pattern, multicolour garlic bottle with golden and blue ground embossed pattern, blue glaze chrysanthemum petal plate, white ground covered blue glass chilong pattern amphora .
Interior view of the bridal chamber of Kunning Palace. This picture shows the northeast Kang (North Outer Kang) in the bridal chamber. Hanging on the wall of the Kang are the couplets “Ancestor Wu’s Rope, the Hall of Five Fortunes is the same as the Five Dynasties; Tianyan is happy, the third level wishes to merge with three more”. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, there was a “Tangtong with the Five Dynasties”. For this reason, he specially ordered people to engrave the plaque of “Five Blessings and Five Dynasties Hall” and the seal of “Five Blessings and Five Dynasties Hall Ancient and Rare Emperor Treasure”, and wrote an article to record this event. “Three more” means more blessings, more longevity and more children, which means the emperor will have a long life. There are several tables built into the room, there are paintings on the walls, and there are mattresses, cushions, backrests, handrails, etc. on the kang.
The 98th anniversary of the founding of the Palace Museum The ancient city remains undefeated in the turbulent years. After ninety-eight years of struggle, the people of the Forbidden City are ushering in the rising sun of a new day!
[Raise hands] Based on the arrangement of the pictures, how many landmark buildings in the Forbidden City can you recognize?
Palace autumn popular color – Purple color “The slow autumn light cannot be retained, and the red leaves are full of dusk.” The rustling of the sycamores and the rustling of the maple forest break the tranquility of the cold mountains in late autumn.
[Clothing] Cotton shirt with orchid pattern embroidered with gold and silver, crimson satin cotton with chrysanthemum pattern, maroon satin short-waisted socks [Accessories] oval purse with dark maroon satin nailed damask bat pattern [Daily necessities] birch wood inlay Box, purple gauze and silk with flowers and birds, round fan with bamboo carving handle, purple glass flat square snuff bottle, white sauce plate with folded branches, flowers and fruits, sauce stove with white phoenix pattern.
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… .
“The sound of birds and the shadows of flowers attract people to live in”. The blossoms are pink and white, and the birds are singing, which is the most pleasant scene. The apricot ranking is ranked first, the spring breeze is proud, and there is joy and joy.
Today on the 8th October- 24th October 2023 is 寒露Cold Dew, the twilight is getting earlier and the dew is cold. It’s late autumn, remember to put on more clothes and keep warm 爱尊城……everyone.
The traditional Chinese calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms. Hánlù, Kanro, Hallo, or Hàn lộ is the 17th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 195° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 210°.
Interior view of the bridal chamber of Kunning Palace. In the bridal chamber, there is a floor-to-ceiling kang bed with a gourd and vine pattern of “囍” and dragon and phoenix, and a tent with a dragon and phoenix in auspicious “囍” pattern. A bedding is placed on the kang, and a plaque hangs “The sun rises and the moon stays forever.” There is a saying in the book of the emperor and empress of Tongzhi that “the two rituals of movement and coordination will make the husband smooth; the light will shine on the four sides, and the rising sun will praise the husband and the moon.” Therefore, the plaque contains the meaning of blessing. The vine gourd symbolizes the endless supply of melons, which corresponds to the couplet on the indoor wall: “The precious gourd lasts forever, the eight poles of mankind and heaven rejoice; the gold and yellow flowers flourish, the sun and moon shine brightly in the sky”.
Bamboo
“snow-covered sloping tips lean against the north wind”. The slim bamboo can also tower over the clouds and cling to the green mountains. Between the dense green and sparse shadows, the common sense of all things is revealed, showing the demeanor of a gentleman.
Qing Dynasty, silver and gold-plated account hook with the word “囍”. Chinese tent hooks have a long history. Bronze tent hooks were used as early as the Warring States Period, and they have been used continuously since then. In the Qing Dynasty, palace tent hooks were roughly divided into three categories: wedding celebrations, birthday celebrations, and auspiciousness. This is the wedding celebration category. There are small rings on the tent hooks for hanging, and the word “囍” is created in the middle and at the bottom of the semicircular hook, which can be described as meticulous.
