Beijing Central Axis – Page 3

#北京 #中國 #China #Beijing | #紫禁城 #ForbiddenCity #November2023 | #ForbiddenCityDairies -The Palace Museum #ForbiddenCity Collections of Chinese intangible cultural heritage. Collection 26th October – 3rd November 2023…..

November 3, 2023 kevinjamesngLeave a comment

On July 19^th 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 Dynasty, filigree enamel candlestick with the word “囍”. Before the advent of electric lights, people used oil lamps or candles for lighting. There were many candles and candlesticks in the Qing palace. Candlesticks are mostly made of metal, which is stable and difficult to ignite. Menorah styles vary depending on where they are used. This cloisonné enamel candlestick has a sky blue glaze base and is decorated with lotus patterns. Yuanbao symbolizes wealth and can prevent wax oil from spilling. The word “囍” indicates that this candlestick is specially made for weddings.

Wang Xizhi’s “Lanting Preface” of the Eastern Jin Dynasty is known as “the best running script in the world”. The “Lanting Preface” that has been handed down from generation to generation is divided into two types: later generations’ copy, copy and stone rubbing. During the Song Dynasty and the Song Dynasty, engraving and calligraphy flourished. “Preface to Orchid Pavilion” was carved in stone and passed down, which became a fashion. Collecting rubbings of “Lanting Preface” has gradually become a hobby among literati, ranging from a few to more than ten, or even hundreds or even hundreds.

During the Southern Song Dynasty, Lizong, the Prime Minister of Yousi, collected hundreds of rubbings of Wang Xizhi’s “Lanting Preface”, which were later called “Youxiang Lanting”. According to the heavenly stems, there are ten types of each stem from A and B to Ren and Gui. In the third section of the exhibition 松图charm , “You Xiang Orchid Pavilion”, the Palace Museum and the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong jointly displayed fourteen of them for the audience to compare and appreciate….

Encounter ancient characters in the Forbidden City “Grandfather”, “Grandmother”, “Ancestor”, “ancestor”… Where does the word “ancestor” come from? What does the Yin-Shang period mean? Are grandparents represented by the word “ancestor”?

Qing, the wooden tablet of the God of Joy. The wedding of an emperor and an empress, with dragons and phoenixes appearing auspicious, is the greatest joyous event in the world. The emperor and the empress wanted to seek good fortune, avoid misfortune, and bring joy with them, so they naturally wanted to worship the God of Joy. The emperor and queen only became official husband and wife after performing the wedding ceremony. The next day, they also had to worship the gods of heaven and earth, the god of joy, etc. This picture is the tablet used to worship the God of Joy. The tablet is made of wood and has the words “the tablet of the God of Joy” on it. It is placed on the table of the God of Joy when worshiping. The time, direction, and location of worshiping the God of Joy are determined by the calculations of Qin Tianjian…..

Purple Forbidden City Xunfang In the ninth month of the lunar calendar, chrysanthemums are the official flower of the month. Whether it is cold and chilly or rich and gorgeous, the various features of autumn can be expressed through the posture of chrysanthemums.

As one of the Four Gentlemen of Flowers, the chrysanthemum has a deep connection with literati. From Qu Yuan, who “ate autumn chrysanthemums in the evening” to Tao Yuanming, who “picked chrysanthemums by the east fence”, there are many sages in Chinese history who were fascinated by their unique temperament. “A thousand years of white clothes and wine, a lifetime of youthful fragrance” is a vivid portrayal of the image of chrysanthemum.

Qing Dynasty, red paint with 囍 character pattern and incense bucket. After the wedding, emperors and empresses would worship the God of Joy and ask the God of Joy to bring happiness to their bodies. The specific method is to place the tablet of the God of Joy and the incense stick with the word “囍” in it, the green apple, and the incense stick with the word “囍” in red paint on the table to worship the God of Joy together. The four sides of this incense bowl are painted with the Chinese character “囍” in gold, which is specially used to worship the God of Joy. The incense bucket was originally stored in Kunning Palace, indicating that the ceremony to worship the God of Joy was held in Kunning Palace.

