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==Collections== {|class="wikitable sortable" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; font-size: 90%;" |+Collections (as of November 2024)<ref name="npmlist">{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/Article.aspx?sNo=03001524 |title=List of Categories in the Collection |date=5 May 2021 |publisher=National Palace Museum |access-date=20 March 2022}}</ref> |- !Categories!!Numbers |- |[[Bronze]]s||align="right"|6,245 |- |[[Ceramic]]s||align="right"|25,602 |- |[[Jade]]s||align="right"|13,478 |- |[[Lacquerware]]s||align="right"|773 |- |[[Vitreous enamel|Enamel wares]]||align="right"|2,520 |- |[[Carving]]s||align="right"|666 |- |[[Four Treasures of the Study|Studio implements]]||align="right"|2,379 |- |[[Coin]]s||align="right"|6,953 |- |Miscellaneous objects<br /><small> (religious implements, <br />costumes and accessories, <br />and snuff bottles)</small>||align="right"|12,495 |- |[[Painting]]s||align="right"|6,762 |- |[[Chinese calligraphy|Calligraphic works]]||align="right"|3,745 |- |Calligraphic model books||align="right"|495 |- |[[Tapestry|Tapestries]] and [[Embroidery|embroideries]]||align="right"|308 |- |[[Hand fan|Fans]]||align="right"|1,882 |- |[[Stone rubbing|Rubbings]]||align="right"|900 |- |[[Book collecting|Rare books]]||align="right"|216,507 |- |[[Qing dynasty|Qing]] archival documents||align="right"|395,551 |- |[[Textile]]s||align="right"|1,626 |-class="sortbottom" !Total||align="right"|698,887 |}Complete inventory inspection has been taken three times in 1951β1954, 1989β1991 and 2008β2012 since the museum started to bring collections to Taiwan in 1948.<ref name="objects">{{Cite web |title=Inventories of the Collection |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/Article.aspx?sNo=03001525 |publisher=National Palace Museum |access-date=17 June 2012}}</ref> According to official report, the museum houses Chinese calligraphy, porcelain, bronzes, paintings, jades and many other artifacts, with 22% (2,972 out of 13,491 crates) of the boxes originally transported south from the Forbidden City.<ref name="tradition"/> Other additions include transfers from other institutions, donations, and purchases made by the museum. A large number of these artifacts were brought by Chiang Kai-shek before his Kuomintang forces fled the mainland in 1949.<ref>[https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21694576-museum-tells-new-story-multiculti-roots Multiculti roots, The Economist, 12 March 2016]</ref> The museum has accumulated nearly 700,000 artifacts of significant historical or artistic values. With a collection of this size, only 1% of the collection is exhibited at any given time. The rest of the collection is stored in temperature-controlled vaults.<ref name="Taiwan's museum of treasures"/> The museum houses several treasured items that are the pride of their collection and famous worldwide. The antiquities in the National Palace Museum span over thousands of years with a variety of genres.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://taiwanacademy.tw/en/archives/collection/92/8.html |title=Collections: Antiquities (National Palace Museum) |publisher=Taiwan Academy |access-date=25 September 2012 |archive-date=22 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722033526/http://taiwanacademy.tw/en/archives/collection/92/8.html}}</ref> === Metalwork === Among the collections of [[bronze]]s, ''Zong Zhou Zhong'' (''Bell of Zhou''), commissioned by [[King Li of Zhou]], is the most important musical instrument cast under his royal decree.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/visiting/exhibit/exhibit_04.htm?docno=623 |title=The Bell and Cauldron InscriptionsβA Feast of Chinese Characters: the Origin and Development |date=22 December 2009 |publisher=National Palace Museum |access-date=25 September 2012}}</ref> ''[[Mao Gong Ding]]'' (Cauldron of Duke of Mao) of the late [[Western Zhou]] dynasty (1046β771 BCE) carries the longest [[Chinese bronze inscriptions]] so far extant. In 1995, the museum acquired the [[Taihe Shakyamuni]], a statue of [[The Buddha]] from the [[Northern Wei]] Dynasty, that represents a pivotal shift from early Indian style towards [[Chinese Buddhist art|Chinese Buddhist style]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seated Sakyamuni Buddha - Unknown |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/seated-sakyamuni-buddha-unknown/xgE9fhp73M8txA |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=Google Arts & Culture |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tsai |first=Wen-ting |date=November 2004 |title=National Palace Museum Exhibits Donated Buddhist Statuary - Taiwan Panorama |url=http://www.taiwan-panorama.com/en/Articles/Details?Guid=e9792845-b5e8-4733-a193-a9673326bcb9&CatId=8&postname=National%20Palace%20Museum%20Exhibits%20Donated%20Buddhist%20Statuary |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=Taiwan Panorama Magazine {{!