Strokes of age-old genius

The Palace Museum is inaugurating a regular-series exhibition at the Hall of Martial Valor, unveiling its trove of ancient paintings and calligraphy works, from the end of April. On display are 69 masterpieces, covering the main painting and calligraphy styles from the Jin (AD 265-420) to the Qing (AD 1644-1911) dynasty. More than 10 pieces among them are top-grade cultural relics. This collection will kick off the series that will be updated thrice a year. Paintings and calligraphy works have been shown at the museum for decade. However, the routine display has been blocked for the past four years with the renovation of the painting hall getting underway in 2004.

Thanks to the refurbishing of the Hall of Martial Valor, re-arranged to fit the display of paintings and calligraphy, these rarely seen works are now open to visitors.

The show is divided chronologically into three periods: the Jin to Yuan dynasties, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. The selected works reflect the artistic features, changing styles, major schools and famous artists of the respective periods.

Visitors will have the chance to get up close with the representative masterpieces of the different periods, including Wang Xizhi (AD303-361) - running script of Preface for the Orchid Pavilion Gathering of Jin Dynasty; Mi Fu (AD1051-1107) - Letter on Collection with a Picture of Coral Brush Holder of Northern Song Dynasty (AD 960-1127); Zhao Mengfu (AD 1254-1322) - Outstanding Rocks and Sparse Grove of Yuan Dynasty (AD1272-1368); Tang Yin (1470-1523) - Scenes of Qiantang of Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644); and Zhu Da (Bada shanren, 1626-1705) - Poem by Hermit Yanzhou of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Visitors can sense the pastoral beauty of the landscape paintings of the Jin Dynasty, the literati theme and rich color schemes used in the Sui (AD581-618) and Tang (AD 618-907) period, the natural scenery as well as flowers and birds of the Song Dynasty, figure painting and minute touches to flowers and landscapes in the Yuan Dynasty, the various painting schools of the Ming Dynasty, as well as the vivid and innovative compositions by Qing painters.

"The show suits both beginners, to expand their knowledge on Chinese fine arts history, and connoisseurs looking for greater depth of detail," says Zhao Zhongxiu, a teacher from Renmin University. The museum houses a collection of 45,000 paintings and 50,000 calligraphy works except those created by members of the royal family, providing a panoramic view of the evolution of Chinese fine arts from the Jin to the Qing dynasty.

"After more than five years, the first phase of the renovation, including all the buildings along the axes, is nearing completion," says Jin Hongkui, deputy director of the museum. "At present, the completed project includes the Hall of Martial Valor and the main rostrum of Meridian Gate (Wu Men)."

Opposite the Hall of Martial Valor is the Wenhua Hall that will open ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games, displaying the museum's precious collection of ceramics.

The second series of the painting show will start on July 15 and last until August 31 and the third is scheduled to be held from September 15 to October 31.

8:30 am-5 pm, until June 9

Palace Museum, 4 Jingshan Qianjie, Dongcheng District

8511-7575

故宫博物院, 东城区景山前街4号

(China Daily 05/03/2008 page6)