IMPERIAL LINKS
Palace Museum holds first major show of items from marine routes of the Silk Road, Wang Kaihao reports.
TheredbuildingofMeridian Gate Gallery in the Palace Museum is covered in blue light these days to reflect the cultural communication routes that once existed between the East and the West. As China’s royal palace from 1420 to 1911, the institution also known as the Forbidden City, houses memories of such links.
The Forbidden City and the Maritime Silk Road, an ongoing exhibition, is showcasing 140 sets of cultural relics, with relevance to such communication during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (16441911) dynasties, from the museum’s myriad collections. The items range from porcelain to and enamel pieces to antique clocks, paintings and scientific instruments. The show will run through July 8. “Many items were gifts to Western diplomats and missionaries during the two dynasties, but some locally made artifacts that adopted Western techniques, are also displayed,” says Shan Jixiang, director of the museum.
“They are key witnesses of China’s communication with the rest of world during that time.”
The exhibition has three sections. The first focuses on Chinese goods such as porcelain ware taken abroad through marine routes on the ancient Silk Road.
“At the time, many noble families in European countries ordered Chinese porcelain items as a symbol of their high social status,” Shan says.
An exhibited Portuguese plate with a family emblem in ink illustrates his point.
Several blue and white porcelain pieces from the late Ming Dynasty represent a typical style in China’s exported goods at the time.
“On one hand, Chinese ceramics influenced people’s eating habits in countries along the ancient Silk Road,” Shan says. “On the other, countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Britain, also mimicked Chinese techniques to produce their own products, and they also brought such items to China as gifts.”
The second section shows how Western science and medicine were used in royal Chinese courts. Telescopes and the tellurion unveil Qing emperors’ lesser-known hobbies, and they even printed Chinese translations of Western geometry textbooks to study in their spare time.
The last section traces how Western fine arts and science blossomed in the Forbidden City. For example, Western painting skills became popular in the Qing court after being introduced by Christian missionaries here. A scroll painting from Chinese artists during the reign of Qianlong (1736-95) portrays British people who inspired the piece.
“While admiring these items, today’s people can imagine the scenes of ancient travelers across oceans for frequent communication,” Shan says. “This is like time-travel.”
The exhibition started ahead of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which was held in Beijing over the weekend.
Culture Minister Luo Shugang said at the opening ceremony of the exhibition on Monday: “The ancient Maritime Silk Road started from China’s southeastern coast, went through South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, to finally reach Africa and Europe.
“It was the arterial route for Sinoforeign links and created common prosperity in regions along it. It promoted the spirit of inclusiveness, mutual learning and common benefits.”
A blueprint from the ministry earlier this year showed that a series of cooperative projects among partner countries of the Belt and Road Initiative has been launched in the field of culture.
“AsaUNESCOWorldHeritagesite and a major conservator of Chinese cultural relics, the Palace Museum can be a key strength in this process,” Luo said at the opening of the show.
Exhibitions related to overland routes of the ancient Silk Road have been in the spotlight at the Palace Museum in recent times.
For example, last year a comparative exhibition was held showing Indian sculpture masterpieces from the 5th century and 8th century and their parallels in China during the same period. Another ongoing exhibition highlighting the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road reveals treasures from Afghanistan; it continues through June 17.
The latest exhibition shows artifacts related to sea routes of the ancient Silk Road.
According to Guan Qiang, deputy director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, an association of museums combining efforts from institutions in countries along the new Silk Road will be set up. Themed shows, information-sharing platforms, research and training programs will follow to enhance cultural cooperation. Contact the writer at wangkaihao@chinadaily.com.cn