“Beautiful flowers and pavilions leaning on the painted bridge”. Eating fresh food can relieve irritability, and observing postures can purify the mind. The round lotus sheds dew, the gentle breeze spreads the fragrance, and the summer scenery in the pond is overwhelming.
Qing Dynasty, red satin embroidered with a picture of a hundred children. This hundred-child picture account is the left half of the folded account. The account is embroidered with children with different expressions, which means more children and more blessings. Because Emperor Guangxu’s wedding took place in winter, this Baizi picture tent is a folder tent, which is warmer than a gauze tent. This account is made of exquisite materials and superb techniques. It is both practical and ornamental. It is a very exquisite piece of woven and embroidered art.
在palace中文 Look for the beauty of the country in the brocade, and enjoy the colourful colours in the courtyard. After seven days of fragrance-seeking journey, I hope the road ahead will be bright and worry-free, and the fragrance of flowers will always accompany you on a smooth journey!
Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, bright red satin embroidered quilt with golden 囍 pattern for generations. The main color of the quilt is bright red, with gold “囍” patterns embroidered on it. There are also patterns such as pomegranates, bats, gourd vines, lotus round boxes, plums, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums, wishing the emperor and the queen a harmonious married life and future generations. This quilt is not only practical, but also has a beautiful meaning. But good intentions did not change the cruel reality. Emperors Tongzhi and Guangxu, who held wedding ceremonies in the Forbidden City, had no heirs, and the idea of five generations living under one roof became a fantasy.
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, Fei Yigeng, Zhang Xiong, Meiyue Chang’e picture fan page. This picture is a joint work of Shanghai-style famous artists. Fei Yigeng was the eldest son of Fei Danxu. He inherited his family’s painting skills and was good at painting ladies and flowers. Zhang Xiong, also known as Zixiang, also known as Yuanhu Waishi, specializes in poetry and rhythm. He likes to collect epigraphy, calligraphy and painting, and is good at flowers, birds, figures, and landscapes. His paintings are gorgeous but not vulgar. Together with Ren Xiong and Zhu Xiong, he is known as “Shanghai” “Shang Sanxiong”. It can be seen from the title “Yu Bo Fei used farming to paint Chang’e, Zixiang Zhang Xiong painted plum blossoms” that Fei and Zhang used their respective talents to express the popular folk theme of Chang’e flying to the moon. The moon has a mysterious veil due to its distance. Painters often create images related to the moon, such as the Jade Rabbit, Osmanthus Tree, Chang’e, and Wu Gang, to bring it into the homes of ordinary people.
During the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, men’s single court robes were made of sapphire blue silk embroidered with three blue clouds, bats and dragon patterns. The twelve chapters used on the emperor’s court uniform represent the twelve talents and virtues of the monarch. The “moon” and “sun” in the twelve chapters are arranged on both shoulders, which is a metaphor for the emperor’s power being like the light of the sun and the moon, shining in all directions. The moon is often painted with a toad or a white rabbit, which is based on the myth of Chang’e flying to the moon. This blue court robe is embroidered with twelve chapters, in which a jade rabbit is embroidered in the moon, holding a blue pestle stick and carefully pounding medicine. The appearance is very cute…
October wallpaper is now online. Admire the clouds and springs in the wild valleys, and enjoy the beauty of flowers. Feel the tranquillity and coolness of autumn in the beautiful scenery and beautiful utensils. Go to the official website to download high-definition wallpapers in various formats and sizes, suitable for various terminals…
Qing, Anonymous, Mid-Autumn Festival Jiarui Picture Scroll (Part). This scroll is themed to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, and there are many rabbit images related to the Mid-Autumn Festival and the moon. This picture shows a statue of a Jade Rabbit pounding medicine. Making statues out of clay, oil soil or wax has a long history in our country. In the late Qing Dynasty, there were also clay figurine Zhangs who specialized in statues. The rabbits in the picture are lifelike. They are not only dolls in the hands of children, but also rare handicrafts.
中秋节- Mid Autumn Festival Appreciating the bright moon together brings the reunion of thousands of families.
