Journey of the Imperial Art Collection retraced

[bhchao]

Nice read from the New York Times: Rival Museums Retrace Route of China's Imperial Treasures

It's amazing that so many artifacts were transported across rugged terrain during the Japanese invasion without losing a single item.

Some black and white photographs of the journey westwards.

[jbradfor]

That's a great story. It's good that both museums are at least talking.

In 1913 the [Chinese Imperial] family offered to sell them [the entire collection] to the American industrialist and collector J. P. Morgan for $4 million; Morgan died shortly after his staff received the telegrams.

Can you imagine that? Buying the ENTIRE collection?

[skylee]

It's a good read. Thanks for posting it here.

And in July 2011 they plan to hold a joint exhibition in Taipei, joining two parts of an ancient painting from the Yuan dynasty that was divided when the Nationalists fled.

I wonder if it is 富春山居圖. Premier Wen has mentioned his wish to bring the two parts of this painting together, but it seems that the Mainland portion is not with the BJ Palace Musuem.

[bhchao]

I wonder if it is 富春山居圖. Premier Wen has mentioned his wish to bring the two parts of this painting together, but it seems that the Mainland portion is not with the BJ Palace Musuem

It looks like the smaller piece of 富春山居圖 is in a museum in Hangzhou. Fortunately the whole scroll was saved just seconds after it split into two.

Overview of 富春山居圖 in its entirety. Much more impressive seeing it in person of course.

[bhchao]

The two parts of 富春山居圖 will be displayed at the National Palace Museum in Taipei next month: http://udn.com/NEWS/MAINLAND/MAI1/6300118.shtml