Forbidden City Construction

#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 …..

December 21, 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….

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

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

14^th 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..

December 13, 2023 kevinjamesngLeave a comment

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 7^th 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 11^th 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 #November2023 | #ForbiddenCityDairies -The Palace Museum #ForbiddenCity Collections of Chinese intangible cultural heritage. 17th- 25th November 2023…..

November 25, 2023 kevinjamesngLeave a comment

Forbidden City Ginkgo is about to turn yellow, looking forward to a #Forbidden City dyed with golden color ! Fall in love with the Forbidden City

During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, there was a special chime made of jasper depicting golden clouds and dragon patterns. After Emperor Qianlong cast the bell, in order to complete the ritual and music system, he also added a set of twelve special chimes in the same year, one for each, and they were used in the same way as the bell. The special chime is made of a whole piece of Xinjiang Hotan jasper and is crafted by Suzhou jade craftsmen. The body of the chime is obtuse-angled rectangular, with both sides decorated with golden clouds and dragon patterns. The gold and green contrast with each other, and the decoration is gorgeous. On the left and right sides of the upper part of the stand are phoenix heads. The page board is decorated with phoenixes pierced by peony patterns, and the lower part supports a reclining duck.

There are twelve special chimes in a set, corresponding to the twelve rhythms made in the Qing Dynasty. The pitch is adjusted by the size of the chime body. The larger the chime, the lower the pronunciation. Each chime is hung separately, so it is called special chime. When used, different special chimes are chosen according to the rules for each month, such as “Taicu” corresponding to the first month, and so on. The use of special chimes reflects the political concept of Emperor Qianlong advocating Confucian ritual and music education.

Daju, who was covered in autumn fat, couldn’t resist the howling autumn wind and started playing “hide and seek” under the stone fence. This weekend, have you decided where to go to “cat”?

Yellow satin embroidered cloud and dragon pattern (replica). Hui was the commanding tool of Heshao music in court performances in the Qing Dynasty. When the music was under his command, the music was composed, and when it was under his command, the music stopped. The main body of the robe is made of bright yellow cloud satin, embroidered with colorful rising dragons, clouds and fire beads. The upper part is made of blue satin, embroidered with nebulae. In the middle is the sun wheel, with the word “中和” embroidered on it. The lower end is embroidered with seawater and river cliffs. The upper and lower parts of the muzzle are pierced with gold-painted crossbars, with double dragons carved on the upper part and landscapes carved on the lower part. The harem is hung on a red pole, the end of the pole is decorated with a copper-plated dragon head, and the lower part is inserted into a gold-lacquered wooden base. The chariot shown in the picture is a replica, and the red pole and stand are left over from the Qing palace.

The drum is built with gold lacquer and colorful paintings of clouds and dragons. Jiangu originated very early and was relatively mature in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty at the latest. It is a “leather” musical instrument in the ancient eight-tone classification. The drum used in Zhonghe Shao music in the Qing Dynasty has a long and round drum body, a large drum body, and the whole body is painted with gold paint. Both sides are decorated with two gold-plated copper dragons holding copper rings.

Both ends are covered with leather and painted with cloud and dragon patterns. There is a vertical pillar running through the middle of the drum body, with a hood on it, curved beams hanging down on all sides, and a golden dragon carved on the top. The cover is also covered with yellow satin embroidered with clouds and dragon patterns. There is a golden Luan bird on the top of the cover. The drum is supported by a cross-shaped bracket and is engraved with cloud patterns. There are four pedestals under the pillar, and lions are carved on the four legs. The four-cornered dragon’s mouth, golden luan, and copper ring all hang with colorful silk tassels. When playing, beat the drum as the starting and ending rhythm of the phrase. At the end of each sentence, beat the drum and all the music will stop; hit the drum again and all the music will resume.

introduced the ancients’ love for roasted pears . In addition to fire roasting, there are frozen pears in cold northern areas, which are frozen pears. “Jilin Tongzhi” Volume 33 “Shi Huo Zhi 6” records, “It is as hard as a stone. Soak it with water. The cold air will melt inside and ice chips will form on the outside. Shake it with your hands and it will crack like a shell. Remove the shell. And when you make it complex and suck it, it is extremely sweet.” For the royal family of the Qing Dynasty, which originated between the white mountains and black waters, frozen pears were an unforgettable taste of hometown, and they were often listed as tributes in the Qing palace archives.