Sponsored by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and hosted by the Palace Museum, the China Cultural Relics Exchange Center, and the China Cultural Relics Protection Foundation, the ” 五肖四海 – ‘One Belt, One Road’ Cultural Relics and Archaeological Cooperation Exhibition” will be held at the Shenwumen Exhibition Hall of the Palace Museum on September 29. Open to the public. This exhibition brings together 84 exquisite cultural relics from 4 cultural and museum institutions in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as 13 museums in 10 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China. Many of these cultural relics are shown to the public for the first time. These exhibits materialize the invisible exchanges of civilizations along the Silk Road, reveal the historical trajectory of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations along the Silk Road, and inject sustainable power into promoting exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations and promoting mutual understanding and understanding between peoples. This exhibition will be on view until January 5, 2024. Please make a reservation in advance through the “Forbidden City Museum” applet to visit.
The osmanthus is bright, the flowers are full, and the moon is full. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to everyone !
Qing Dynasty, Mu Guanghan Palace is at the end of the puzzle. This object is a mosaic (prop) used to simply set the scene and create an atmosphere during opera performances in the palace. The craftsmen strive for excellence in production and use layer-by-layer carving techniques to create a distant and near spatial relationship between the rabbit, the sweet-scented osmanthus tree, and the Guanghan Palace in a limited plane composition. Not only that, the magnificent Guanghan Palace was also carved with splendor and splendor, and even the white jade rabbit that made medicine in the Moon Palace was decorated with gold powder, showing its aura of wealth and nobility…
Crab, also known as “Huang Jia”, often appears on items with the meaning of “passing the imperial examination” because it plays the role of “A” in “Er Jia Chuanlu”. The crabs in autumn make their debut based on their strength. With the plump crabs accumulated for a year, they become the well-deserved protagonists on the Mid-Autumn Festival table. The ancients had the interest of “holding the pincers to hold the wine”, and also had the practice of spoiling crabs by saying “the pincers of the crab are gold liquid, and the mounds are Penglai”.
The clouds are steaming and the clouds are rising, and the magpie is rising and the rainbow is flying. Hello October! Hello, 74-year-old New China! National Day Happy China, People’s Republic of China.
Exterior view of Kunning Palace. Kunning Palace is located on the central axis to the north of Qianqing Palace. It was built in the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1420) and was the residence of the empress of the Ming Dynasty. During the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, it was renovated. The renovated Kunning Palace was nine rooms wide and three rooms deep. The west side was a place for worship, and the east side was a wedding room. This followed the system of the queen being in the middle palace. Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Tongzhi and Emperor Guangxu all held weddings here. Although Dongnuan Pavilion is a place for holding ceremonies, it is not suitable for living. Therefore, after the wedding, the queen usually moves elsewhere. For example, the empress of Zhi Emperor lived in Chuxiu Palace and the empress of Guangxu Emperor lived in Zhongcui Palace
——The peonies
are “thousands of beauties that break the morning glow”. The new makeup shines in the water, and the beautiful shadows are full of joy. The scorching sun is shining brightly, and the beauty and fragrance of the country live up to the expectations!
Dongnuange bridal chamber has a happy wedding. This picture shows the wedding bridal chamber of the East Nuan Pavilion of Kunning Palace restored based on documentary records. The word “Shou” is written in cursive on the top of the door, and the word “Xi” is decorated on the gilded door below. When the double doors are closed, the word “囍” is formed. There are couplets inscribed by Emperor Qianlong on both sides of the door: “Heaven is pure and blessed, and the valley of Beirjian is like a lotus; the people are harmonious under the edict, and Sui Yi will be blessed and live forever.” On the screen wall leading to the east and west gates of the bridal chamber, It is also decorated with the golden word “囍”, which means happiness upon opening the door. The main color of the door is red, creating a festive atmosphere..
在久久看中华 – The chrysanthemum
“will make the golden stamens flood with clouds”. The chrysanthemum petals reflect the morning light, and there are broken shadows accompanying the floating fragrance. Even if the dew is heavy and the frost is heavy, the yellow leaves will not dance in the autumn wind.
