In Beijing, right in the middle of the city, you’ll find the Palace Museum. This is the name given to the Forbidden City after the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is not to be confused with the National Palace Museum, located in Taipei, Taiwan.
How It Came to Be
During the war with Japan, the Republic of China packed up the treasures of the palace and hid them or transported them out of harms way. After that war ended and the war between the Republic and the communists reignited, the collection didn’t get unpacked. Eventually, Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Republic of China, was on the retreat to the south. The ROC initially took all of the treasures with them. That proved too much, so the museum scholars selected what the very finest to send across the Straight to the island of Taiwan. Today, that collection is housed in the National Palace Museum locations across the island.
The collection that made it to Taiwan was only about 20 percent of the full collection, but the pieces are considered to be the very best. This museum is also considered one of the best, if not the best, collection of Chinese art in the world.
The Collection
The collection at the National Palace Museum rotates regularly to help preserve the art and artifacts even longer. They say only one percent of the collection is on display at any given time. This also helps preserve the intrigue and mystery of the pieces by limiting public viewing. I saw things friends have only hoped of seeing.
The museum divides the collection into several categories: pottery and ceramics, religious artifacts, bronze, imperial finery, calligraphy and paintings, and furnishings. These aren’t the official categories, but that’s how I’ll divide them. Some of the pieces are absolutely stunning. Some are intricate, delicate masterpieces. Others are unique in their style and design. Several are special because of their rarity. Many are similar to others seen in Chinese art collections around the world.
Honestly, I was not so enthralled with the museum as I expected I would be. Many friends and websites had talked it up. It was just another museum with a fabulous collection of art. Personally, I like museums that display their collection in special and unique ways, that make the art part of the exhibition space or the space a part of the art. This was not the case at this museum. The pieces were displayed in very normal ways.
The Treasures
I did get to see some of the museum’s absolute treasures. These are items that experts say are the best of their kind. They are usually limited to when they are on display, so I was fortunate to see them.
I got to see the jade cabbage with insects carved on it. This stone sculpture is exquisite and full of symbolism. The artist who created it was truly a master of the craft.
I got to see the Tang woman. She is considered the ultimate example of Tang-era clay sculpture. Her features are fine, and her character demure.
The pillow baby confuses me. Why would anyone sleep on a piece of hardened and glazed clay? It would be more comfortable to sleep with no pillow or on your hands.
The bronze pot and bell are not the most beautiful bronze works from ancient China, which has a vast and proud history of bronze works.
Oh, and the meat-shaped stone, is just that, a piece of stone that has been polished, put on a carved wooden base and displayed because it looks like a piece of meat.
I would go back
I would go back though to visit this museum when the collection rotates some. I would also like to visit the second branch in the southern part of the island. I also hope they succeed to raise the funds they want to expand the exhibition space in Taipei, so that more of the collection is available to visitors.
