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The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China’s Emperors at The Royal Ontario Museum

The Royal Ontario Museum unveiled The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China’s Emperors, presented by the Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation with Manulife as Lead Sponsor. The exhibition is on display in the Garfield Weston Exhibition Hall from Saturday, March 8 until Monday, September 1, 2014. Presented in collaboration with Beijing’s Palace Museum, the show brings to Canada for the first time approximately 250 treasures that were part of Chinese imperial life for five centuries in a city strictly off-limits to all but the emperor, his family, and his personal servants. These objects are the relics of a momentous chapter in China’s long and fascinating history.

More than 80 of the exhibition’s objects, including textiles, calligraphy, paintings, and armour, have never before travelled outside the Forbidden City. Complemented by stunning artifacts from the ROM’s own internationally celebrated Chinese collections, these objects tell captivating stories and reveal the fascinating characters that made the Forbidden City the centre of an immense empire for more than 500 years. Due to the significant number of light-sensitive textiles and paintings, there will be an extensive rotation of objects half way through the exhibition’s engagement, presenting a new opportunity to experience the stories and exquisite objects of the Forbidden City.
The emperor's role as head of the military required special ceremonial 'armour'. Worn for reviews, it was made more for show than active battle [Credit: ROM]
“The ROM’s exhibition takes visitors on a remarkable journey to the heart of the Forbidden City — once off limits to all but a privileged few,” said Janet Carding, ROM Director and CEO. “Carefully selected by our curatorial team, these extraordinary artifacts from Beijing's Palace Museum will give visitors an inside view of life within the Forbidden City and immerse them in China’s rich history. The exhibition is the centerpiece of the Museum’s Centennial, bringing to life our promise to connect our visitors with their communities, world, and with each other.”
The ROM has partnered with Beijing’s Palace Museum to create an exhibition that uncovers untold stories about life in the courts of the Chinese emperors. Dr Chen Shen is the exhibition’s lead curator and the ROM’s Vice President, World Cultures and Senior Curator, Bishop White Chair of East Asian Archaeology. He said, “This exhibition allows Canadians to see, for the first time, the finest objects hidden from view in the Forbidden City. We have worked with our Palace Museum colleagues to develop untold stories about life in the courts of the Chinese emperors; ensuring ROM visitors will enjoy many of China’s national treasures, many of which have never left the palace. These objects — both luxurious and everyday — provide the unique opportunity to advance our understanding of the people who lived within the walls of the Forbidden City.”
The emperor's role as head of the military required special ceremonial 'armour'. Worn for reviews, it was made more for show than active battle [Credit: ROM]
In December 2012, Dr. Shen travelled to China with co-curator Dr Wen-chien Cheng, the ROM’s Louise Hawley Stone Chair of Far Eastern Art, and curatorial advisor Dr. Sarah Fee, the Museum’s Curator, Eastern Hemisphere Textiles and Fashion to spend time in the vaults of the Palace Museum and select the most compelling objects in the vast and storied collection.
Robert H. N. Ho, Founder of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, said “The Foundation is pleased to present The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China’s Emperors in Canada. Advancing the understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture is a key mission of our foundation. Robust educational programming in support of the exhibition should encourage wider exploration by the public, especially teachers and students. The Foundation is also proud to once again be working with the ROM, an outstanding institution which together with Beijing’s Palace Museum, has developed this wonderful exhibition, bringing to life the 600-year-old imperial palace and revealing for the first time many of its treasures and secrets. ”
This gemstone-decorated gold ewer was used only on special occasions such as the emperor’s birthday [Credit: ROM]
“The Forbidden City is a true celebration of Chinese culture and history," said Nicole Boivin, Chief Branding and Communications Officer for the exhibition’s Lead Sponsor Manulife, “As a global company, Manulife is committed to engaging the international communities in which we live and work, including China where we've been operating since 1897. Partnering with the ROM to support this exclusive exhibit is an excellent way to honour the China-Canada Cultural Exchange and the ROM’s 100th anniversary.”
The ROM’s exhibition uncovers the stories of the Forbidden City and China’s last emperors who led their lives deep within the palace’s opulent interior. Through intimate encounters with everyday objects, visitors meet a cast of real characters, including emperors, court officials, concubines, and eunuchs — castrated men who served the imperial families. The ROM’s exploration of life inside the mysterious Forbidden City transports visitors through increasingly restricted areas — the palace’s great halls, grand courtyards, and intricate terraces and roofs, until visitors ultimately gain access to the most private space of all: the emperor’s personal study.