Panoramic view of the bridal chamber of Kunning Palace. The bridal chamber originally referred to a deep and secret room, and later specifically referred to the wedding room, also known as the wedding room. The bridal chamber of Kunning Palace was originally used for the wedding of Emperor Kangxi. The subsequent emperors were already married before taking the throne, so it was not used again until Emperors Tongzhi and Guangxu. The bridal chamber of Dongnuang Pavilion has a kang bed to the south and two rooms to the north separated by bright pillars. Both rooms have a floor-to-ceiling kang bed with a dragon and phoenix character “囍” and vines and gourd patterns. The northeast kang (outer north kang) is the living room, with mattresses, backrests, handrails, etc. on the kang, and the northwest kang (inner north kang) is the bedroom. The floor is covered with a large red carpet, embroidered with dragon and phoenix patterns, and the golden character “囍” embroidered between the dragon and phoenix, echoing the golden character “囍” on the wooden shadow wall. The bridal chamber is full of festive
Kunning Palace bridal chamber waist knife. The Manchus are martial people, and this tradition can still be reflected in wedding items. This knife is hung on the pillar of the bridal chamber, which has the same meaning as the bow and arrow bag hung along the nose pillar of the bridal chamber. According to the records of the Qing Palace, such weapons were only hung during festivals, not only for the sake of martial arts but also to ward off evil spirits.
Interior view of the bridal chamber of Kunning Palace. In the bridal chamber, there is a floor-to-ceiling kang bed with a gourd and vine pattern of “囍” and dragon and phoenix, and a tent with a dragon and phoenix in auspicious “囍” pattern. A bedding is placed on the kang, and a plaque hangs “the sun rises and the moon stays forever.” There is a saying in the book of the emperor and empress of Tongzhi that “the two rituals of movement and coordination will make the husband smooth; the light will shine on the four sides, and the rising sun will praise the husband and the moon.” Therefore, the plaque contains the meaning of blessing. The vine gourd symbolizes the endless supply of melons, which corresponds to the couplet on the indoor wall: “The treasures last forever, the eight poles of mankind and heaven rejoice; the gold and yellow flowers bloom together, the sun and the moon shine brightly in the sky”
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… .
Ming Dynasty, Tao Cheng, Toad Palace Jade Rabbit scroll. Tao Cheng (date of birth and death unknown), whose courtesy name was Mengxue, whose first name was Maoxue, and whose name was Yunhushanren, was from Baoying, Jiangsu. He was wild by nature and versatile. The landscapes he painted mostly used green colors, which were bright and lustrous. The bamboos, rabbits and cranes and deer he painted were interesting and had the realistic style of the Song Dynasty. Toad Palace refers to the Moon Palace and is synonymous with the moon. From the poem written by Tao Cheng in the picture, we can see that he is depicting a rabbit looking up at the bright moon in the sky and missing the comfortable life in Toad Palace. For this reason, he specially painted the rabbit raising its front legs as if it were flying to the moon. This detailed depiction not only makes the painting lively and interesting, but also reveals the Jade Rabbit’s eagerness to return to the Toad Palace.
From the Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty, the talc Guanghan Qingjing Seal was used. Talc is a silicate mineral that is soft and smooth. The material is not expensive and is rarely used in seals. Although the toad has a bad image, it symbolizes longevity, so it is also quite popular among people. The seal “Guanghan Qingjing” echoes the toad seal, but it is in the secret palace of the deep palace. Using this as a metaphor will inevitably give people a sense of resentment.
On the 8th September 2023 The autumn wind is getting colder, and the dew condenses in the cold. The pomegranates are full and ripe. Today 白鹿
During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the red sea-water bathing moon plate was carved. This lacquer plate was made during the Qianlong period. It is engraved with water ripples and the center of the plate is illuminated to represent the full moon. In the middle of the moon, the ocher-colored Jade Rabbit with fine hair scratched out on the yellow paint ground is concentrating on pounding the elixir of eternity under the laurel tree. This is the story of the Jade Rabbit in the Moon Palace in myths and legends. This plate is a masterpiece that combines red and gold lacquer techniques. The bottom of the plate is engraved with the model “Made in the Qianlong Year of the Qing Dynasty” and the name of the “Haiyue Incense Plate”. It is a royal vessel.