Late autumn has arrived and the weather is getting colder. Children should wear cute hats and warm cotton clothes. The several costumes in the picture were all used by princes and princesses in the palace in the old days. Tiger-head shoes and tiger-head hats are traditional Chinese children’s clothing. They are often worn at the same time and have auspicious meanings to ward off evil and ensure safety. Regardless of the court or the people, people like to wear tiger-head shoes and hats for their children to wish them healthy growth. The cultural relics in the picture are on display in the exhibition 西伊华堂 at the Prince Gong’s Mansion Museum….

During the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, a round cushion made of red silk embroidered with dragons, phoenixes and 囍 characters. The center of the round cushion is embroidered with the golden word “囍”, the two sides of the word “囍” are embroidered with images of dragons and phoenixes, and the edges are embroidered with the character “囍”, bats, and gourd patterns, which means that the wedding of the emperor and the empress will bring many happy events, endless blessings, and the proliferation of descendants. This red silk cushion with embroidered dragon and phoenix “囍” characters may have been specially made for the wedding ceremony of Emperor Guangxu and his wife.

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.

Qing Dynasty, silver-plated gold-plated stone, jade and coral beads inlaid with three Ruyi. According to the wedding custom in the palace, after marriage, one should worship the God of Joy in the bridal chamber of Kunning Palace. On the table of the God of Joy, the word “囍” for “Ruyi” is placed. A “Ruyi” is also placed on each corner of the emperor’s and empress’s marriage bed to convey the beautiful wishes of the newly married emperor and empress. This silver-plated Ruyi piece is inlaid with various jewels with the characters “auspicious”, “auspicious”, “ru”, “yi” and “囍”, which may be related to the emperor’s wedding ceremony to worship the God of Joy. Three-inlaid Ruyi is one of the Ruyi shapes. It is named after the inlays are applied to the head, handle body and tail of Ruyi. Inlay was initially used on bamboo handles and wooden handles, and then gradually expanded to other materials.

Qing Dynasty, celebrations, etc., wedding celebrations, imperial edicts, banquet etiquette pictures (partial). The emperor and the empress performed the union ceremony in the bridal chamber. After officially becoming husband and wife, they also held celebration ceremonies, edict-issuing ceremonies and banquet ceremonies. The eighth volume of Emperor Guangxu’s “Wedding Pictures”, “Pictures of Celebrations, Edicts, and Banquets,” depicts the entire process of celebrations, edicts, and banquets. The pictures in this volume are very rich in connotation. The “Wedding Pictures” selected this month are all taken from this volume. Emperor Guangxu first congratulated Empress Dowager Cixi in Cining Palace. During the celebration ceremony, the emperor knelt down and kowtowed to the empress dowager, and the emperor and internal and external ministers presented congratulations to the empress dowager. This picture shows Emperor Guangxu leading the princes and ministers in a celebration scene of kneeling three times and bowing nine times to the Empress Dowager Cixi…

1^st November 2023 – Frost red is dancing in several places, and thousands of golden spots are dyed, riding on the autumn wind. Hello November fall in love with the forbidden city …..

Qing., pictures of wedding celebrations, issuing edicts, and giving banquets. The emperor led the princes and ministers to congratulate the Empress Dowager at the Cining Palace, and then came to the Taihe Hall to receive the congratulations from the princes, princes and officials, and then issued an edict to announce it to the world. The celebration of the emperor’s wedding, the issuance of edicts, and the banquet are all state rituals, and the scenes are extremely grand. The picture selected this month is a page from the album “Pictures of Etiquette for Celebrations, Edicts, and Banquets”. In the picture, you can see the Fajialu Book in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Square of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Zhonghe Shaoyue Music under the eaves of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the There is Danbi Da Le under the eaves of Taihe Gate. The princes, ministers, civil and military officials, and envoys from foreign vassals were ranked according to their grades and stood respectively in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, His Majesty Dan and His Majesty Dan. As the official of Luan Yiwei issued the whip command, His Majesty Dan, the captain of the whip, cracked the silent whip three times, and then the praise officer of Honglu Temple shouted the command: “Scheduling!” The saluting officials presented congratulations to the emperor according to their rank. , among whom there were also envoys from foreign vassals, who kowtowed and saluted under the guidance of ritual music.

