On April 30, the Palace Museum opened a captivating show titled “All Beings Thrive in Harmony: A Special Exhibition of Animal-themed Paintings from the Palace Museum Collection.” Set within the Gallery of Painting and Calligraphy in the Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian), the exhibition will run for two months until June 29. It is fully supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and exclusively funded by the Institute of Philanthropy.

The title of the exhibition, “All Beings Thrive in Harmony,” is inspired by a line from the Warring States period philosopher Xunzi in his work “Discourse on Nature:” “All things that grow live in harmony and benefit from the nourishment of Nature.” This phrase expresses a vision of all life growing in harmony, each being nourished and thriving within a balanced natural order, a philosophy deeply rooted in ideals of unity, inclusivity, and the interconnectedness of all things. General Secretary Xi Jinping referenced this quote at the 2015 United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference in Paris and at the leaders’ summit of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), when commenting that biodiversity brings vitality to the planet and forms the foundation for human survival and development. Harmonious coexistence between humans and nature is a vital support of ecological civilization, with animals playing a critical role in this ecosystem.

This exhibition is the first time that the Palace Museum has showcased its extensive collection of animal-themed paintings. It is divided into three sections: “Spring Birds in Chorus,” “Dancing Beasts in Harmony,” and “Living Creatures in All Forms.” A total of 117 pieces from 63 sets of paintings, dating from the Five Dynasties period to the Qing dynasty, are included in the exhibition. The works cover a wide range of subjects, including birds, mammals, insects, and aquatic creatures. Highlights of the exhibition include “Sketches of Rare Birds” by Huang Quan from the Five Dynasties period, a representative work of the luxuriant and refined Huang family style. Also featured are rare court paintings from the Qing dynasty, such as the “Imperial Manual of Birds” and the “Imperial Manual of Beasts”, which were once part of the imperial collection. The exhibition presents work by renowned artists skilled in animal depiction, including Cui Bai, Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji), Li Di, and Lin Chun from the Song dynasty; Zhao Mengfu, Ren Renfa, Wang Yuan, and Sheng Changnian from the Yuan dynasty; Bian Jingzhao, Shen Zhou, Lyu Ji, and Xu Wei from the Ming dynasty; and Jiang Tingxi, Hua Yan, Lang Shining, and Xu Gu from the Qing dynasty. These works are diverse in subject matter, style, and artistic schools. In terms of technique, the paintings range from the meticulous detail and rich colors of gongbi (realistic painting), to the graceful fluidity of mogu (boneless style, where forms are rendered without outlines), and the bold expressiveness of ink-and-wash painting, where brush and ink are used freely to evoke mood and movement. Through their depictions of animals, these artists conveyed emotions, reflected their inner worlds, expressed cultural identities, and captured the spirit of their times. As such, these paintings represent an integral part of Chinese traditional culture.

From birds soaring in the sky, to beasts running free, to fish gliding through water and insects singing in the grass, these paintings present classic Chinese aesthetic traditions that highlight the beauty of nature. The exhibition “All Beings Thrive in Harmony” not only honors generations of artists who found inspiration in the natural world, but also offers profound insights into our modern pursuit of ecological harmony. We invite all visitors to the Gallery of Painting and Calligraphy in the Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian) to experience the beauty of life through the brushwork of masters across the ages and to reflect on the enduring bond between humans and animals.

Publication: “All Beings Thrive in Harmony: A Special Exhibition of Animal-themed Paintings from the Palace Museum Collection” Catalogue

As part of the exhibition, the Forbidden City Publishing House has published a catalogue that serves both as a reading material for general audiences and as a reference for professionals and scholars.