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The works of art in the National Palace Museum in Taipei are national treasures. Passed
down from dynasty to dynasty since the Northern Sung period (960-1127), they represent one
thousand years of the collection and production of works of art for the imperial courts of
China. The bulk of the collection entered the palace during the reign of Ch'ien-lung (1736-
95). Many of the objects, especially those in jade and bronze, were intimately connected with
state rituals, while others are symbols of sovereign power -- for example, the jade seal of the
emperor is the equivalent of the crown of the European king. The possession of ancient
writing and pictures, libraries and historical documents conferred legitimacy on the ruling
dynasty and reflected a deep faith in cultural tradition -- a belief that only those with a clear
understanding of the past can have a vision of the future. The history of Chinese art mirrors
this belief. Despite the changing tastes and trends of successive periods, the creative
imagination of every generation is firmly rooted in a study of the past.
In 1931, following the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, nearly 10,000 masterpieces of
ancient painting and calligraphy and more than 600,000 art objects and rare books and
documents were moved to Nanking for safekeeping in preparation for the inevitable war of
resistance. In 1937 these national treasures were evacuated again to caves near the wartime
capital, Chungking, in Szechwan province. It was not until the outbreak of World War II that
the treasures, which form a major legacy of China's cultural heritage, were moved to
Taiwan.
The masterpieces on display represent the entire spectrum of the Chinese imperial collection -
- from Neolithic jades and ancient bronze vessels to Ch'ing dynasty paintings and porcelains.
The breadth of the exhibition as well as the quality, beauty, and cultural importance of its
content -- landmarks in the history of Chinese art -- provides a unique opportunity to
experience the genius and diversity of China's rich artistic tradition.
The exhibition is arranged chronologically and organized around four themes: a cyclical view
of history; the Confucian discourse on art; the social function of art; and possessing the past.
Curators of the exhibitions are: Wen C. Fong (chairman), James C.Y. Watt, and Maxwell
K. Hearn, all of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The exhibition has been organized by the National Palace Museum (Taipei) and the
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York). The exhibition will be presented at four US
museums.
March 19 - May 19, 1996
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
June 29 - August 25
The Art Institute of Chicago
October 14 - December 8
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
January 26 - April 6, 1997
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC