Exhibition on calligraphy and painting by CCICH researchers opens at Palace Museum On July 3, the Palace Museum’s Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men) became the venue for an exhibition showcasing calligraphy and painting works by researchers from the China Central Institute for Culture and History (CCICH). This exhibition is a collaborative effort between the Counselors’ Office of the State Council, the CCICH, and the Palace Museum. The opening ceremony welcomed approximately 100 distinguished guests, including Feng Yuan, vice president of the CCICH; Wang Xudong, member of the Party leadership group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the Palace Museum; Zhang Yantong, member of the Party leadership group and deputy director of the State Council Counselors’ Office; Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum; and Wang Yuegong, deputy director of the Palace Museum. Also present were CCICH researchers Jin Hongjun, Ma Zhensheng, Guo Yicong, Wu Jingshan, Li Yan, Nyima Tsering, Cheng Dali, and Fan Di’an. Other distinguished participants included Li Xin, CPC branch group secretary and vice chairman of the China Calligraphers Association; Zheng Peiliang, deputy director of the Calligraphy Art Center of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Zhao Dong, Party secretary and executive director of Rong Bao Zhai; officials and executives from the State Council Counselors’ Office, the CCICH, and the Palace Museum; as well as representatives from academia, art, and the media. The opening ceremony was chaired by Yang Zhixin, director of the CCICH Research Center of the State Council Counselors’ Office. Feng Yuan and Du Haijiang delivered speeches, and Fan Di’an spoke on behalf of the CCICH researchers. Zhang Yantong, representing the State Council Counselors’ Office and CCICH, presented the Palace Museum with some publications, including a special edition of Chinese Calligraphers and Painters on calligraphy and painting works by CCICH researchers and Sing Out Loud. Feng Yuan, vice president of China Central Institute for Culture and History, delivers a speech in Beijing on June 3, 2023. In his speech, Feng Yuan emphasized the significance of the exhibition as a crucial step in implementing the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s key speeches. Feng highlighted that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s recent speech at the symposium on cultural inheritance and development elucidated critical theoretical and practical issues related to Chinese cultural heritage and development. Feng further noted the important role of CCICH researchers in promoting Chinese modernization, preserving China’s fine traditional culture, contributing to cultural strength, and advancing the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, CCICH researchers have made significant progress in harnessing the power of traditional culture, strengthening national cultural identity, promoting cultural and art creation, and steering new trends of our times. Under the new situation, CCICH will intensify efforts around the theme of “building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” By leveraging its advantages, CCICH will remain committed to the principle of “respecting culture and learning from history” and take on new cultural missions, according to Feng. Feng expressed his confidence that CCICH would continue to conduct in-depth studies and make significant new discoveries in the field of cultural and historical research. Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum, delivers a speech in Beijing on June 3, 2023. Du Haijiang, in his speech, underscored the historical responsibility of Chinese Communists to adapt Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. The exhibition exemplified the Palace Museum’s efforts to implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s requirement of adapting basic tenets of Marxism to China’s realities and traditional culture. This is of great significance to strengthening the foundation of the Chinese path, creating new opportunities for innovation, upholding cultural identity and building a modern Chinese civilization. Du emphasized the Palace Museum’s commitment to connecting the past and present, focusing on inheritance and innovation, and engaging in extensive cooperation with various sectors of society to preserve and develop excellent traditional culture. Following the principle of “pursuing shared development and mutual benefit, drawing on each other’s strengths, and sharing resources,” the Palace Museum will seek cooperation in areas such as heritage protection, exhibition and public education, Du said. The Gangdise Mountains by Nyima Tsering (68x138cm) 2023 A piece of calligraphy work by Shen Peng (136×68cm) 2023 A love song of Pasture by He Jiaying (75×62cm) 2023 The exhibition showcased calligraphy and painting works created by 20 esteemed CCICH researchers. In addition, it featured over 100 documents, including manuscripts of creative works, academic papers, prose essays, sketches, albums, and anthologies. The calligraphy and painting works are characterized by their distinctive themes, rich meanings, and diverse forms of expression. The handwriting and manuscripts reflect the artists’ insights and humanistic values. These exhibits demonstrate the collective achievements and personal styles of CCICH calligraphers and painters. A seminar on calligraphy and painting works by CCICH researchers was also held on the same day. It was presided over by Shang Hui, director of China Artists Association Art Theory Committee, and Zhang Gongzhe vice president and deputy editor-in-chief of the Chinese Calligraphers and Painters magazine. Liu Xilin, a researcher at the National Art Museum of China and former vice director of China Artists Association Art Theory Committee, presented an academic summary. A number of experts and scholars spoke at the seminar, including Wang Yong, a researcher at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, Zheng Xiaohua, a professor at Renmin University of China who is also former secretary of the CPC branch group and secretary-general of China Calligraphers Association, Ma Xinlin, former deputy director of the Department of Calligraphy and Painting of CCICH and a CCICH researcher, and Han Shaoxuan, a postdoc at the National Museum of China. They delivered speeches on the essence of Chinese calligraphy and painting art and principles of art creation. Their discussion also shed light on the artistic styles of CCICH calligraphers and painters, as well as the inheritance and innovation of their techniques. They shared ideas and insights on the development of Chinese calligraphy and painting art in the new era.

