Two Hundred Selected Masterpieces from the Palace Museum, Beijing
Two Hundred Selected Masterpieces from the Palace Museum, Beijing ／ Heiseikan Special Exhibition Galleries January 2, 2012 (Mon) - February 19, 2012 (Sun)
In 2012, which marks the 40th anniversary of the normalization of relations between Japan and China, the Tokyo National Museum is holding an exhibition of masterpieces from the Palace Museum, Beijing.
The site of the Palace Museum, Beijing, was formerly the residence of 24 Chinese emperors from the Ming-dynasty Emperor Yongle to the Qing-dynasty Emperor Puyi. In addition to its own glorious architecture, it houses a collection of more than 1.8 million artifacts.
This magnificent exhibition consists of a selection of 200 masterpieces from that collection and is split into two sections. The first section features the simultaneous display of 41 Song- and Yuan-dynasty calligraphic works and paintings not previously shown outside the palace (some works for a limited period), as well as masterpieces of court and literati paintings, must-see works by three of the best calligraphers of the Song period, and masterworks of calligraphy by Yuan-period literati. Boasting a tremendous array of fabulous bronzes, jades and other artifacts, this lineup can be described as a defining exhibition of the Palace Museum. The second section centers around four portraits of Emperor Qianlong, whose reign marked the Qing dynasty’s golden period. This section seeks to understand the abundance of world views held in the Qing dynasty. There is also an area that attempts to recreate, using existing artworks, a portrait of Emperor Qianlong in which he is depicted surrounded by various masterpieces.
We hope you will take the opportunity to come and see this extraordinary encapsulation of the masterpieces of Chinese civilization.
* Please note that some works will be exhibited for a limited period.
* The Palace Museum Virtual Reality Program ”The Forbidden City: Palace of the Emperors – Special version for the exhibition Two Hundred Selected Masterpieces from the Palace Museum, Beijing” will be on view in Room T5, Honkan. (The Palace Museum Virtual Reality Program (Room T5, Honkan) can be viewed with regular exhibition admission fees.)
News Update: Life along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival, the world-renowned Chinese painting, is traveling abroad.
Legendary Masterpiece Life along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival
[On display from Monday, January 2 to Tuesday, January 24, 2012]
Life along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival (Northern Song dynasty), arguably the most renowned painting in the history of Chinese art, will be included in the exhibition, Two Hundred Selected Masterpieces from the Palace Museum, Beijing.
The exhibit of the painting Life along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival ended on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. From Wednesday, January 25, a printed replica of the work is on display.
Information about Life along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival
First-Class Cultural Heritage Life along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival (detail)
By Zhang Zeduan, Northern Song dynasty, 12th century, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China
[On display from Monday, January 2 to Tuesday, January 24, 2012]
General Information |
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| Period | Monday, January 2 - Sunday, February 19, 2012 | ||||||
| Venue | Heiseikan, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park) | ||||||
| Hours | 9:30 - 17:00 | ||||||
| Closed | Mondays(Except for Monday, January 2, January 9) and Tuesday, January 10 | ||||||
| Admission | Adults: 1,500 (1,300/1,200) yen University students: 1,200 (1,000/900) yen High school students: 900 (700/600) yen Junior high school students and under: Free
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| Access | 10 minutes' walk from JR Ueno Station (Park exit) and Uguisudani Station 15 minutes' walk from Keisei Ueno Station, Tokyo Metro Ueno Station and Tokyo Metro Nezu Station |
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| Organizer | Tokyo National Museum, The Palace Museum, The Asahi Shimbun, NHK, NHK Promotions Inc. | ||||||
| With the special assistance of | The Mainichi Newspapers | ||||||
| With the Support of | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Japan | ||||||
| With the Sponsorship of | Mitsui & Co., Ltd., TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD., Aioi Nissay Dowa insurance Co., Ltd., Huawei Technologies Japan K.K, Takenaka Corporation | ||||||
| With the Assistance of | All Nippon Airways, Chinese Culture Center | ||||||
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| General Inquiries | 03-5405-8686 (Hello Dial) | ||||||
| Exhibition Website | http://www.kokyu200.jp/ (In Japanese) The website has closed with the end of the exhibition. |
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Related Events
Highlight of the Exhibition |
News Update: Life along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival, the world-renowned Chinese painting, is traveling abroad. |
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Legendary Masterpiece Life along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival
[On display from Monday, January 2 to Tuesday, January 24, 2012] Life along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival (Northern Song dynasty), arguably the most renowned painting in the history of Chinese art, will be included in the exhibition, Two Hundred Selected Masterpieces from the Palace Museum, Beijing. The exhibit of the painting Life along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival ended on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. From Wednesday, January 25, a printed replica of the work is on display. |
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| First-Class Cultural Heritage Life along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival (detail) By Zhang Zeduan, Northern Song dynasty, 12th century, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China [On display from Monday, January 2 to Tuesday, January 24, 2012] |
| Among the Song- and Yuan-dynasty calligraphic works and paintings admired by all fans of Chinese art, Life along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival (Northern Song dynasty, 12th century) is an especially renowned masterpiece. This hand scroll, painted by Zhang Zeduan and measuring over 5 meters long, vividly depicts in detail festivities in the Northern Song-dynasty capital, Bianjing (present-day Kaifeng). The fame of this work as one of the highest points of Chinese art has spread far and wide. However, it is rarely exhibited, even at the Palace Museum in Beijing, and it has only been shown outside of the museum at the Shanghai Museum, the Liaoning Provincial Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of Art. At all these places it was displayed for a limited period of time and was so popular that the exhibition venues, to which art fans flocked from around the world, recorded waiting times of several hours. For the first time, China’s “national treasure of national treasures” is crossing the sea to go on display in Tokyo. |
Part I: Treasures of the Palace Museum: Imperial Masterpieces |
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| Zhu Shang Zuo Tie in cursive script (detail) By Huang Tingjian, Northern Song dynasty, ca. 1099-1100 (Yuanfu 2-3), First-Class Cultural Heritage, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Hu Cong Tie in running script
By Cai Xiang, Northern Song dynasty, 11th century, First-Class Cultural Heritage, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Blossoming Lotus
Southern Song dynasty, 13th century, First-Class Cultural Heritage, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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| Waterside Village (detail) By Zhao Mengfu, Yuan dynasty, dated 1302 (Dade 6), First-Class Cultural Heritage, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Pu (Food Container)
Spring and Autumn period, 7th - 6th century B.C., First-Class Cultural Heritage, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Huang (Half-disk Ornament) with Openwork Double-headed Dragon Design
Warring States period, 3rd century B.C., Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Blue-and-white Octagonal Prunus Vase with Dragons and Waves Design
Jingdezhen Kiln, Yuan dynasty, 14th century, First-Class Cultural Heritage, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Carved Lacquer Plate with Gardenia Design
With mark of Zhang Cheng, Yuan dynasty, 13th - 14th century, First-Class Cultural Heritage, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Cloisonné Vase with Dragon-shaped Pierced Handles and Interlocking Lotus Design
Yuan - Ming dynasty, 14th - 15th century, First-Class Cultural Heritage, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Bright Yellow Silk Court Robe with Woven Design of Colored Clouds and Gold Dragons
Qing dynasty, Jiaqing era (1796-1820), Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
Part II: The Essence of Qing Court Culture: Unity Amid a Diversity of Cultures |
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Section 1: Rites of the Qing Court: The Permanence of Tradition |
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| Portrait of Emperor Qian Long in Court Dress Qing dynasty, dated 1736 (Qianlong 1), Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Red Satin Court Robe with Brocade Colored Clouds and Golden Dragon Design Qing dynasty, Yongzheng era (1723-1735), Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Section 2: Cultural Affairs in the Qing Dynasty: Continuity and Change in Traditional Chinese Culture |
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| Screen with Portrait of Emperor Qing Long and His Concubine in Ancient Costume (detail) Qing dynasty, 18th century, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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One or Two? (Double Portrait of Emperor Qian Long) Qing dynasty, 18th century, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Section 3: Religions of the Qing Dynasty: A World Brought Together by Tibetan Buddhism |
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Standing Figure of Yamantaka Qing dynasty, 18th century, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Section 4: International Exchange During the Qing Dynasty: Contact with Neighboring Lands |
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| Emperor Qian Long's Grand Review Qing dynasty, 18th century, First-Class Cultural Heritage, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
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Pavilion-shaped Cloisonné Clock with a Pagoda Qing dynasty, 17th - 20th century, Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, China |
