Palace Museum Culture Online Lecture Series (Part II)

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Hong Kong Palace Museum will present Part II of the Palace Museum Culture Lecture Series from October to December this year. Featuring leading experts from the Palace Museums of Beijing, Taipei and Hong Kong, the lecture series aims to foster the study and appreciation of Palace Museum culture. These distinguished scholars will share their new research and bring to life the rich collections of these significant museums.

The first part of this lecture series from last April to June was well received by the public. It covered themes ranging from the architecture of the Forbidden City to the art collections and culture of the imperial court. The upcoming Part II of the series will explore a few important topics in Chinese art and archaeology, highlighting treasures from the Palace Museums and their cultural context and significance.

The details are as follows:
“The Rise and Fall of Ritual Jades in Early China” (23 October 2021):
Dr Tianlong Jiao, Head Curator of the HKPM, will explore ritual jades from early China using new archaeological finds. With a symbolic significance that far exceeds their decorative function, these objects have been an important component in Chinese society for more than eight thousand years.
Mandarin, with simultaneous interpretation in Cantonese, no subtitles are available.

“The Emperor’s Porcelain: Royal Taste and Craftsmanship” (20 November 2021):
Ms Tsai Mei-fen, former Chief Curator of the Department of Antiquities of the Palace Museum, Taipei, will discuss how imperial taste led to new developments in porcelain making, with a focus on Ru kiln celadon in the Song dynasty (960–1279), “sweet-white” (tianbai) porcelain in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), and porcelain with painted enamels from the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Each was particularly favoured by a particular emperor— Huizong, Yongle, and Kangxi, respectively—who had a marked influence on the development of ceramic production.

“The Imperial Costume System of the Qing Dynasty and its Cultural Significance” (11 December 2021):
Mr Yan Yong, Curator and Head of the Court History Department of the Palace Museum, Beijing, will explore the imperial costume of the Qing dynasty (1644- 1911), and its cultural significance. Topics include the ranked hierarchy the costume embodied, and the Manchu and Han-Chinese cultural elements of the Qing imperial costume.

The Hong Kong Palace Museum is scheduled to open in July 2022. The Museum will offer a Hong Kong perspective and a global vision, presenting the finest objects from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions around the world. Through innovative research and travelling exhibitions, as well as educational, cultural, and professional exchange programmes, the Museum will build international partnerships and help position Hong Kong as a hub for art and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

The Hong Kong Palace Museum aspires to become one of the world’s leading cultural institutions committed to the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture, while advancing dialogue among world civilisations through international partnerships. Scheduled to open in July 2022, the Museum is a collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Palace Museum. The capital cost of the Museum is fully funded by a donation of HK$3.5 billion from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.