Qing Dynasty, Qianlong imperial inscription Chengni set inkstone imitates Song Dynasty Yuantu Dynasty Yuan inkstone. This inkstone is one of the antique clear clay inkstones. It is round in shape, has no inkstone pool on the surface, and is embossed with a jade rabbit and a full moon. A poem inscribed by the emperor is engraved with gold around the edge: “The small round and big round are like the moon, and the jade shape is more pregnant in it. The study room should be in charge of the city, and the promulgated hair can be ruthless in everything?” There are also four words “Qianlong Imperial Inscription” , “Knowing hearts are not far away” seal. On one side of the inkstone is engraved the product name “Imitation Song Dynasty Jade Rabbit Chaoyuan Inkstone”, and on the other side are the words “Chen Zheng Rui Gongjin”. The inkstone comes with a red sandalwood engraved brocade ground cover box, and the name of the product and the name of the tribute are also engraved on the side. According to the “Xiqing Inkstone Book”, the pattern on the “Jade Rabbit Chaoyuan Inkstone” in the Qing Palace imitated the natural texture on the She inkstone in the Song Dynasty. Its shape can be said to be either a rabbit or a rhinoceros, reflecting the antique style of that time. characteristics of the times. During the Qianlong period, various kinds of antique inkstones were made from Duanshi, Sheshi, Chengni, etc. Among them, the complete sets of antique Chengni inkstones are the most praised.
From September 2 to November 30th 2023 , “Tea·World—Tea Culture Special Exhibition” will be on display at the Meridian Gate and East and West Yanchi Tower exhibition halls of the Forbidden City Beijing Palace Museum, China, people’s Republic of China . This exhibition is hosted by the Palace Museum and brings together representative collections from 30 archaeological and cultural institutions at home and abroad, with a total of 555 exhibits (groups). The exhibition is divided into four sections: Tea came from China, the tea ceremony is peaceful, the tea road is thousands of miles long, and the tea charm is long. With a distinctive theme and a grand scale, it three-dimensionally displays the Chinese tea civilization that transcends history, connects regions, and integrates nations. During the exhibition, a tea cultural and creative experience space was also opened in the Northeast Chonglou of Meridian Gate, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the charm of tea culture. China Construction Bank serves as the joint promoter of the exhibition, and Longfor Group serves as the public welfare supporter of the exhibition to jointly support the exhibition activities. This exhibition is free to visit with Palace Museum tickets. Visitors must make a real-name reservation in advance through the “Forbidden City Museum” WeChat applet…
“The World of Tea: Special Exhibition on Tea Culture” opened at the Wu men (the Meridian Gate) Exhibition Hall of the Palace Museum on Friday in Beijing. From September 2 to November 30, 2023, the exhibition welcomes the public to explore a curated collection of tea-related artifacts. Presented by the Palace Museum, an array of tea-related treasures sourced from 30 esteemed cultural institutions and museums, both domestically and internationally, are on display at the exhibition. With an impressive assemblage of 555 cultural relics, encompassing individual pieces and intricate sets, this exhibition illuminates the fascinating journey of Chinese tea civilization. Furthermore, it provides insights into this cultural phenomenon’s origins, evolution, and remarkable achievements while emphasizing how tea has acted as a unifying thread connecting diverse regions and fostering the integration of various ethnic groups.