'Being Ruler is Tough' was the motto Emperor Yongzheng inscribed on this seal. At his wish, copies of this seal were placed in different rooms for his use and as a reminder of his role [Credit: ROM]
Upon arrival, before reaching the admissions desk, visitors are introduced to the Forbidden City in the exhibition’s Prologue. An intricate model including many of the complex’s significant features is displayed in the Thorsell Spirit House, complemented by the one of the ROM’s most recent acquisitions — a yellow-glazed bowl, commissioned by Ming Emperor Wanli. The colour yellow was strictly reserved for royal families and could not be used in any way outside the Forbidden City unless explicitly permitted by the emperor himself.
Imperial throne set, The Palace Museum, Gu115711 (throne, footstool only) © The Palace MuseumIn the exhibition’s entrance, visitors gain information about the fascinating locale before progressing into The Outer Court, the official space where the emperor displayed his power only to those invited inside. In this, the exhibition’s largest area, ceremonial bells, suits of armour, weapons and large-scale paintings tell the story of the emperors’ governing and military battles. An exhibition highlight dates to the reign of Emperor Qianlong — a throne, symbolizing his authoritative power. This area also introduces visitors to the first of several characters, including Emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong, two of the most accomplished emperors of the Qing dynasty.
Thrones were not made for comfort, but as a symbol of the ruler’s imperial and authoritative power. All the pieces here are part of the 'throne set' [Credit: ROM]
Visitors next enter The Inner Court, the residential space where only the imperial family and their eunuchs lived. Empress Dowager Cixi, a towering presence over the Chinese empire for almost half a century, is profiled in this section. Stunning gilt silver nail guards represent her. Up to six inches long, they protected the extremely long nails of imperial women — signifying their leisure status. Also on display are the opulent objects of the emperor’s everyday life including silk dog coats, gold eating utensils, and the last emperor’s gilt bath tub.
The exhibition’s climatic section takes visitors inside the Emperor’s personal spaces that were once forbidden to all but the emperor. As rulers, emperors were bound to strict institutionalized governance. However, their choices were their own in collecting and personal cultivation. This area showcases some of the most exquisite objects in the imperial collection including jades, calligraphies, and ceramics and an exceedingly rare porcelain “chicken” cup, commissioned by Emperor Chenghua for his mother; only two such cups exist today in the Palace Museum. In this section, a British-made musical clock and the character of a Western missionary represent the foreign dignitaries who gained access to the Forbidden City with gifts from their homelands — pieces much admired by Qing dynasty emperors.
Pages like this, in a fourteen-sheet album, presents the emperor assuming various ethnicities and characters – in each he is accompanied by an animal or a bird. [Credit: ROM]
Finally, Twilight of the Last Dynasty portrays the Forbidden City’s last chapter as it began its transformation to the Palace Museum. Here, visitors learn of the fall of the empire during the last dynasty and the imperial collection’s fate. The magnificence of imperial life is countered by the poignancy of the last emperor’s departure. As visitors are brought back to their own world, they gain an appreciation for the Forbidden City then and now.
The Forbidden City
China’s imperial palace, known to the world as the Forbidden City, was built from 1406 – 1420. It was the center of government and home to China’s last 24 emperors of the Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing (1644 – 1911) dynasties. Made up of about 980 buildings and 8700 rooms in over 90 architectural complexes, the Forbidden City remains to this day the largest palace complex in history. Once strictly forbidden to all but the emperors, their families, servants, invited guests, and most trusted officials, the palace gates are now open to all.
The Palace Museum
The Forbidden City became the Palace Museum in 1925, one year after the last emperor was forced into exile. Located in the heart of Beijing, the magnificent site spans over 720,000 square metres and houses the largest collection of China’s imperial treasures. Designated by China’s State Council as one of that country’s most important protected cultural heritage sites in 1961, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Today, it is considered one of the world’s most important museums. Popularly called The Forbidden City, it houses over 1.8 million art treasures spanning 5,000 years of Chinese history with many from the Qing imperial court. It is one of the world’s most visited museums, welcoming a record 182,000 visitors on October 2, 2012.
Source: The Royal Ontario Museum [March 08, 2014]
'China's First Emperor and His Terracotta Warriors' at Chicago’s Field Museum

More than 2,000 years ago, China’s First Emperor built a burial complex guarded by a large terracotta army, intended to protect him in the afterlife. Now, some of those warriors are making the journey to Chicago’s Field Museum in their latest exhibition China’s First Emperor and His Terracotta Warriors, opening March 4, 2016.