“Auspicious Beginnings: Joint Exhibition of Artefacts from the Palace Museum and Tibet” opened at the Palace Museum, Beijing, on April 28, 2023. Distinguished guests invited to the opening ceremony included Wang Xudong, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the Palace Museum; Zhong Tingxiong, deputy director-general of the Department of Communications of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission; Zhang Xuxia, deputy director of the General Office of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; Lian Xiangmin, deputy secretary-general of China Tibetology Research Center; Song Xinchao, chairman of the Chinese National Committee for the International Council on Monuments and Sites and former deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration; Qu Zhen, deputy secretary of the Party Leadership Group and head of the Cultural Relics Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region; Yang Fan, Party secretary of the National Museum of China; Men Fayan, deputy director of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities, Zha Ga, director of the Museum of Tibetan Culture; Master Yanjue, president of the Buddhist Association of China; officials from the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, representatives from cultural institutions, museums and related associations in Beijing, and past and present leaders of the Palace Museum. Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum, Dekyi Drolkar, deputy secretary of the Party Leadership Group and director-general of the Department of Culture of Tibet Autonomous Region, and Yang Xun, vice chairman and general manager of Glorious Sun Group and representative of the GS Charity Foundation, all delivered speeches, and Ren Wanping, deputy director of the Palace Museum, presided over the opening ceremony. The exhibition, jointly organized by the Palace Museum and the Cultural Relics Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region and supported by the GS Charity Foundation, is held at the Meridian Gate (Wumen) Gallery and East and West Wing Gallery in the Palace Museum. It will last from April 29 to July 30, 2023. Guided by General Secretary Xi Jinping’s statement that cultural identity is the deepest form of identity and also the root and soul of ethnic unity and harmony, the exhibition chimes with the museum’s plans to build itself into a peaceful, academic, digital and dynamic institution. Resulting from the “Research on the Community of the Chinese Nation Based on Cultural Relics from the Palace Museum and Tibet” project, supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism from 2021 to 2023, this comprehensive exhibition displays ethnic relations in the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The exhibition showcases the Palace Museum’s research achievements of the past five years and explores the cultural implications behind cultural relics. Tracing the history of interaction, exchange and integration between Tibet, other parts of China, and the court, the exhibition tells a compelling story of ethnic unity and progress. In his speech, Du Haijiang noted that the strong sense of community for the Chinese nation was interwoven throughout the exhibition’s collection. Using academic research, the exhibition demonstrates that Chinese culture has been an emotional bond connecting all ethnic groups in Tibet Autonomous Region, which in turn highlights the necessity and importance of fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. For thousands of years, people of all ethnic groups across the country have maintained close ties, helped each other, and regarded each other as brothers and sisters. The Forbidden City, where the Palace Museum is located, is a testament to the exchange, interaction and integration between Tibet and other parts of China, as well as the formation of the sense of community for the Chinese nation. By showcasing historical connections between cultural relics and their interactions with exhibition spaces, the exhibition vividly relives the history of exchange, interaction and integration between Tibet and other parts of the country, and shows how the sense of community for the Chinese nation has grown and developed. Dekyi Drolkar called the exhibition a significant event that implements the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important views on cultural heritage work. The exhibition explores the extensive exchange and in-depth integration between the Tibet Autonomous Region and other regions of China, which is testament to China’s cultural diversity. As a region with abundant cultural relics, Tibet has made remarkable progress in the protection and utilization of cultural relics over the years, contributing to the long-term stability and high-quality development in the autonomous region while playing a vital role in fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. Yang Xun noted that Chinese culture is the aggregate of