The exhibition’s opening ceremony was held on Friday at the Baoyun Lou (Hall for Accumulated Treasures) of the Palace Museum. Distinguished guests included Wang Xudong, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the Palace Museum; Rao Quan, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and vice minister of culture and tourism; Guan Qiang, a member of the Party Leadership Group and deputy administrator of the National Cultural Heritage Administration; Shan Jixiang, president of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics and former director of the Palace Museum; Liu Yuzhu, chairman of the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation; Liu Zhonghua, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a professor at Hunan Agricultural University; Fung Ming Chu, former director of the Taipei Palace Museum; Lin Zhongyue, chairman of the Cross-Straits Tea Exchanges Association; and Cheng Pei-kai, former chairman of the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee. Representatives from participating exhibitors, officials from cultural and museum departments in Beijing, representatives from societies, associations and foundations, experts and scholars, and leaders of the Palace Museum also attend the opening ceremony. Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum; Sergei Nilov, head of the Department of Russian Culture and History of the Russian State Hermitage Museum; Li Yun, executive vice president of China Construction Bank; and Song Yao, vice president of the Longfor Group and vice chairman of Longfor Foundation, all delivered speeches. Kang Hui, a well-known Chinese TV host, presided over the opening ceremony.
In November 2022, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) acknowledged Chinese traditional tea processing techniques and their associated social practices in its intangible cultural heritage list. This noteworthy recognition marks a significant stride in promoting Chinese tea culture and facilitating deeper cross-cultural exchanges and mutual learning.
To further these objectives, the Palace Museum has organized “The World of Tea: Special Exhibition on Tea Culture.” This exhibition seeks to advance the systematic protection of intangible cultural heritage, stimulate innovative developments in China’s rich traditional culture, and fortify the bonds within the Chinese nation while showcasing the allure of Chinese culture on a global scale. Through the medium of this exhibition, the Palace Museum delves into the depths of tea history, explores the intricacies of the tea ceremony, and celebrates the diversity of tea-related activities. Using tea as a conduit, it elucidates the essence of Chinese tea culture, which greatly emphasizes the values of harmony and unity.
Tea originated in China and is popular worldwide. Legend has it that the Chinese were already aware of and making use of tea during the era of Shennong (who is considered the first Yan Emperor and an ancestor of the Chinese people). In Zhejiang Province, roots of artificially cultivated tea trees dating back about 6,000 years have been discovered. In Shandong Province, remains of boiled tea leaves dating back about 2,400 years were discovered in ancient tombs from the Warring States Period (476-221 BC), making it the oldest known evidence of tea drinking. Since the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD), the tea preparation and drinking methods were diversified, including eating, frying, whisking, boiling, and steeping. Drinking tea has evolved into a cultural activity that sates an aesthetic thirst. The Chinese have combined their thoughts on life, the nation, nature, and the universe with daily practices, forming the essence of tea culture. The widespread embrace of tea within China has acted as a catalyst, promoting interactions among people from diverse regions and ethnic backgrounds who all share a deep affection for this cherished beverage. Furthermore, the global dissemination of tea has acted as a conduit for cultural fusion across the vast expanse of the Eurasian continent.
The exhibition delves into tea culture and fully presents the development of Chinese civilization and its interactions with other civilizations, all through the lens of tea as a medium. The exhibition comprises four sections, each illuminating a distinct facet of tea’s rich history and cultural significance.The first section explores the origins of tea in China, tracing its development over thousands of years and its pivotal role in politics, economics, and cultural exchanges. On display are cultural relics from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), including preserved tea leaves, export paintings, and combinations of various objects. The second section delves into the essence of the tea ceremony, featuring a collection of notable paintings and calligraphy from the Palace Museum, as well as ancient texts and excavated tea sets. In the third section, the exhibition traces the global spread of tea from China to various parts of the world, highlighting how different cultures adopted and adapted tea culture. Exhibits include exquisite tea sets from the UK, Japan, and Russia, unique tea sets used in the Qing Dynasty court, and foreign-style tea sets produced by the Imperial Workshop of the Qing Dynasty. The fourth and final section discusses the enduring appeal of tea culture, emphasizing its diverse and integral role in people’s daily lives across the globe. Rooted in tradition, it showcases tea culture’s ongoing development and prospects.