}} An international, bilingual magazine for Chinese people around the world |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref> === Ceramics === With 21 pieces out of fewer than 80 surviving, the museum has the world's largest collection of [[Ru ware]],<ref>[http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/2012/ru-hk0367.html Sotheby's, Hong Kong], Sale "Ru β From a Japanese Collection", only lot, 4 April 2012</ref> one of the rarest [[Chinese ceramics]], made exclusively for the court and one of the [[Five Great Kilns]] of the [[Song dynasty]] (960β1279), along with [[Ding porcelain]], [[Jun ware]], [[Chinese ceramics#Guan ware|Guan]] and [[Chinese ceramics#Ge ware|Ge]];<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asianartnewspaper.com/article/northern-song-ru-ware-recent-archaeological-findings |title=Northern Song Ru Ware Recent Archaeological Finbings |publisher=Asian Art Newspaper |date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105123332/http://asianartnewspaper.com/article/northern-song-ru-ware-recent-archaeological-findings |archive-date=5 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/exh95/grandview/juware/index_en.html |title=Grand View: Ju Ware from the Northern Sung Dynasty |date=25 December 2006 |publisher=National Palace Museum |access-date=25 September 2012}}</ref> the museum has major collections of all of these. Those from the [[Jingdezhen ware|official kilns]] of the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] (1368β1644) and [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] (1644β1912) dynasties, such as the ''[[doucai]]'' porcelains of the [[Chenghua Emperor|Chenghua]] reign during the Ming dynasty and painted [[vitreous enamel|enamel porcelains]] from the early Qing, are also of excellent quality.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/visiting/exhibit/exhibit_04.htm?docno=634 |title=The Magic of Kneaded Clay: A History of Chinese Ceramics |publisher=National Palace Museum |access-date=25 September 2012}}</ref> === Carvings === One of the most popular pieces of [[jade]] carvings in the museum is the ''[[Jadeite Cabbage]]'',<ref name="npm2008">{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/administration/services/news_02.htm?docno=143&pageno=4 |title=Jadeite Cabbage is Moving to a New Gallery! |access-date=4 June 2008 |publisher=National Palace Museum |archive-date=25 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325113110/http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/administration/services/news_02.htm?docno=143&pageno=4}}</ref> a piece of [[jadeite]] carved into the shape of a [[Chinese cabbage|cabbage]] head, and with a large and a small [[grasshopper]] camouflaged in the leaves. The ruffled semi-translucent leaves attached is due to the masterful combination of various natural color of the jade to recreate the color variations of a real cabbage.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=867&catno=16&pageno=2 |title=Jadeite Cabbage with Insects |access-date=4 June 2008 |publisher=National Palace Museum |archive-date=1 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201033441/http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=867&catno=16&pageno=2}}</ref> The ''[[Meat-shaped Stone]]'' is often exhibited together with the Jadeite Cabbage.<ref name="npm2008"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=900&catno=12&pageno=2 |title=Meat-shaped Stone |access-date=4 June 2008 |publisher=National Palace Museum |archive-date=11 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011040956/http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=900&catno=12&pageno=2}}</ref> A piece of [[jasper]], a form of [[agate]], the strata of which are cleverly used to create a likeness of a piece of pork cooked in soy sauce. The dyed and textured surface makes the layers of skin, lean meat, and fat materialized incredibly lifelike. Other various carvings of materials such as bamboo, wood, ivory, rhinoceros horn, and fruit pits are exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/visiting/exhibit/exhibit_04.htm?docno=605 |title=Uncanny Ingenuity and Celestial Feats β The Carvings of Ming and Qing Dynasties |publisher=National Palace Museum |access-date=25 September 2012}}</ref> The ''[[Boat Carved from an Olive Stone|Carved Olive-stone Boat]]'', carved by Chen Zuzhang, is a tiny boat carved from an [[olive]] stone.