various ethnic cultures and serves as the shared cultural home for people of all ethnic groups. Through the study of cultural relics, “Auspicious Beginnings: Joint Exhibition of Artefacts from the Palace Museum and Tibet” tells inspiring stories of interaction, exchange, and integration between Tibet and other parts of China, and serves as a vital testimony to the joint efforts of multiple ethnic groups in building the shared cultural home for the Chinese nation. He said that Glorious Sun Group’s dedication to the preservation and inheritance of Chinese culture had helped bolster confidence in culture, and its support of this exhibition was both a necessary and essential measure to make good on this commitment. “Auspicious Beginnings: Joint Exhibition of Artefacts from the Palace Museum and Tibet” is divided into three sections: “Flower-filled Roads: Communications with Tibet,” “Flourishing Flora: Identity and Belonging,” and “Glorious Fruition: Monuments to Inter-ethnic Cultural Dialogue.” The “flowers” serve to highlight integration between Tibet and other parts of China. The exhibition features a total of 108 artifacts, including 13 items (sets) from subordinate institutions of the Cultural Relics Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region and the Administrative Committee of Sakya Monastery, and 95 from the Palace Museum. In addition to well-known paintings and calligraphy, such as “Emperor Taizong Receiving the Tibetan Envoy” by Yan Liben from the Tang dynasty and “Stele for Danba the Emperor’s Teacher” by Zhao Mengfu from the Yuan dynasty, there are also many cultural relics that are being displayed to the public for the first time, including the Manchu Buddhist canon from the Palace Museum, a portrait of Emperor Yongle from the Potala Palace in Lhasa and a thangka depicting the first meeting between Kublai Khan and Phagspa from Sakya Monastery. These exhibits fully demonstrate the diversity and artistic charm of Tibetan cultural relics. For the needs of cultural heritage protection and according to routines, all original paintings and calligraphic works from the Song and Yuan dynasties and earlier periods in the exhibition will be replaced with replicas after one month of display.

The opening ceremony of the “Gandhara Heritage along the Silk Road: A Pakistan-China Joint Exhibition” was held at the Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian) in the Palace Museum on March 15, 2023. Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping announced the opening of the exhibition. Moin ul Haque, Pakistani ambassador to China, Fareena Mazhar, federal secretary of the National Heritage and Culture Division of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, and Yang Xun, vice chairman and general manager of Glorious Sun Group and chairman of Jeanswest International (Hong Kong) Limited, addressed the opening ceremony. Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum, presided over the event. In addition, about 200 guests were invited to the opening ceremony of the exhibition, including Nong Rong, China’s assistant minister of foreign affairs, Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group, Xie Bing, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, Sha Zukang, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Jia Deyong, secretary-general of the International Confucian Association, Zheng Xinmiao, former vice minister of culture and tourism and former director of the Palace Museum, as well as foreign diplomats to China, officials from ministries and commissions of the State Council, scholars and experts in the fields of culture, diplomacy and museum, exhibition staff, and representatives from over 30 domestic and foreign media outlets. The Gandhara art exhibition was jointly organized by the Palace Museum and the Department of Archaeology and Museums of the National Heritage and Culture Division of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which is so far the largest of its kind held within China. The exhibition, which began preparations in 2019, underwent the test of the COVID-19 pandemic and had to postpone its opening several times. The project was included twice in the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on February 6 and November 2, 2022, respectively, and was endorsed by the leaders of both countries. The Palace Museum worked in coordination with the Department of Archaeology and Museums of the National Heritage and Culture Division of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and all supporting museums to ensure the successful opening of the exhibition. The aim of the exhibition is to promote mutual understanding between China and Pakistan, with a emphasis on allowing the Chinese people to grasp the profound significance of the Gandhara culture. The exhibition features a total of 203 artifacts, including 173 items from Pakistan and 30 from the Palace Museum. The Pakistani artifacts are from seven museums, namely the National