Qing Dynasty, wooden color painting Xiaozhu (zhù). It is made of wood, shaped like a square bucket, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. The inner wall is painted black, the outer wall is painted with patterns, and the frame and Xumi base are painted in gold. There is a round hole in the middle of one side of the pail, and a corresponding drum-shaped bulge of the same size in the middle of the inner wall, which is the part where the sound is produced when struck. The striking tool of the 柷 is called “Zhi”, which is an octagonal mallet with a long handle. The 混 is one of the musical instruments played in the palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. When the “band conductor” is raised, the performer taps the inner wall of the instrument three times with a mallet, and the music begins

This green gauze gown with clouds, bats, and golden dragon patterns was introduced in Let’s Read the Calendar Together on November 10th. The audience in the comment area was very interested in the details of the clothing. Let’s follow the high-definition picture. , appreciate the beauty of the details of this court gown!

This gown was worn by the concubines of the Qing Dynasty when celebrating grand ceremonies. It is slightly shorter than the court robe and is worn over the court robe. The gown has a round collar, double lapel, sleeves, and left and right trains. The whole body is decorated with colorful silk and gold embroidery patterns, with two flat gold embroidered dragons on the chest and back. The embroidered seawater cliff is densely covered with colorful clouds and the word “囍” pattern, which is suitable for the wedding..

Qing Dynasty, wooden color painting (yǔ). It is made of wood and looks like a crouching tiger. The surface is decorated with tiger stripes and the bottom is decorated with a golden lacquered footrest. There is a groove in the middle of the tiger’s back, and twenty-seven rectangular pieces of painted wood are planted in a group. Two ears protrude from one side of the seat, which are used to place Ao’s shooting tool (zhēn). It is made from a bamboo tube, which is split and separated into twenty-four thin bamboo strips. When playing, the performer uses the laini to scrape the discord and make sounds. The 攔 is one of the musical instruments played in Zhonghe Shao music in the Ming and Qing dynasties. When the music is about to end, the sound of “waiting” is used as the ending sound, and then the bow is put down and the performance is finished

The air is cold and it is snowing, but the autumn scenery is still there. A cloud of “light snow” has already fallen on the red wall. Will the First Snow in the Forbidden City be far behind this winter? Today 小雪爱Forbidden city…..

Gold lacquer painted cloud and dragon pattern bo (bó) suo (fǔ). The drum is as small as a drum, with a leather-covered drum surface and painted double dragons. The whole body is painted with gold paint, and there are two gold-plated copper dragons on it, each holding a copper ring to tie the bright yellow velvet. The drum is usually placed on a wooden golden lacquered footrest. During the performance, the player hangs the drum around his neck with a velvet (xún) and beats the drum head with both hands. The Bohuo was also a special instrument used in the Qing Dynasty’s court performances and Shao music. It was used in conjunction with the Jiangu. The Jiangu struck once and the Bohuo played twice to match the festival.

Qing Dynasty, black paint painted clouds and dragon patterns. The harp is a traditional Chinese plucked string instrument, shaped like a harp, also made of paulownia wood, with twenty-five strings. Each string is equipped with a movable post to adjust the pitch. The longer the vibrating section of the string, the lower the pronunciation. The harp is often compared with the harp, collectively known as “harp”. In comparison, the zither is larger in size and louder in volume; with more strings, the timbre changes more. The musical instruments used in the Qing court and Shao music also included the harp and the harp. The zi shown in the picture, whether it is the decoration or the wooden and gold-lacquered bracket, maintains the same style as Jiangu, Bohu,

Gourd is homophonic to “Fu Lu” and is a symbol of wealth, longevity, good luck and peace. The body of this pair of golden Daji gourd hanging screens has a silk pattern of ancient money as the base. The circular consecrated center is inlaid with the regular script “Daji” in regular script with lapis lazuli, and is surrounded by jade, turquoise, tourmaline and other gems. They are currently on display in the exhibition 西伊华堂 at the Prince Gong’s Mansion Museum . The exhibition will be on display until November 25th, so go and have a look!

