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Wang Xizhi and the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering

On the occasion of its 150th anniversary, the Tokyo National Museum is hosting a special exhibition that explores the rich literati culture of Japan and China, as epitomized by Wang Xizhi and the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering. It introduces representative works by this master calligrapher alongside paintings and calligraphy themed on the purification […]

Admiring the High Mountain—Cultural Relics Related to Su Shi

A special exhibition of cultural relics related to Su Shi (蘇軾, 1037–1101) just opened this week at Sichuan Museum in Chengdu, Sichuan province. Su Shi, also known by his pseudonym Su Dongpo, was born in Meishan, Sichuan province, so this exhibition is a homecoming celebration of his cultural accomplishments and influence. There are a total […]

All That Flourishes Under the Brush—Wang Shizhen and His Endeavors

Wang Shizhen (王世貞, 1526–1590), an important historian and litterateur of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), has many works to his name. Also a devoted member of the arts, he took part in almost all of the major cultural realms of his day. Of particular note was the fact that he astutely observed the flourishing of society […]

The Making of China: The Civilizations of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties

There is less than one month left for this special exhibition at Shanghai Museum. This joint exhibition includes over 200 pieces/sets of artworks excavated in Henan province. Henan, a province in China’s central plains, used to be regarded as the “Center of the World” in ancient China. One of the cradles of the Chinese civilization, […]

Hong Kong Palace Museum is Open

The Hong Kong Palace Museum officially opened on July 3, 2022, in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to China. As a leading institution committed to the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture, the new museum presents a curated selection of the finest objects from the Palace Museum […]

Silent Poetry—Delicate Paintings from the Southern Song Dynasty

Although literature and painting are two different modes of artistic expression, during the Southern Song dynasty, the surfaces of fans, albums, and small paintings were graced with no small number of paintings where “poetic sentiments merged with painted imagery.” These richly poetic, finely-painted, small-sized artworks are broadly referred to as “delicate paintings” in this exhibit. […]

Tradition and Revival: Zhao Mengfu and His Times

Happy New Year! A new exhibition just opened this week at the Tokyo National Museum. This exhibition commemorates the 700th anniversary of the passing of Zhao Mengfu (1254–1322)—poet, calligrapher, and painter—who was one of the most important artists of the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368) and even the entire Chinese history. Zhao Mengfu was a descendant of […]

A Trio of National Treasures—Fan Kuan, Guo Xi and Li Tang at the National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum’s “Travelers Among Mountains and Streams” by Fan Kuan (ca. 950–after 1032), “Early Spring” by Guo Xi (ca. 1023–after 1087), and “Whispering Pines in Myriad Valleys” by Li Tang (ca. 1049–after 1130), are collectively known as the “Three Treasures of the NPM”. These three large hanging scrolls represent the paradigms of the […]