NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM 221 Chih-shan Road, Sect. 2 Wai-shuang-hsi, Shih-lin Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China tel: + 886 (2) 2881-2021, 2882-1440; fax: + 886 2 2882-1440 internet: www.npm.gov.tw/
		•Painting and Calligraphy Donated to the National Palace Museum January 1 - March 25, 2002
		•The Art of Cut Silk: A Special Exhibition of Chinese Tapestries January 1 - March 25, 2002
		•Liao Chi-chun's Mastery of Colors: A Centennial Exhibition in Commemoration of His Birth January 4 - March 26, 2002
			This year marks the 100th anniversary of Liao Chi-chun's birth. To commemorate this important Western-style painter in Taiwan, the Museum has borrowed 23 oil paintings and 16 sketches from the collection of the Taipei Fine Arts Museum and from Liao's relatives in order to portray the spectrum of his long career in art.
		•Exquisite Engravings - Special Exhibition of Characters from Fiction and Drama in Antiquity January 4 - March 31, 2002
			The Museum's collection contains many printed editions of Ming and Ch'ing plays and novels, and a particularly large number date from the post-Wan-li period. The engraved works in this exhibit all possess inherent beauty and splendor, whether they be the simplicity of the Chien-an style, the delicacy of Wu-lin style, or the complexity of Wei-style designs. Having been written in the common vernacular, these plays and novels appeal to commoners and gentry alike, and the accompanying illustrations make these stories truly come alive for readers. These plays, dramas and their illustrations deal with a wide range of themes. For the purposes of this special exhibit, they have been categorized into love stories, historical stories, magical figures and others.
		•Landscapes of the Soul: An Exhibition Commemorating Chiang Chao-shen (1925-1996) April 12 - June 30, 2002
			Through this special commemorative exhibit, the Museum emphasizes the literary and classical elegance that marks Chiang Chao-shen and his art. As a youth, his mother and father looked after his studies, and he also came to learn calligraphy and seal carving. He followed local scholarly tradition in his study of poetry, establishing a solid foundation for the arts of literature and calligraphy. As he grew up, he carved seals for others or wrote calligraphy on couplets and fans. Chiang Chao-shen's painting can be characterized as taking from the best of the ancients while adding his own unique talent, creating an exceptionally classical and rich literary style. In terms of landscape paintings, he not only followed traditional subjects, but he also recorded new and innovative pieces based on his extensive travels.
		•Eternal Vigilance: Special Exhibition of Ch'ing Military Documents April 2 - September 23, 2002
			The present exhibit incorporates over 80 historical texts, archival documents, and military maps and illustrations, all of which are related in some way to the Ch'ing military. These documents are categorized into three topics -- famous campaigns, military organization and weaponry, and imperial defense -- each of which is accompanied by a brief introduction. These sources will both give audiences an impression of the wealth of military related material found in the Ch'ing archives, and help historians deepen their understanding of China's military history.
		•Gifts from Lin Tsung-i and Lin Ch'eng-tao: Painting and Calligraphy Donated to the National Palace Museum April 1 - June 25, 2002
			Lin Tsung-i (style name Chih-ch'ao) was born into the founding Lin clan of Panchiao. Over almost 200 years, members of the Lin family have figured prominently in public relief efforts and in promoting the arts, giving generously to their community. This display represents a celebration of new acquisitions to the Museum donated by Lin Tsung-i and Lin Ch'eng-tao. On behalf of the public, the Museum presents this exhibit as a small token of gratitude to Lin Tsung-i and Lin Ch'eng-tao. Furthermore, with the approach of Lin Tsung-i's 80th birthday, this special exhibit also serves as a fitting gift for all to celebrate and appreciate.