Qing Dynasty, celebrations, etc., wedding celebrations, imperial edicts, banquet etiquette pictures. After the emperor’s wedding celebrations, he would issue an imperial edict to inform the world of the happy event. This picture is from the album “Pictures of Ceremonies for Celebrations, Edicts and Banquets”. The officials of the Ministry of Rites took out the edict from the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The staff of the Ministry of Rites placed the cloud disk containing the edict in the Dragon Pavilion. They were escorted by Lieutenant Luan Yiwei and led by the honor guard band. They carried it to the yellow table on the Tiananmen Gate Tower and announced the edict. The official read out the contents of the edict in both Manchu and Chinese languages. After that, the edict officer placed the edict in a cloud disk, tied the cloud disk with a colorful rope, and hung it in the mouth of the golden phoenix in the middle of the Tiananmen Gate Tower. The colorful rope was relaxed to make the cloud disk slowly fall down, which means that the edict fell from the sky. , is the will of God. The edict was then placed in the Dragon Pavilion, carried to the Ministry of Rites, engraved and printed, and issued to the world. This is a picture of the issuance of an imperial edict, showing officials from the Ministry of Rites kneeling to receive the edict.

Finally waited for the golden color of ginkgo! In the cold wind of early winter, recycle a curtain of bright autumn colours that are “returning for a limited time…

Qing Dynasty, celebrations, etc., wedding celebrations, imperial edicts, banquet etiquette pictures. After the emperor’s wedding, the emperor held a state banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony to thank the queen’s father, brothers, family members, princes, ministers, and foreign envoys. This was the most lively and festive occasion in the entire wedding. This picture is the banquet scene in the eighth volume of Emperor Guangxu’s “Wedding Pictures” “Celebrations, Edicts, and Banquet Etiquette Pictures.” At noon on the fifth day of February in the fifteenth year of Guangxu’s reign (1889), the emperor came to the Hall of Supreme Harmony and rewarded the queen’s father and his family members. The emperor’s banquet table is set in front of the throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony; the banquet tables for his stepfather and princes are set up on the east and west sides of the throne; the banquet tables for first- and second-rank civil and military ministers, Mongolian princes and other officials are set up in the Hall of Taihe; There are banquet tables for the nobles and guards of the second rank and above; on the left and right of His Majesty Dan, there are banquet tables for the civil and military officials below the third rank and the family members of his father-in-law….

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 #November2023 | #ForbiddenCityDairies -The Palace Museum #ForbiddenCity Collections of Chinese intangible cultural heritage. – 3rd -17th November 2023…..

November 19, 2023 kevinjamesngLeave a comment

Qing Dynasty, the emperor’s winter crown. The imperial crown is the crown and hat worn when wearing imperial robes. In the imperial attire system of the Qing Dynasty, imperial garb and imperial robes were the garments worn during major ceremonies, and were the highest-grade among the garments of the Qing Dynasty. The “Great Qing Hui Dian” of the Kangxi Dynasty records: “The emperor’s crown and attire were decided in the first year of Chongde, and the crown was inlaid with Dongzhu stones… It was decided in the 22nd year of Kangxi that in all grand ceremonies and altars and temples, the crown was inlaid with large Dongzhu stones. For the crown, the dress should be yellow, autumn fragrant, or blue… The queen’s crown dress: for any celebration ceremony, the crown should be set with east beads on the top, and the dress should be yellow, autumn fragrant, or blue.” By the time of the Qianlong Dynasty, the “Dynasty Ritual Utensils Illustration” described the costumes Made a more detailed classification. The ceremonial dress worn by the emperor during major celebrations consists of a court crown, court clothes, end cap, court beads, court belt, etc. When the emperor comes to the Taihe Hall to receive congratulations from princes and officials when he wears court robes for his wedding, he must also wear a court crown. This crown is the emperor’s winter crown.

Qing Dynasty, bright yellow kesi silk clouds and gold dragon pattern, leather edge men’s court robe. The court robe was the most important form of dress in the Qing Dynasty. It was the attire worn by emperors and empresses during court ceremonies. In addition to court crowns, formal attire also includes court robes, hoods, gowns, court beads, etc. The emperor must wear court robes when he holds a wedding ceremony to celebrate the Empress Dowager, and when he comes to the Taihe Palace to receive celebration gifts from princes, officials, and concubines. The court robe is in the style of a top and lower skirt, with a collar, arrow sleeves and a large placket on the right side. A sarong can also be worn over the court robe. This robe has a tapestry pattern of colorful clouds and golden dragons on a bright yellow ground and is trimmed with leather. It was probably worn by Emperor Guangxu when he held major ceremonies in winter.