The exhibition features more than 170 objects including stunning bronze artifacts, weaponry, and ten of the famed terracotta figures. Terracotta Warriors will introduce visitors to Qin Shihuangdi —China’s First Emperor—who united a country and built an army to last an eternity.
Around 7,000 of these six-foot-tall and taller warriors—significantly taller than men of the time—were found buried in three pits at the emperor’s tomb [Credit: Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center and Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum]
An Emperor’s Rise to Power and Lasting Influence
One of greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century, the terracotta army was created by Qin Shihuangdi, the First Emperor of China. His rise to power in 221 BC ended an era known as the “Warring States” period, during which China was composed of seven competing states and was marked by instability and broken alliances.
Emperor Qin Shihuang, depicted here, commissioned the giant tomb for himself before he died [Credit: Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center and Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum]
Qin Shihuangdi used an organized military, superior weapon technology, and a strong cavalry to defeat his enemies and establish a unified state. During your visit to the exhibition, you’ll discover crossbow bolts and a reconstructed wooden crossbow. This weapon revolutionized warfare, allowing archers to shoot nearly 900 yards, with less skill and strength than was needed for a bow and arrow. You will also encounter other weapons used by Qin military forces, including a long, chrome-plated sword, lance heads, dagger-axes, and spears.
When the Terracotta Warriors were excavated from the emperor's tomb, starting in the 1970s, many were broken like these ones, and needed to be put back together by conservators [Credit: Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center and Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum]
Although the First Emperor’s reign was relatively short, he enacted several important innovations that left a lasting impression on China. Many of these are still evident today. He worked to strengthen his newly founded empire by building a great wall (the pre-cursor to China’s “Great Wall”) to protect his land in the north and west. In an effort to increase trade, he constructed new roads and canals and even regulated cart axles so that wheels uniformly fit the newly constructed roads.
This archer, one of the guardians of the emperor’s tomb, likely once held a crossbow [Credit: Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center and Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum]
In order to rule effectively, a single currency, a standard form of writing, and a standardized system of weights and measures were all put into place. Examples of these innovations are all on display within the exhibition, including several Qin banliang (ban-lee-ang) coins—round coins each with a square hole—as well as a mold used to mass-produce these coins. This coin type became the standard form of Chinese currency for the next 2,000 years.
An Emperor’s Final Resting Place
Even though the Emperor made public improvements in his country, he was not without enemies; three unsuccessful assassination attempts increased his fear of death and drove his quest for immortality. With death constantly on the Emperor’s mind, and a desire to rule forever, Qin Shihuangdi began constructing a palace for his afterlife and instructed craftsman to make a terracotta army to protect him after his death.
The Chinese painted the Terracotta Army figures, but the pigments deteriorated over the years. Conservators try to preserve the remaining colors [Credit: Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center and Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum]
For more than 30 years, legions of workers contributed to this massive undertaking—some even paying with their life. Around this underground palace were representations of the Emperor’s officials, warriors, buildings, parks, and animals—everything he would need to carry on his rule without end. The First Emperor even included what are believed to be acrobats, musicians, and exotic animals in his tomb to provide entertainment.
Each warrior has a unique face and hairstyle due to different molds and details added by hand postconstruction [Credit: Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center and Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum]
After the Emperor’s death, the terracotta warriors, generals, and others lay buried until 1974, when a farmer digging a well discovered them. Although the tomb itself was known historically and was visible on the landscape, the vast burial complex surrounding the site had been unknown until then. Archaeologists began work excavating the site, a process that continues today. Hundreds of pits, covering an area of nearly 22 square miles, have been located so far, and it is estimated that more than 8,000 figures were buried at the site.
Chariots were an important part of China's army during the emperor's reign—hence the more than 130 models like this one discovered in the Terracotta Army pits [Credit: Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center and Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum]
Terracotta Warriors has nine full-size human figures, including several warriors, a general, an acrobat, and an official, on display as well as one life-size horse. Although most of the clay figures have lost the bright hues of their original paint and only provide faded glimpses of the way the army looked during the Emperor’s lifetime, you will encounter two replica warriors, painted in the vivid purple, teal, and red that the terracotta army wore.
Excavations continue today, but the central tomb of Qin Shihuangdi remains sealed. Stories tell of a celestial ceiling mapped out in pearls and a mercury river, but none of these written accounts have been confirmed. Visitors to the exhibition will learn about the scientific investigations hoping to shed light on the mysteries of the tomb.
China’s First Emperor and His Terracotta Warriors was organized by The Field Museum in partnership with the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center and Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Terracotta Army Museum of the People’s Republic of China. Major sponsors: Discover, Exelon, United Airlines.
China's First Emperor and His Terracotta Warriors is currently showing at The Field Museum, Chicago, and will run until January 8, 2017.
Source: The Field Museum [March 01, 2016]
China's Las Vegas in Macao
In China will be created the new gambling zone — China Vegas. In this gambling zone plan to place not only a casino, but also luxury hotels, conceptual exhibitions, fashionable showrooms, striptease clubs, theatrical and concert halls, 3D cinemas, and also golf courses and tennis courts.
The 2nd Vegas, or is better?..
On similarity of the American Las Vegas, many buildings will superficially resemble the most well-known and cult sights of the largest megacities of the world. In press release of World Travel Market is informed — China Vegas will appear in the Inner Mongolia and will take places in territory of 100 km2.