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=904&catno=12&pageno=2 |title=Carved Olive-stone Boat |access-date=4 June 2008 |publisher=National Palace Museum |archive-date=18 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518101443/http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=904&catno=12&pageno=2}}</ref> The incredibly fully equipped skilled piece is carved with a covered deck and moveable windows. The interior has chairs, dishes on a table and eight figures representing the characters of [[Su Shih]]'s ''Latter Ode on the Red Cliff''. The bottom is carved in minute character the entire 300+ character text with the date and the artist's name. === Painting and calligraphy === The paintings in the National Palace Museum date from the [[Tang dynasty]] (618β907) to the modern era.<ref name="painting and calligraphy">{{Cite web |url=http://taiwanacademy.tw/en/archives/collection/16880/1.html |title=Collections: Painting and Calligraphy (National Palace Museum) |publisher=Taiwan Academy |access-date=25 September 2012 |archive-date=22 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722015847/http://taiwanacademy.tw/en/archives/collection/16880/1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The collection covers over one thousand years of [[Chinese painting]], and encompasses a wide range of genres, including landscape, flower and bird, figure painting, boundary painting, etc. Among the most popular paintings in the collection is the ''[[Along the River During the Qingming Festival#Copies|Qing Palace Version of Along the River During the Qingming Festival]]'' by five Qing dynasty court painters (Chen Mu, Sun Hu, Jin Kun, Dai Hong and Cheng Zhidao).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=90&catno=15&pageno=5 |title=Along the River During the Ch'ing-ming Festival |publisher=National Palace Museum |access-date=25 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028105008/http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=90&catno=15&pageno=5 |archive-date=28 October 2012}}</ref> ''[[Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains]]'' (Wu-yung version) by [[Huang Gongwang]] of the [[Yuan dynasty]] is one of the rarest and most dramatic works.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=64&catno=15&pageno=3 |title=Dwelling in the Fu-ch'un Mountains (Wu-yung Version) |publisher=National Palace Museum |access-date=25 September 2012}}</ref> ''[[Walking on a Mountain Path in Spring]]'' is another significant work. The museum has a vast collection of [[Chinese calligraphy|calligraphy]] works from the hands of major calligraphers, scholars and important courtiers in history. The calligraphy works date from the [[Jin dynasty (266β420)|Jin]] (266β420) and [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] (618β907) dynasties, with a variety of styles. === Rare books and documents === Rare books in the National Palace Museum range from the [[Song dynasty|Song]] (960β1279) and [[Yuan dynasty|Yuan]] (1271β1368) dynasties to the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] (1368β1644) and [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] (1644β1912) dynasties, amounting to over 200,000 volumes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://culture.teldap.tw/culture/detail.php?i=115 |title=Rare Books (National Palace Museum) |publisher=Taiwan e-Learning and Digital Archives Program |access-date=25 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://taiwanacademy.tw/en/archives/collection/14752/1.html |title=Collections: Rare Books (National Palace Museum) |publisher=Taiwan Academy |access-date=25 September 2012 |archive-date=4 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504011131/http://taiwanacademy.tw/en/archives/collection/14752/1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Yongle Encyclopedia]]'' and ''[[Complete Library of the Four Treasuries]]'' are among the examples.