		•The Calligraphy of Liu Yung (1720-1804) April 1 - June 25, 2002
			With this exhibit, the Museum hopes that visitors will gain a sense of Liu Yung's breadth and learning, which characterizes much of Ch'ing dynasty calligraphy. The Ch'ing dynasty represented one of several peaks in the history of Chinese calligraphy, when the field as a whole expanded considerably. Innovations not only appeared in seal and clerical scripts, but many talented calligraphers also created new manners in standard, running, and cursive scripts for a rich tapestry in this art form. This special exhibit focuses on the achievements of the Ch'ing calligrapher Liu Yung, who was known for his standard, running, and cursive scripts. His archaic yet elegant classicism in brush and ink as well as his easy-going yet dignified manner reveals the considerable cultivation of Ch'ing dynasty calligraphy.
		•World of the Heavenly Khan: Treasures of the T'ang Dynasty April 20 - July 21, 2002
			This exhibit consists of 120 T'ang dynasty artifacts from shensi province. These treasures were crafted from such materials as gold, silver, bronze, iron, jade, agate, horn, ceramic, and leather, which on several items were used in combinaiton. While some of these items were for daily use, and others were sources of spiritual support, they all shared beautiful craftsmanship as a common denominator.
		•The Ritual Bronze Vessels of the Shang and Chou Dynasties Continuing indefinitely
			This exhibit covers a long time span of bronze art, so an effort has been made to select pieces representing clan or national significance, as well as those displaying rare and important inscriptions. They have been arranged according to period and category in the hope of providing an overview of the bronze art of China.
		•The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch'ing Court Continuing indefinitely
			The reign of the Ch'ien-lung emperor (r. 1736-1795) in the Ch'ing dynasty was one of the most prosperous in the later development of jade craftsmanship and design. The large quantity of jades surviving from this period--combined with their striking and innovative styles--has left an indelible mark in the minds of collectors and connoisseurs. Some of the objects on display in this exhibition are the pictures or actual objects which served as prototypes, providing an interesting and important opportunity to compare the "original" (antique) and the "inspiration" (archaic).
		• Special Exhibition of Tibetan Buddhist Ceremonial Objects Continuing indefinitely
			From the items exhibited, we can see the technical mastery of the Mongolian and Tibetan artisans in metal-casting, hammering, and gilding, as well as their skill in the use of resplendent gems and semi-precious stones. They also created sacred objects from the bones of revered monks. Meanwhile, Manchu and Han Chinese ingenuity is evident in the adaptation of Tibetan forms and ornamentation to such local media as ceramics, lacquers, and enamels, creating a refined, easy manner with smooth lines, as if made by a brush, another reflection of the pious devotion of the artisans. At the entrance to this exhibition are two prayer wheels bearing the "Om Mani Padme Hum" mantra, seen in Esoteric Buddhism as the root source of all sutras.
		• Bronze Ritual Vessels Continuing indefinitely
			Part of the Museum's bronze collection came directly from the Ch'ing dynasty imperial household collection, and part of it was purchased from private collections. Collectors often used to take the soiled and rusted curios they acquired out of the earth and grind them down or pick out the bits of green mottled oxidation and cover the outside with wax. These kind of "doctored" objects are commonly called shu-k'eng, or "soiled excavated objects," and an abundance of them is another characteristic of the bronze collection of this Museum. An exhibition of this sort covers a very long time span of bronze art, so an effort has been made especially to select those pieces representing clan or national significance, as well as those displaying rare and important inscriptions. They have been arranged according to period and category in the hope that this will allow the viewer to acquire more easily an overview of the bronze art of China.
		•Special Exhibition of Chun Ware from the Collection of The National Palace Museum Continuing indefinitely
			The Museum's Chun ware collection includes utilitarian wares, such as vessels, bowls, plates, and incense burners, as well as planters, pot stands and a tsun vase. Chun ware porcelain is famous for the color of its glazes. The glaze colors used on the majority of Chun wares, such as vessels, incense burners, bowls, and plates in the Museum's collection, are bluish-green, greenish-blue, and sky blue. The predominant colors of the MuseumÕs Chun ware collection are green, blue, purple and red. The variety in levels of tone in the same hue and the mixture of the different colors in the wares is also an important aspect of this collection. Special Exhibition of Enamels from the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties. Aiming to manifest the development of enamel art in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, this exhibition divides objects from the mid-15th to the 19th centuries into four categories: cloisonne enamels of the Ming Dynasty, cloisonne enamels of the Ch'ing Dynasty, painted enamels of the Ch'ing Dynasty, and champleve enamels.
