Among the many forms of ancient Chinese Caihua (architectural polychrome painting), the official style is the most representative. Distinguished by its clear symbolic motifs, strict hierarchical structure, and meticulous brushwork, it stands as the exemplar of ancient Chinese architectural painting. The Palace Museum houses an unparalleled collection of official-style Caihua works from the Ming and Qing dynasties, bearing witness to the thousand-year legacy of Chinese Caihua art.  

On May 27, 2025, the exhibition “A Thousand-Year Legacy of Caihua: Inheritance and Innovation in Official-Style Chinese Architectural Polychrome Painting” opened to the public at the Exhibition Hall of the Palace of Eternal Longevity (Yongshou gong) in the Palace Museum.

The exhibition presents a compelling overview of the development of ancient Chinese Caihua and serves as a showcase for the outcomes of an art training program, titled “Talent Training on the Official-Style Chinese Architectural Polychrome Painting Design.” The training program was funded by China National Arts Fund in 2024.

Although the number of exhibits is limited, each piece is a carefully selected masterpiece, with many on public display for the first time. The exhibition is divided into two main sections: “Tradition” in the front hall of the Palace of Eternal Longevity, and “Innovation” in the rear hall. The “Tradition” section comprises seven units, featuring 43 copies and design samples of representative official-style Chinese Caihua items from the Sui through the Qing dynasties. The “Innovation” section, with four units, highlights Caihua artworks from students supported by China National Arts Fund.