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=263&catno=14&pageno=3 |title=Vast Documents of the Yung-lo Era |publisher=National Palace Museum |access-date=25 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=264&catno=14&pageno=3 |title=Complete Library of the Four Treasuries |publisher=National Palace Museum |access-date=25 September 2012}}</ref> Historical documents in the museum include ''[[Jiu Manzhou Dang]]'', a set of [[Manchu people|Manchu]] archives that are the sourcebook of ''[[Manwen Laodang]]'' and a primary source of early Manchu history.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=235&catno=11 |title=Archives in Old Manchu |publisher=National Palace Museum |access-date=25 September 2012}}</ref> Other official documents such as the court archives are available for research in the history of the Qing dynasty. === Overseas exhibitions === [[File:National_Palace_Museum_Front_View.jpg|thumb|[[Paifang]] of the Northern Branch of National Palace Museum]] Due to fears that the artifacts may be impounded and claimed by China due to the controversial [[political status of Taiwan]], the museum does not conduct exhibitions in mainland China. Since the museum's 1965 establishment in Taipei, the National Palace Museum has only made six large overseas exhibitions in countries which have passed laws to prevent judicial seizure of the treasures: the United States in 1996, France in 1998, Germany in 2003, Austria in 2008, Japan in 2014 and Australia in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |title=New Japan law opens way for exhibits |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign-affairs/2011/03/26/296109/New-Japan.htm |date=26 March 2011 |agency=Central News Agency |work=The China Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Taiwan gives green light to museum exhibitions in Japan |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/06/23/national/taiwan-gives-green-light-museum-exhibitions-japan |date=23 June 2014 |agency=Kyodo News |work=The Japan Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/heaven-and-earth-chinese-art/|title=Heaven and earth in Chinese art: treasures from the National Palace Museum, Taipei|publisher=Art Gallery of New South Wales|access-date=26 April 2019}}</ref> The past overseas exhibitions are as follows:<ref name="chronology" /> *1935: "London International Exhibition of Chinese Art" at the [[Royal Academy of Arts]], London. *1940: "Chinese Art Exhibition" in [[Moscow]], [[Leningrad]]. *1961: "Ancient Chinese Art Exhibition" [[National Gallery of Art]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], [[New York Metropolitan Museum of Art]], [[Boston Museum of Fine Arts]], [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago]], the [[de Young Museum]]. *1973: "China Exhibition" in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]. *1991: "On the Occasion of 1492: the art of the Age of Exploration" at the Washington [[National Gallery of Art]]. *1996: "Splendors of Imperial China" at the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], [[Chicago Art Institute]], [[Asian Art Museum of San Francisco]], Washington, D.C. [[National Gallery of Art]] exhibition. *1998: "Empire of Memory" at the [[Grand Palais]] in [[Paris]] exhibition. *1999: National Palace Museum exhibition in Central America. *2000: "Taoism and Chinese art," [[Chicago Art Institute]] and Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. *2003: "Treasures of the Son of Heaven," the old museum in Berlin, Bonn, Federal Art Gallery touring exhibition. *2005: "Museum of World Culture Expo Korea" in Korea. *2005: "The Mongolian Empire β Genghis Khan and his generation" exhibition at the [[Museum Five Continents|Museum of Anthropology]] in [[Munich]], Germany. *2006: "magnificent years of the Qing court (1662β1795)" exhibition at the [[Guimet Museum]], France. *2007: "Shanghai β Modern Art" exhibition in Japan. *2008: "Imperial Treasures" in the [[Kunsthistorisches Museum]] Vienna exhibition. *2014: "The Treasured Masterpieces from the National Palace Museum, Taipei" in the [[Tokyo National Museum]] and [[Kyushu National Museum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theme.npm.edu.tw/exh103/TreasuredfromNPM/en/en00.html|title=The Treasured Masterpieces from the National Palace Museum, Taipei|date=17 June 2014|publisher=National Palace Museum|access-date=18 January 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214308/http://theme.npm.edu.tw/exh103/TreasuredfromNPM/en/en00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> *2019: "Heaven and earth in Chinese art" in the [[Art Gallery of New South Wales]].
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