“The sunset gradually sets in the west, and the sunset glow turns the sky red, as well as the locust forest and bamboo forest. There are fewer and fewer birds in the sky, but the gray starlings in the whole forest still don’t want to sleep prematurely. Look, these few days Just as they landed on the branches, those few flew up again… Inside and outside the woods, hundreds of birds were singing, calling for friends and chirping, like a waterfall falling into a deep stream, or like a stormy wave crashing on the beach. , the entire black locust forest and bamboo forest became a natural club.” The author of the essay “Gray Starling” is China’s first crane taming girl, Xu Xiujuan. She died in 1987 while rescuing an injured white swan from drowning. She was later Posthumously considered a martyr.

Today, we will get to know the gray starlings written by Xu Xiujuan. Gray starlings have a strong sense of community. In addition to moving in pairs during the breeding season, they often move in groups during the non-breeding period. In the Forbidden City, pay more attention to the grass or tall trees, you may be able to see them….

Qing Dynasty, Queen Xia Chaoguan inlaid with jewels and green velvet. The imperial crown is the most important among all kinds of crowns and hats. The various ornaments on the crown are symbols of the status and rank of the wearer. The more pearls inlaid on the top of the crown, the higher the status of the owner. The queen wears a crown of sable in winter and green velvet in summer. This queen’s crown is made of green velvet. There are three layers of phoenixes on the top of the crown. Seven birch-bark phoenixes and one Zhai are hung on silk threads on the top of the crown. The hanging beads are in the “five elements and two” style. It is one of the highest-ranking symbols in the crown of a concubine. First, it is the Xia Dynasty crown worn by empresses and empress dowagers of the Qing Dynasty when they wore formal clothes…

“Puzzle Figure” is a traditional toy in the Qing palace. It was designed by Tong Yegeng in the first year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1862) based on the “Tangram”. It is composed of 15 different wooden boards, which are arranged and combined according to the principle of Bagua. The graphics that can be assembled are more abundant than the “tangram”. On the base of this “wooden puzzle picture”, an unknown prince or princess also drew a pony, which is very childlike and very cute. The cultural relics in the picture are on display in the exhibition

Qing Dynasty, coral carvings with 囍 characters and patterns on the beads. Chaozhu is a kind of pendant in the Qing Dynasty, hung around the neck and hanging on the chest. When the concubines of the Qing Dynasty wear court clothes, they must wear three strings of court beads, one hanging in the middle and two hanging crosswise. Depending on the rank, the beads worn are also different, so it is also a symbol of identity and status. The Queen’s Chaozhu belongs to the highest level. The queen wears a court robe and must wear a string of East beads on the front of her chest and two strings of coral beads on her armpits. This piece of court beads is made of red coral beads engraved with the character “囍”. The Buddha’s head and the pagoda are made of lapis lazuli. Yellow sash, used for the queen’s wedding

If you want to learn a foreign language, where should you start? This “Mongolian” study book by Emperor Qianlong can be used for our reference. In 1743, when Emperor Qianlong was on an eastward tour, he began to systematically learn Mongolian in order to communicate with the Mongolian princes and nobles he met along the way. In this book “Mongolian”, the translated Mongolian words are transcribed from Manchu letters to facilitate understanding and learning; in terms of content, it is mainly suitable for scenes such as meeting lamas in the Mongolian and Tibetan areas. It is highly targeted and focuses on phrases and sentences. , mostly contain spoken language components. “How’s the journey? When did you arrive?” “Is there snow on the road?” “How is the year?” It seems that regardless of ancient and modern times, to master a foreign language, most of them start with “300 Practical Conversational Sentences”!

Autumn leaves are still red, rustling and cold wind blows. Today is the beginning of winter , under the clear sky and setting sun, it is the early winter of Falling in Love with the Forbidden City .

Qing Dynasty, silver and gold-plated beaded stone collar. The collar, also known as a collar, was an accessory worn on the necks of concubines in the Qing Dynasty to distinguish their status. It was very valuable in the royal dowry of the Qing Dynasty. “The Qing Hui Dian Diagram·Crown Clothes·Contract” stipulates: “The Queen’s contract is engraved with gold and decorated with eleven east beads, with coral in between. There are two yellow sash hanging at both ends, with coral in each middle, and turquoise at the end. Two of each.” The higher the user’s status, the more Eastern beads will be inlaid. The same is used for concubines, concubines and concubines. This necklace is made of gold-plated silver, carved with hollow curly grass patterns, inlaid with two sections of rubies, two sections of ink jade, inlaid with red stones and pearls at intervals, tied with a golden ribbon, and four red and green stones at the corners.

