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National Palace Museum 2004 |
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Introductory
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T
he National Palace Museum, standing in its scenic hillside setting n the northern suburbs of Taipei, presents an imposing exterior of traditional Chinese palace architecture. The Museum's Exhibition building and Administration block are complemented by the Chih-shan Garden, an attractive walled garden laid out in the Sung dynasty manner, where the visitor my stroll among pavilions and watercourses. As seen today, the Museum site reflects the steady expansion which has taken place since it first opened its doors to the public in 1965. Improvements in the interior layout and facilities have also helped the Museum better carry out it versatile functions of preserving and maintaining its collection, while simultaneously providing facilities for research, educational outreach, and pleasurable recreation.
As its very name implies, the National Palace Museum owes its priceless collection to the successive Chinese imperial collections built up over a thousand years by the Sung (A.D. 960-1279), Yuan (A.D. 1279-1368), Ming (A.D. 1368-1644) and Ch'ing (A.D. 1644-1911) dynasties. Its present scope is an impressive testimony to each imperial dynasty's confine collection. The National Palace Museum itself came into existence in 1925, one year after the last of the former Manchu emperors, P'u Yi, moved out of the former Ch'ing imperial palace. Thenceforth, what had been a private collection passed on over the centuries from one dynasty to another became the common inheritance of all Chinese. However, due to the upheavals China experienced this century (i.e. the War of Resistance against collection was first moved from Peiping to Nankeen and then to Szechwan, back to Nankeen again following victory in the Second World War, and finally from Nankeen to Taiwan in 1984. This repeated transfer from place to place under war-time conditions and over the course of so many years without the least damage occurring to the collection itself, is a miraculous achievement surely unequaled by any other museum in the world.
The unique richness of the Museum's collection is also recognized world-wide. This now stands at close to 700,000 pieces, and it continues to grow year by year through donations and purchases. The collection is at its most comprehensive in the areas of ceramics and porcelain, calligraphy and painting, and ritual bronzes. In addition, it also includes many fine examples of jade, lacquer wares curio cabinets, enamel wares, writing accessories, carvings, embroidery, rare books, and quality, this collection remains, unparalleled anywhere.
Porcelain was China's gift to the world, and its gradual development can be traced over thousands of years, from the prehistoric painted pottery of 5,000 years ago through the green-glazed sherds of 3,000 years ago, the greenwares of the Ch'in (221-206 B.C.) and Han (206 B.C - A.D.220) dynasties and the celadons of the Six Dynasties period (A.D.220-589), right up to the world-famous monochrome procelains of the Sung, and the blue-and-white and polychrome wares of the Yuan dynasty and later. This entire process can be studied in great detail through the resources available in the National Palace Museum, which can be regarded as a world center for research into Chinese porcelain.
Chinese calligraphy and painting are an outstanding feature of oriental culture, and are art forms which transcend visual effects to speak directly to the heart. The Museum has a complete collection illustrating the course of Chinese calligraphy, from the oracle bone script of 3,000 years ago through important and lengthy inscriptions on bronze, to the original masterpieces of Wang Hsi-chih of the Eastern Chin dynasty (A.D. 317-420), and all the most famous calligraphers of the T'ang(A.D. 618-906), Sung, Yuan, Ming and Ch'ing dynasties. The National Palace Museum also possesses a very rich and comprehensive collection of paintings, including many famous masterpieces which are regarded as national treasures.
The collection of ritual bronzes from China's bronze age include dated vessels of 3,000 years ago, as well as a complete range of ritual vessels from the early Shang period down to the late Warring States period. These are potent symbols of China's ancient imperial ethos and of a culture which placed a high value on rituals and music.
All these fine works of art are placed on display either in permanent exhibitions or in special exhibition rooms, each covering a particular area, the exhibits are displayed in chronological order and make use of the latest facilities and lighting. Since there is so much to see that many visitors may feel confused at first, the Museum has arranged a permanent exhibition entitled. The Relationship between Chinese and World Culture, on the ground floor. Here the visitor may see at a glance the course of development of both Chinese culture and other major cultures of the world. Programs are also shown on a multimedia slide presentation, which introduce in a dynamic and lively way the history and development of various types of art objects in the Museum.
Apart from exhibitions of China's traditional culture, the Museum also provides an opportunity to enjoy more recent developments in Chinese art through its new modern art exhibition, Creating from Tradition, also to be found on the ground floor. Meanwhile, up on the fourth floor there is the San Hsi T'ang Chinese Tearoom, where the visitor may take a break over a pot of fragrant Chinese tea and enjoy the elegant decor, modeled on the imperial study of the Ch'ien-lung Emperor (A.D. 1736-1795).
The Museum has an actively developing program of educational outreach and promotion. In addition to providing easily understood explanations with every exhibit, regular seminars and lectures are held, and the Museum's research staff publish the fruits of their work in various periodicals and illustrated publications produced under our own auspices. The guides also play an essential role in this regard, providing guided tours in Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Arabic, as well as assisting schoolchildren and their teachers to derive full benefit from their visits to the Museum. In recent years a number of traveling exhibitions have been held, both within the Republic of China and abroad, featuring reproductions of the Museum's most prized exhibitions. In this way we have taken the initiative in promoting the Museum's educational outreach, and in particular we are delighted to have made the collection better known overseas. After all, the National Palace Museum's supreme goal is to allow all mankind to truly enjoy its priceless artistic treasures.
Copyright (C) National Palace Museum. All Rights Reserved.
Official website -
http://www.npm.gov.tw
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Museum Hours / Admission Fee
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M
useum Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission Fee:
Adults NT$80
Students NT$30 (with Student I.D.)
Group Ticket NT$65 per person (Groups of 20 and above)
Children (under 6) and Senior Citizens (over 65) Free
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Public Transportation
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B
uses 213, 255, and 304
MRT - Ride the Tamsui Line to Shih Lin Station and transger to Buses 255, 304, Minibuses 18, 19 or Bus 101 (weekends only)
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Museum Gift Shops and other visiting areas
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G
ift Shops-
Two are located on the 1st floor, one is on the 3rd floor, and another is in the San His T'ang Tea Room on the 4th floor.
Refreshments-
The Museum Restaurant:
Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. west of the main building
San Hsi T'ang Tea Room:
Tea and traditional Chinese snacks on the a 4th floor of the main building.
East Wing Pavilion:
Hot and cold beverages and snacks. Located in the east wing, on the 4th floor of the main building.
Library-
Building for Documents and Library on the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th floors. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Sundays & National Holidays.
Chang Dai-ch'ien's Residence
Open Monday to Firday except National Holidays.
Please call or write in advance to arrange a visit.
Chih-shan Garden-
Traditional Chinese Garden.
Open Tuesday - Sunday from 7a.m. to 7p.m. Admission: NT$ 10
Chih-te Garden-
Admission free
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Tour Information
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G
uided tours in Chinese, English and French-
All tours begin at the Information Desk.
Please register at the Information Desk.
Chinese: Daily at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
English: Daily at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
French: Once weekly. Please consult the Information Desk for details.
Audio Guide-
INFORM is a state-of-the-art, hand-held audio tour system which enables you to choose the highlighted exhibits which interest you and learn about them at your own pace. For more information about this service, or to rent your own INFORM unit, please inquire at the INFORM desk near the main entrance.
Tours for the Handicapped-
The Museum offers special group tours for physically or mentally challenged visitors. Wheelchairs are available in the checkroom; wheelchair-accessible restrooms are locatd by the east elevators on the first floor.
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*The content of the biography is the
responsibility of the art group and is not edited by 123soho.
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