Taiwan

Healing the split: Culture cures

By Eric Jou (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-06-12 08:18

Wish list

Significant collections awaiting reunion

Bronze Tripods

Museums in both Beijing and Taipei possess important bronzes - tripod chalices with oracle writing inscribed on them. The National Museum of China has the Houmuwudading (后母戊大鼎), the biggest bronze tripod ever discovered (left). The Taipei Palace Museum has the Maogongding (毛公鼎)(right), a smaller bronze with the most inscriptions.

The Prince's Furniture

If you visit the Palace of Prince Gong in Beijing, you will find many of its rooms sadly vacant. Much of the furniture (sold by one of his descendants to a Japanese collector) is now on exhibit at the Taipei Palace Museum. It seems only appropriate that there be plans to reunite the furniture with their original home to place it all back in context.

A Question of Legitimacy

Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty ascended the throne amidst rumors that he had usurped his elder brother. While much of his personal belongings and imperial paraphernalia are still in Beijing, an important document which proved he was appointed Crown Prince by his father lies in Taipei. It may be a fitting act to return these documents to Beijing in an exhibition that will verify the legitimacy of Yongzheng as heir apparent.

Three Rare Calligraphy Scrolls (三希堂法帖)

The Forbidden City has two of Three Rare Calligraphy Scrolls once kept by EmperorQianlong. The third is in the Taipei Palace Museum.

River Scenes during Qingming Festival (清明上河圖)

River Scenes during Qingming Festival is a famous scroll that is an extremely popular exhibit in both museums. The original painting of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) is in the ForbiddenCity, while a prettierImperial copy by Qing court painters is in Taipei.