The exhibition spans from the Neolithic Age to the present day. It highlights the development and adoption of tea culture over thousands of years, as well as its embodiment of Chinese philosophical ideals such as unity of nature and man and universal harmony. The exhibits include ancient green-tea tree roots unearthed from the Tianluoshan site of the Hemudu culture (about 5000 BC to 4000 BC) in Yuyao, Zhejiang Province, pushing back the timeline of tea planting in China to about 6,000 years ago. Tea bowls and remains of boiled tea leaves were unearthed from a tomb of the Warring States Period in Zoucheng of Shandong Province, making it the oldest known evidence of tea drinking. The exhibition also features unearthed tea leaves from the Han and Song (960-1279) dynasties, along with over 40 pieces or sets of tribute tea (Gong Cha in Chinese) from the Qing Dynasty collected by the Palace Museum. Together, these cultural relics document China’s over 6,000-year history of tea cultivation and utilization. On display for the first time, a complete set of tea wares unearthed from a Tang Dynasty (618-907) tomb in Qujiangzhuang of Changzhi City, Shanxi Province, in 2022 is one of the most recent archaeological discoveries reflecting Tang Dynasty tea culture. The painting Spring Banquet illustrates a gathering of literati around a rectangular banquet table, with tea-related tools such as tea spoons and tea cups on it, offering a snapshot of how Song Dynasty literati enjoyed tea. A painted clay sculpture of the “Tea Sage” Lu Yu, originally displayed in the Emperor Qianlong’s tea room in Chengde Mountain Resort, is also featured. Accompanying this sculpture are tea sets and a statue from the Tang Dynasty unearthed in Gongyi, Henan Province. The statue is believed to be a representation of Lu Yu. From the Tang to the Qing Dynasty, the once-in-a-millennium meeting of two statues of Lu Yu is unprecedented in the history of tea culture.
This exhibition features a total of 555 pieces or sets of exhibits, including 227 from representative collections of 30 cultural institutions and museums both domestically and internationally. These collections are sourced from esteemed institutions such as the National Library of China, the National Museum of China, the China National Tea Museum, the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Museum of Ethnic Cultures of Minzu University of China, the Management Center of Ming Tombs in Beijing’s Changping District, the Shanghai Museum, the Tianjin Library, the Museum of Heilongjiang Province, the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum, the Shaanxi Academy of Archeology, the Famen Temple Museum, the Hanyangling Museum, the Gongyi Museum, the Shandong University Museum, the Changzhi City Cultural Relics Protection Research Center (Changzhi City Archaeological Research Institute), the Xiyang County Cultural Relics Institute (Xiyang County Museum), the Hunan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology, the Hunan Museum, the Nanjing Museum, the Guizhou Provincial Museum, the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology, the Guangdong Provincial Museum, the Shaowu Museum, the Opium War Museum, the Russian State Hermitage Museum, the British Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Tokyo National Museum and the Idemitsu Museum of Arts in Japan.
“The World of Tea: Special Exhibition on Tea Culture” comes with an exhibition catalog. Simultaneously, the Palace Museum’s official website will initiate online exhibition tours. Moreover, multiple channels and formats will be adopted to promote the exhibition, including the museum’s official accounts on Weibo, WeChat, and online video platforms. The Palace Museum will sequentially present a series of public academic lectures to facilitate visitors to understand the exhibition. Please stay tuned for lecture announcements on the “The Palace Museum Publicity and Education” official WeChat account.
During the exhibition, a tea-related cultural and creative products experience space is open to visitors at the Chonglou (the Lofty Pavilion) in the northeast of Wu men (the Meridian Gate). This unique space is a dedicated area for cultural and creative exploration, highlighting the essence of tea culture within the Forbidden City, with a theme centered around “thousands of feet of snow.” By seamlessly integrating elements such as white jade carving, meticulous mortise and tenon craftsmanship, and the iconic red wall color, visitors are invited to fully immerse themselves in the captivating allure of traditional Chinese culture while indulging in a profound tea culture experience.
China Construction Bank, as the joint promoter of the exhibition, and Longfor Group, as the public welfare supporter, have collaborated to support the exhibition activities. During the exhibition, the Palace Museum and China Construction Bank will launch the fifth round of new precious metal cultural and creative products – the “Divine Animals of the Forbidden City.”
Admission to this exhibition is free with a Palace Museum ticket, and visitors can make real-name reservations through the “Palace Museum” WeChat mini-program.