		•Ancient Writings from the Ruins of Yin: A Special Exhibition of Shang Dynasty Oracle Bones from the Collection of the Academia Sinica Continuing indefinitely (Opened August 1, 2001)
			While the origins of Chinese civilization date back to the Hsia, Shang, and Chou dynasties, our understanding of these societies is based on extremely limited written records. It was only with the discovery of oracle bones in the late 19th century that first-hand written evidence of the Shang dynasty finally came to light. The texts inscribed on these bones are primarily the records of royal divination. The 17 oracle bones on display in this exhibit demonstrate the scope of these divinations, with inscriptions pertaining to royal illness, the pregnancy of the queen, weather, harvests, sacrifices, war, and other topics.
		•The Prehistoric Jades of the Yellow River Valley Continuing indefinitely (Opened August 1, 2001)
			Research into the prehistoric jades found in the Yellow River Valley region offers a path to understanding the ancient civilization that flourished on the banks of the Yellow River. The consistency of the mineral content and ritual forms seen in the Museum's collection of prehistoric jades both reflects the specific direction and selectiveness of the Ch'ing court's jade collection efforts and demonstrations the degree to which traditional attitudes toward jade influenced the structure of jade collections. By drawing upon the accumulated evidence of archeological research, as well as the recent results of geological and mineralogical studies, this exhibition aims to reintroduce the prehistoric jades of the Yellow River and reassess the chronology and cultural classification of the ancient jades in the MuseumÕs collection. Approximately 70 pieces will be on display.
		•Special Exhibition of Shang Ritual Bronze Vessels Continuing indefinitely
		•Exhibition of Carvings from the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties Continuing indefinitely
		•Chinese Jade Continuing indefinitely
		•Miniature Curio Cabinets Continuing indefinitely
		•Large-Scale Paintings Continuing indefinitely
		•Pre-Han Pottery Continuing indefinitely
		•Pottery of the Wei, Chin and Five Dynasties Continuing indefinitely
		•Porcelain from the Sung to Ch'ing Dynasties Continuing indefinitely
		•A Special Exhibition of Selected Hsüan-te Imperial Porcelains of the Ming Dynasty Continuing indefinitely
		•Recently Acquired Gilt Bronze Buddhist Images Continuing indefinitely
		•Oracle Bones, Late Shang Royal Tomb Artifacts Continuing indefinitely
		•Famous Handscroll Paintings Continuing indefinitely
		•Famous Album Leaf Paintings Continuing indefinitely
		•Artifacts From a Late Shang Dynasty Royal Tomb Continuing indefinitely
		•Chinese Pottery Between the Han and Sung Dynasties Continuing indefinitely
		•The Development of Porcelain in China Continuing indefinitely
		•A Special Exhibition of the Tusk, Bone, Bamboo and Wood Carvings Donated to the National Palace Museum from the Yu-ting-ning Studio Continuing indefinitely
		•Special Exhibition of Bronze Inscriptions from the Western Chou Opened June 30, 2001
			This exhibition focuses on ancient calligraphic forms and the beauty of the characters found in the inscriptions on Wester hou bronzes. On display are bronze vessels and associated inscriptions (including color-enlargements and rubbings) from the early, middle, and late Western Chou, as well as comparative diagrams of related character forms and stylistic variations. Together, these illustrations describe the process, fundamental to the history of Chinese writing, by which inscribed forms were borrowed from late Shang inscriptions and codified into what came to be known as "large seal script."
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