Museum of Pakistan, Taxila Museum, Peshawar Museum, Islamabad Museum, Dir Museum, Swat Museum, and Hund Museum. These artifacts, dating back to the period between the 2nd century BCE and the 10th century CE, were mostly unearthed through archaeological excavations. The exhibition displays an array of well-known Gandhara stone carvings, such as early Buddhist bodhisattva sculptures, Buddha stories, Jataka tales, and stupa architectural components, alongside gold and silver ware and jewelry, fully demonstrating the diverse styles and unique charm of Gandhara art and the historical context of multicultural integration. The 30 artifacts from the Palace Museum were primarily introduced from ancient Gandhara region into the west of China's Tibet Autonomous Region via art centers along the Silk Road on the plateau, such as Swat and Kashmir. These artifacts exerted a significant influence on the gold and copper sculpture styles and art of the ancient Guge Kingdom, providing a testament to the history of extensive cultural and art exchanges between China and Pakistan. The ancient Gandhara archaeological sites are predominantly situated at the southern end of the Hindu Kush and Karakoram Mountains, which served as a vital hub connecting the South Asian subcontinent with the Silk Road. This region was a melting pot of Mediterranean, Iranian, Central Asian steppe, and Indian civilizations, where diverse cultures intersected and formed rich and colorful civilizations. The exhibition is divided into three sections: “Land of Fragrance: The Birth of Gandhara Civilization under Multiculturalism”, “The Splendor of Gandhara Art” and “The Echoes of Gandhara Art”. From the perspective of the development of ancient Gandhara civilization, the exhibition showcases the artistic charm and influence of Gandhara culture. “Gandhara Heritage along the Silk Road: A Pakistan-China Joint Exhibition” is now on at the Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian) in the Palace Museum. It will run until June 15, 2023. The exhibition is free of charge for visitors with the Palace Museum tickets. Visitors should make a real-name reservation through the WeChat mini-program of the Palace Museum. This exhibition is supported by Jeanswest International (Hong Kong) Limited.

“A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” opened at the Palace Museum’s Wumen Exhibition Hall in Beijing on Jan. 16, 2023. The exhibition was organized by the Palace Museum, Beijing Cultural Relics Exchange Center, the Confucian Temple, and Guozijian Museum, in partnership with CCTV.com, and jointly promoted by China Construction Bank and the organizers. The opening ceremony of “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” in Beijing, Jan. 16, 2023 Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, announces the opening of “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” in Beijing, Jan. 16, 2023. Distinguished guests invited to the opening ceremony of the exhibition included Wang Xudong, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the Palace Museum; Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum; Wang Chenyang, director of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; Zheng Shaoliang, deputy director of the General Office of the National Cultural Heritage Administration; Chen Mingjie, Party secretary and director of Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau; Hu Changmiao, secretary to the board of directors of China Construction Bank; Wang Bingsong, deputy secretary of the Party committee and general manager of CCTV.com; and Xu Zhe, general manager of Beijing Cultural Investment Development Group. Participants also included other leaders of the Palace Museum. “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” showcases fine traditional Chinese culture and Chinese traditional virtues. It features 179 works by ancient scholars who were awarded the title of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examination) since the Tang dynasty (618-907). The show demonstrates the remarkable achievements of those outstanding figures in philosophy, Chinese classical studies, history, literature, and arts, and pays homage to their contributions to the development of Chinese civilization. It is divided into three sections, namely, “The Path to Jinshi,” “Erudite Scholars,” and “Artworks of Scholars.”  Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” in Beijing, Jan. 16, 2023.  