During the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, women’s court robes were made of bright yellow silk embroidered with colorful clouds, bats and 囍 characters and gold dragon patterns. The queen’s dress consists of court crown, court robe, court gown, court beads, gold covenant and collar covenant, etc. It is made like the emperor’s dress. When the emperor receives congratulations from the court on his wedding day, the queen must also wear court robes, crowns, collars, court beads, colorful silk ribbons, etc. This queen’s court robe has a large placket with right flap, round collar, horse hoof sleeves, attached collar, and straight body style. The court robe is bright yellow, with silk embroidered with the word “囍”, colorful clouds and golden dragon patterns. It should be worn by the empress at the wedding of Emperor Tongzhi.

During the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, he wears a green gown with clouds, bats and emblems, and a golden dragon pattern. This gown was worn by the concubines of the Qing Dynasty when celebrating grand ceremonies. It is slightly shorter than the court robe and is worn over the court robe. The gown has a round collar, double lapel, sleeves, and left and right trains. The whole body is decorated with colorful silk and gold embroidery patterns, with two flat gold embroidered dragons on the chest and back. The embroidered seawater cliff is densely covered with colorful clouds and the word “囍” pattern, which is suitable for the wedding.

Qing Dynasty, gold hoop inlaid with rubies and red satin color. Caixi is a kind of scarf used by the imperial concubines in the Qing Dynasty. It is mostly made of silk and satin and is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. When in use, it is hung on the second button of the court gown and hangs down on the chest. This colorful silk ribbon is made of red silk with embroidered patterns on the front such as bats, Ganoderma lucidum, peach fruits, the Eight Immortals, and seawater cliffs. The upper end is a green and white jade ring, with eight groups of sixteen pendants, and various gemstones at the bottom. A red coral flat bead with a dragon pattern is dropped from the top of the yellow ribbon, and a tourmaline drop is placed on each corner of the gold lace support. The colors and embroidered decorations of different colored silk ribbons can be used to distinguish the rank of concubines.

What did the ancient “coach” look like… In, we reviewed the scene of the autumn sentry deer in the Qing Dynasty palace. In addition to setting up ambushes for hunting, horseback shooting is also a national skill developed by the Manchus in their long-term hunting life. It was designated as a “national policy” in the Qing Dynasty and an important assessment subject for members of the Eight Banners. The Xi Yi Huating exhibition at Prince Gong’s Mansion Museum displays several Qing court riding and archery equipment, including bows and arrows, quivers and saddles. The photo materials in the exhibition hall also show an important prop for learning equestrian-a wooden saddle, which can be called an ancient version of a “coach” and provides a window for us to understand the riding and shooting culture of the Qing Dynasty..

In the 1920s, Wanrong dressed up in old photos for her wedding. Guo Bulo Wanrong (1906-1946), courtesy name Muhong and nickname Zhilian, was a native of Zhengbai Banner in Manchuria and the wife of Emperor Puyi of the Qing Dynasty. Wanrong and Puyi got married in 1922, and the wedding was held in the Forbidden City, imitating the emperor’s wedding ceremony. During the wedding, Wanrong wore court clothes, a court crown on her head, a collar and court beads around her neck. She was dressed according to the Qing Dynasty queen’s dress. This is an old photo from that time….

Emperor Kangxi was very interested in natural science subjects such as mathematics, astronomy, geography, pharmacology, anatomy, etc. Among them, the best results were in mathematics and astronomical calendar. Mathematics subjects such as geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and logarithms laid a good mathematical foundation for his future decisions such as advocating science and regulating the Yellow River. He also personally taught the princes how to use telescopes and observed solar eclipses together. The XiYiHuating exhibition at Prince Gong’s Mansion Museum displays Qing Dynasty drawing tools, logarithmic tables, telescopes and other cultural relics..

Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, gilded copper chimes with cloud and dragon patterns; Qingkuan et al. of the Qing Dynasty, pictures of wedding celebrations, edicts and banquets (details). The emperor’s wedding is one of the most important ceremonies in the palace. During major ceremonies, there is a Zhonghe Shao music band under the east and west eaves of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Zhonghe Shao music belongs to ancient court music and has the highest standard among the music systems of the Qing Dynasty. Zhonghe Shao music was used in the wedding ceremonies of emperors in the Qing Dynasty, which was a symbol of the supreme status of the emperor and empress. During the emperor’s wedding ceremony, Zhonghe Shao music was played when the emperor ascended and descended.

