ThePalaceMuseumwasdevelopedfromtheimperialpalaceofMing(1368-1644)andQing(1636-1912)dynasties.Itistheworld’slargestandbest-preservedancientarchitecturalcomplex.Asoftheendof2016,thePalaceMuseumhousednearly1.9millionitemsinitscollection,ofwhichrareculturalrelicsaccountfor42percentofallthosehousedinChinesemuseums.Ofallthemuseumsintheworld,itholdsthemostrelicsandwelcomesthegreatestnumberofvisitors.
BronzeworksfromtheShang(1600-1046B.C.)andZhou(1046-256B.C.)dynasties,terracottawarriorsfromtheQinDynasty(221-207B.C.),bambooslipsfromtheHanDynasty(202B.C.220A.D.),tri-colorglazedporcelainfromtheTangDynasty(618-907),ceramicsfromtheSongDynasty(960-1279),furniturefromtheMingDynastyandgarmentsfromtheQingDynastycanallbefoundinthePalaceMuseum.Inthisbook,authorZhuYonganalyzesthemostemblematicitemsfromeacheraandoutlinesthelifeof18valuableexhibitswithstellarprose.Together,alloftheseobjectsformthearthistoryofthePalaceMuseum,preservingthebeautyofChineseculturalheritage.Thebookalsoincludesnearly100highqualitypicturesofrelicshousedinthePalaceMuseumandmuseumsaroundtheworld.AdrawingofpatternsonabottledatingbacktotheWarringStatesPeriod(475-221B.C.),housedinthePalaceMuseum.Thepatternsshowactivitiessuchasfishing,hunting,andbanqueting.
AterracottawarrioroftheQinDynasty(221-207B.C.),housedinthePalaceMuseum.
Atri-colorglazedporcelainhorseoftheTangDynasty(618-907),housedinthePalaceMuseum.
AporcelainwarefromtheRuKilnintheNorthernSongDynasty(960-1127),housedinthePalaceMuseum.
AcloakthatusedtobewornbyaqueenorempressoninformaloccasionsintheQingDynasty(16441911),housedinthePalaceMuseum.
AredplatewithpeonypatternsoftheMingDynasty(1368-1644),housedinthePalaceMuseum.Whydoestheauthorrefertotheseitemsas“ancientthings”ratherthan“culturalrelics”?Accordingtohim,hewantedtoemphasizetheiconsofeachtime.IntheprefacepennedbytheauthorthatistitledGravelsoftheForbiddenCity,hewrote,“Everyancientthingdemonstratesthestrengthofhistoryandtime.”Indeed,everydynastyhasitsuniquecharacter,andthe“ancientthings”intheauthor’sdescriptionreflecttheculturalspiritofthosedynasties.
DailySunshine,anemergingmediaoutletestablishedinShenzhenin2001,remarked,“Theauthorwrotenotjustaboutancientthingsthemselves,butalsocoveredelementsincludinghistory,art,nationandmilitarycloselyrelatedtothosethings.Suchancientthingsarefootprintsacrosstimeandembeddedwithmemory,civilizationandwisdom.”
WriterFengJicaioncedeclaredthatZhuwasobsessedwithChina’spastcultureandregardeditasanintegralpartofhisspirit.History,normaleverydaylife,nationalcharacter,aestheticgenesandmarksofsensibilityareallmeltedinit.AllofthesecomepossiblebecauseofhisloveofChineseculture.
ZhuYong,bornin1968,isarenownedcontemporaryauthorandscholaraswellasdirectoroftheInstituteofFilmsandTelevisionsofthePalaceMuseum.HeformerlyworkedasaresidentartistattheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley.HepublishedthehistoricalnovelTheBloodyImperialCourtandthehistoricalprosecollectionSecretCornersintheForbiddenCity.Atotalof12volumesofZhuYong’sSelectedWorkshavealsobeenpublished.Hecreatedseveralmajordocumentariesandhaswonmanyawards.Thepainting,CompetingforBeauty,depictspeacocksinspring.ItspainterJiangPingusedWesterntechniqueswhenpaintingthepeacocks’feathers.