How many steps does it take to transfer the words on the stone tablet to paper?
The process of rubbing a monument may seem simple, but a good rubbing also requires skilled rubbing skills. Take a look at the schematic diagram below. Do your eyes catch it? Do you know how to do it?
Search and enter the “Transfer Heart and Extension” applet to experience the art of transfer with your own hands…

Qing Dynasty, static whip with red wooden handle; Qing Dynasty, celebration of Kuan, etc., pictures of wedding celebrations, edicts, and banquets (partial). The static whip is a tool used to maintain order during grand ceremonies in the palace. The static whip has a wooden handle, one foot long, engraved with a golden dragon head, and painted with red paint. The total length of the whip is about 5.93 meters. When the emperor came to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to accept the congratulations from all the officials, ascended to the throne and descended from the throne to leave the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the guard Luan Yi shouted the command: “Cry the Whip!” At this time, His Majesty Dan’s Whip Cry was set up in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The captain of the school whips his whip to the ground three times to remind the officials that the ceremony is about to begin or to announce the end of the ceremony.

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 #October2023 | #ForbiddenCityDairies -The Palace Museum #ForbiddenCity Collections of Chinese intangible cultural heritage. Collection 8th -11th October 2023-

October 11, 2023 kevinjamesngLeave a comment

On July 19^th 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.

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.

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 #October2023 | #ForbiddenCityDairies -The Palace Museum #ForbiddenCity Collections of Chinese intangible cultural heritage. Collection 26th 4TH – 8TH October 2023…

October 8, 2023October 8, 2023 kevinjamesngLeave a comment

“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 8^th October- 24^th 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.

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 #September2023 | #ForbiddenCityDairies -The Palace Museum #ForbiddenCity Collections of Chinese intangible cultural heritage. Collection 11th – 15th September 2023..

September 15, 2023September 15, 2023 kevinjamesngLeave a comment

Emperor Qianlong once wrote a poem praising crape myrtle as “always blooming with light color in summer, and also emitting light fragrance before the wind”, which is fitting.

Crape myrtle has the same pronunciation as the “Emperor Star” Ziweixing. It has been widely planted in the palace since the Tang Dynasty because of its long-lasting flowering period and bright and lovely appearance. It is also called the “official flower” because it refers to Zhongshu Province. The seventh month of the lunar calendar is a time when all the flowers are blooming. “Sunflowers pour into the sun, hostas scratch your head, crape myrtle soaks in the moon, hibiscus blooms…” Hollyhocks, crape myrtles, cockscombs, etc. have all been nominated as moonflowers by literati in different periods. . The crape myrtle flower may not be the most gorgeous and graceful among them, but it is unique because of its freshness and delicateness….

Qing, Leng Mei, Gao Qiu Wan Yue chart axis. Leng Mei was a disciple of Jiao Bingzhen, a court painter of the Kangxi Dynasty. His neat and meticulous brushwork and beautiful colors were highly appreciated by Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong. This picture depicts a scribe climbing a high pavilion and looking at the bright moon. In the lower left corner of the painting, there is Leng Mei’s self-inscription “Writing on the Mid-Autumn Festival in Gengxu”, which shows that the painting was painted during the Mid-Autumn Festival and depicts the scene of admiring the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival. On August 15th, the autumn air is crisp and clear. The moon is not only full and bright, but also the best place to watch. At this time, people look to the moon to remember, or associate the full moon with reunion, hoping for a happy family; or they look to the autumn wind to ask if Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit are well in the moon palace.

Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, Leng Mei, Emperor Qianlong observing the moon. The court painter Leng Mei once painted “Moon Appreciation”, which depicts the scene of elegant scholars looking at the moon in reverie during the fragrance of sweet-scented osmanthus in August. Emperor Qianlong liked this painting very much and ordered Leng Mei to replace the scribe in the original painting with himself, depicting him wearing Hanfu and admiring the moon under the laurel tree with Ruyi in his arms. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, admiring the full moon and looking forward to family reunion are beautiful wishes shared by emperors and common people.

Qianlong, Jinnong, and Yuehua scrolls of the Qing Dynasty. In traditional Chinese culture, the moon is mystical and poetic because of its distance. In ordinary paintings, it often appears as a supplementary scene, but in this painting, Jin Nong directly expresses the moon as the main subject, which can be described as unique. The whole picture is extremely simple, with only a full moon depicted. Within the moon, the author uses light ink to draw the blurry images of jade rabbits pounding medicine and osmanthus trees. Outside the moon, the author uses green, ocher, and yellow as the main colors. Through the overlapping of colors, the bright and bright light of the moon is highlighted, which shows Jin Nong’s extraordinary imagination and bold expressiveness. The inscription on the lower right side of the painting reads, “The picture of the Moonlight is sent to Mr. Shutong for appreciation, the seventy-five-year-old gold farmer”, indicating that it was a gift to a friend.

Qianlong Qing Dynasty, Chen Mei, Yue Man Qingyou Picture Album. Chen Mei, whose courtesy name was Zaidong and whose names were Dianluan and Zhiwotoutuo, was from Lou County (now Songjiang, Shanghai). In the early years of Yongzheng’s reign, he was recommended by the court painter Chen Shan and became a royal painter. His paintings studied the Northern Song Dynasty style and were influenced by the Western painting style of Lang Shining in the court. The images he created were exquisite and nuanced, with strong modeling ability and artistic expression that conveyed the spirit through form. He was deeply appreciated by Emperor Yongzheng and Emperor Qianlong. During the Qianlong Dynasty, Chen Mei drew the “Yueman Qingyou Tu” in accordance with the emperor’s decree. According to the order of the twelfth lunar month in the Chinese lunar calendar, it showed the recreational activities of the beauties in the palace and garden in each month. This picture is the first in the album. It depicts the scene of the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, when beauties ascend to the Qiong Tower to recite poems, admire the moon, and look forward to family reunions.

During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, Dong Bangda’s “Enjoyable Illustrations of Remaining Things” in Hongli Shu’s Autumn Post Ci Volume (partial). This is a calligraphy and painting scroll with the theme of Mid-Autumn Festival and the emperor and ministers of the Qianlong Dynasty. It begins with the four words “enjoyable things” written by Emperor Qianlong, and also begins with the imperial inscription “Draft a poem for the Mid-Autumn Festival and order the Imperial Academy and others to harmonize it”. Next, Dong Bangda (a Jinshi in the 11th year of Yongzheng’s reign, from Hanlin official to Minister of Rites) painted the Mid-Autumn Festival scene of the Chengde Summer Resort, the imperial palace outside the Great Wall. The bright moon is in the sky, and there are people admiring the moon in a grass pavilion near the river. Some people set up tables to worship the moon, hoping for happiness and contentment. At the end of the volume are poems by Liang Shizheng, Minister of Household Affairs, Qian Chenqun, Minister of Justice, and Emperor Qianlong. For Emperor Qianlong, appreciating the moon was appreciating the heart. Reunion with his family was important, and harmonious relationships with his courtiers were equally important.

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 #September2023 | #ForbiddenCityDairies -The Palace Museum #ForbiddenCity Collections of Chinese intangible cultural heritage. Collection Seventh – Eleventh September 2023..

September 11, 2023 kevinjamesngLeave a comment

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 8^th 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.

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