Chime bells are an important instrument in Zhonghe Shao music. They are the “gold” musical instruments in the “eight tones”. There are a set of sixteen pieces, including twelve regular temperaments and four double temperaments (bass). The bell is gold-plated, with double dragon buttons, chiseled with cloud and dragon patterns, and is oval and hollow, with respective names cast on the back. When Zhonghe Shao music is played, the bells and chimes ring in harmony, and the golden sound vibrates.

During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, jasper chimes were made with golden clouds and dragon patterns. Chimes and bells are both important instruments in Zhonghe Shao music. The musical instruments used in Zhonghe Shao music are made of eight materials: gold, stone, silk, bamboo, gourd, soil, leather and wood. They are called eight tones, with a total of sixteen types. When the grand ceremony is held, Zhonghe Shao music is set up under the eaves of Taihe Hall. The “stone” in the “eight tones” of the chime is a musical instrument, with a set of sixteen pieces, and the name of the chime is the same as that of the chime. The thickness of the chime body adjusts the sound. This chime is made of Hetian jasper in Xinjiang and decorated with golden cloud and dragon patterns on both sides. It was made in the 29th year of Qianlong’s reign (1764)…

The beautiful elf yellow-rumped warbler, commonly known as “Tree Chuan’er”, is a small bird in the Forbidden City and difficult to identify. This little bird is not only beautiful to look at, but also has a nice chirping sound, which is loud, melodious and changeable. Commonly found in the middle and upper crowns of trees and some shrubs, it flies and jumps short distances between tree branches. In warm and sunny weather, it is relatively active in singing and foraging. The yellow-rumped warbler is a migratory bird in urban Beijing, mainly during its migration in spring and autumn. The chance of encountering it is relatively high from April to May and October to November every year…

The Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the gold-plated copper bell at the entrance of Yongniu Bridge was Zhonglu. Bells and special chimes are important ritual instruments used exclusively in the Qing palace and Shao music. In the twenty-sixth year of Qianlong’s reign (1761), Emperor Qianlong imitated the shape of ancient bells and made a set of twelve bells with gold-plated copper. Each bell was hung separately. The pitch was adjusted by the size of the bell body, and the sound of the bell became louder. The lower. Before the band plays, the bells are struck once, and at the end of the music, the chimes are struck once to create a golden sound.

During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, a special chime made of jasper depicting golden clouds and dragon patterns was produced. After Emperor Qianlong cast the bell, in order to complete the ritual and music system, he also added a set of twelve special chimes in the same year, one for each, and they were used in the same way as the bell. The special chime is made of a whole piece of Xinjiang Hotan jasper and is crafted by Suzhou jade craftsmen. The body of the chime is obtuse-angled rectangular, with both sides decorated with golden clouds and dragon patterns. The gold and green contrast with each other, and the decoration is gorgeous. On the left and right sides of the upper part of the stand are phoenix heads. The page board is decorated with phoenixes pierced by peony patterns, and the lower part supports a reclining duck.
There are twelve special chimes in a set, corresponding to the twelve rhythms made in the Qing Dynasty. The pitch is adjusted by the size of the chime body. The larger the chime, the lower the pronunciation. Each chime is hung separately, so it is called special chime. When used, different special chimes are chosen according to the rules for each month, such as “Taicu” corresponding to the first month, and so on. The use of special chimes reflects the political concept of Emperor Qianlong advocating Confucian ritual and music education…

Daju, who was covered in autumn fat, couldn’t resist the howling autumn wind and started playing “hide and seek” under the stone fence. This weekend, have you decided where to go to “cat”?

“Roasted pears” is a popular snack on the streets in autumn and winter today. The middle of the pear is hollowed out, filled with red dates, rock sugar and other ingredients, and then slowly roasted in the oven. The roasted pears are soft in the mouth, sweet and mellow. Chinese people have a long history of eating pears, and they eat them in different ways. Fresh food is the most common, and steaming and boiling are also common practices. There is a poem that goes, “The old man in the Tian family has nothing to do, and the pear steamed in the steamer during the day has a dull fragrance.” In ancient times, The method of roasting pears is similar to today’s roasted pears. The story of “burning pears to give secretion” in the Tang Dynasty is well known. In addition, there is also a poem in the poem, “I still remember the wind and snow in the official Chengcheng, and the fire burned pears together at night.” Burning pears is the joy of gathering around the fire at night.

There are many ways to eat pears, which one do you prefer?

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

November 3, 2023 kevinjamesngLeave a comment

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…..