Treasures from the Qianlong Garden of China's renowned Forbidden City will make world debut in the United States, Peabody Essex Museum announced on Wednesday.
The exhibit "The Emperor's Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City" will be on view from Sept. 14, 2010, through January 9, 2011 in Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.
For the first time, 90 objects of ceremony and leisure -- murals, paintings, furniture, architecture and garden components of Qianlong Garden will be on exhibition at the museum.
The exhibit will reveal the contemplative life and refined vision of one of the history's most influential rulers with artworks from one of the most magnificent places in the world. Reigning from 1736 to 1796, the Qianlong emperor led China to sweeping administrative, military and cultural achievements while far surpassing European monarchs of his day in wealth and power.
The Qianlong Garden had remained untouched for more than 230 years when in 2001 the Palace Museum, which runs the Forbidden City, and World Monuments Fund began the restoration of the 27 buildings, pavilions and outdoor elements including the ancient trees and rockeries. These 90 objects on display have never been shown to the public even inside China.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our visitors to see the contents of this extraordinary Forbidden City complex before it opens to the public at large in 2019," Dan Monroe, executive director and CEO of the Peabody Essex Museum, told Xinhua.
Visitors to this exhibition will be invited to walk through the galleries the way the Qianlong emperor would have strolled through his rooms and gardens. Visitors will be able to try their hand at calligraphy with a touch station that will lead them through the brush strokes.
"It is the first time that the Palace Museum has authorized such a large-scale and comprehensive traveling exhibition of original historic cultural heritage objects and interiors. It will help foster mutual understanding of the two nations," said Wang Yamin, deputy director of the Palace Museum.
The exhibit will travel to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Feb. 3, 2011, in New York City.
(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2010)