Du Haijiang noted that the cultural relics on display, which tell  stories reflecting ancient scholars’ patriotic feelings and family values, encourage visitors to contemplate the connections between “cultivating oneself, governing the family and country, and promoting stability and peace in the world.” As such, the exhibition shines a light on the Chinese people's patriotism and their responsibility to stay informed about world events. In recent years, the Palace Museum has implemented the guiding principles outlined in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speeches on cultural relics and cultural work, as well as the new development philosophy, which emphasizes innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all. The Palace Museum is committed to pursuing innovation and has worked with various institutions to bring cultural relics to life. The museum is also at the forefront of efforts to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture and Beijing’s transformation into a capital of culture and a city of museums. Chen Mingjie, Party secretary and director of Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” in Beijing, Jan. 16, 2023. Chen Mingjie said that the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core highly values preserving and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture and cultural heritage. Following Xi’s fundamental guide for cultural heritage work in the capital in the new era, Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau has prioritized the protection and utilization of cultural relics, and promoted their value. To activate Beijing’s cultural resources, great efforts have been made to protect, manage, and utilize those resources across the capital. Accordingly, the exhibition offers the public a rich cultural experience, taps into cultural potential, promotes cultural exchange and cooperation, makes a significant contribution to Beijing’s cultural and museum industry, and supports the city’s vision of building a national cultural center. Hu Changmiao, secretary to the board of directors of China Construction Bank, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” in Beijing, Jan. 16, 2023. Hu Changmiao reaffirmed China Construction Bank’s commitment to standing on the side of the people, serving national development, supporting the real economy and helping improve people’s lives. Since 2019, China Construction Bank has collaborated with the Palace Museum on exhibitions such as “Xumi Fushou,” “Everlasting Splendor,” and “The Making of Zhongguo, and launched the “Forbidden City Auspicious Beasts” brand for precious metal cultural and creative products. With the exhibition “A Literary Legacy,” China Construction Bank will continue to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s traditional culture by leveraging new finance, and will work with partners to contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Wang Bingsong, deputy secretary of the Party committee and general manager of CCTV.com, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” in Beijing, Jan. 16, 2023. In his speech, Wang Bingsong reflected on the close strategic partnership between China Media Group (CMG) and the Palace Museum. To showcase the cultural relics' charm, CCTV.com under CMG will use its multi-terminal broadcasting platform to livestream and promote the exhibition. Moreover, it is supporting the “CMG Meta Museum” project. Taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by the exhibition, CCTV.com continues to strive to integrate ideas, art and technology and draw upon its strengths in content, technology, and platform to jointly cultivate the brand “A Literary Legacy.” It is also deepening strategic cooperation with the Palace Museum in areas such as online exhibitions, cultural and creative products, content production, and program cooperation.  “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” is now on at the Meridian Gate Gallery (Wumen) and East Wing Gallery in the Forbidden City, as well as the Confucian Temple and Guozijian Museum. It will run from Jan. 17 to Apr. 2, 2023.

On August 29, the opening ceremony of an exhibition titled “Mirroring the Heart of Heaven and Earth—Ideals and Images in the Chinese Study” was held in the Palace Museum. Wang Xudong, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the Palace Museum, Wang Chunfa, director of the National Museum of China, Zheng Xinmiao, former Chinese Vice Minister of Culture and former director of the Palace Museum, Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum, Wang Dongbo, deputy director of the National Library of China, Feng Nai’en, director of Prince Kung’s Mansion Museum under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Su Dan, deputy director of China National Arts and Crafts Museum under the Chinese National Academy of Arts, Peng Gang, vice president of Tsinghua University, Liu Chen, deputy dean of the School of Arts at Peking University, Wu Hongliang, president of Beijing Fine Art Academy, Li Tianliang, editor-in-chief of Tencent News, and other leadership members of the Palace Museum attended the event. Lou Wei, executive deputy director of the Palace Museum, presided over the opening ceremony.

The exhibition “Life in Its Many Forms: Figure Paintings from Across the Ages in the Palace Museum Collection (Phase Ⅲ)” opened at the Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian) in the Palace Museum on August 30 and will continue until October 30, 2022.