The exhibition “Honest Prescription, Benevolent Practice: Medicine in the Qing Palace” opened at the Palace of Eternal Harmony (Yonghe gong) in the Forbidden City on 10 February 2021. A unique category among the variety of works in the Palace Museum collection, medical instruments and pharmaceuticals are material evidence of the medical practices in the palace of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). The works for this exhibition were chosen with care and consist of authentic traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients, Chinese-formula medicines (Zhongcheng yao), and foreign pharmaceuticals. Additional items in the galleries include a range of medical instruments and related archival materials. The displays reveal the history of medicine in the Qing court and provide a glimpse into the daily life of the Forbidden City’s residents.

The exhibition is a permanent installation. No additional ticket is required after the purchase of a general admission ticket to the Palace Museum.