China having one gambling zone — special administrative area Macau, is surrounded by the countries where gambling's are resolved.

The Chinese players annually spend in a casino over $40 billion, filling the budget not only Macao, but also frontier cities of Myanma and Laos. Special gambling zones which also will involve tourists, in 2010 should appear on Philippines and in Singapore.
Chinese Gambling Trump
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Telescopes Orion see all
Superpossibilities of telescopes Orion from school of advertising Texas Creative.
Very entertaining details
Texas Creative tell the message that by means of 800x increase in telescopes Orion in the star sky it is possible to see very entertaining details. For example, an inscription «Made in China» on the American flag strengthened on a surface of the Moon by the first trailblazers.
MADE IN CHINA
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The Chinese mass-media "cut out" words about censorship
The Chinese mass-media did not begin to quote a word of the US president of Barack Obama about a freedom of speech and an unimpeded access in the Internet, informs Associated Press.
Internet censorship in the Peoples Republic of China
The question on Internet censorship in the Peoples Republic of China has been set to the US president who is with official visit in China, during a meeting with youth in Shanghai on Monday, on November, 16th. Obama it was limited to the short answer, having told only, that is the supporter of absence of censorship, however recognises, that in "the different states different traditions".

The authorities of China repeatedly were exposed to criticism for carried out by them to the policy of censorship on the Internet, which in the West including in the USA, perceive as infringement of a freedom of speech and the right to a private life.
The conference fragment where Obama answers a question on censorship, has been shown on air of only one television channel — Shanghai TV. A number of the Chinese sites which have published full decoding of conference Obama, censorships later have removed from the text a fragment, concerning. Newspaper The People's Daily, in turn, has written only, that Obama has noted an Internet role in information distribution, having removed words about censorship.
Isolation of the Chinese Internet users
On a site of administration of the US president full audio- and conference video versions in Shanghai are laid out, however the Chinese users have no access to this resource.
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Drudge Report has sent the president on interview to channel Fox
As it became known to news site Drudge Report, the US president Barack Obama will give interview to television channel Fox News, since recent time become by object of criticism from the White House.
Major Garrett has invited the president to conversation
According to a portal which has not specified an information source, the meeting of the president with the correspondent of department of a policy of channel Major Garrett will take place during official visit of the president to China. It is expected, that Obama will go to the Peoples Republic of China in the evening on Sunday, on November, 15th where will stay till Wednesday, on November, 18th.

In the meantime edition Politico informs, that the certain not named employee of the White House these data has denied. "At the moment at the president it is not planned any interviews during tour across Asia", — quotes the edition.

Meanwhile on November, 11th it became known, that the post has left the director of the White House for public relations Anita Dunn. It posesses words that channel Fox News is "Republican Party branch". The official reasons of resignation are unknown.
Making comments on the information that Obama can meet correspondent Fox, newspaper The Huffington Post has noticed, that between the White House and Fox warming of relations really was outlined. According to the edition, it has occurred after vice-president Fox Michael Clemente has met the press-secretary of the White House.
In protection Fox
The position of the largest American channels which have supported recently Fox, appeared excluded of a pool for interview to one of employees of a Treasury Department of the US could become the rapprochement reason.
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China and the USA have quarrelled because of steel pipes
The Chinese authorities have flayed on September, 10th the decision of the government of the USA on increase in tariffs for import of steel pipes from China.
On it informs AFP. In China have promised to accept "serious reciprocal measures", but have not specified, in what they will consist.

On September, 9th the Ministry of Trade of the USA has informed, that imposes penal tariffs not less than in 31% on import of pipes from China. The decision in the ministry have explained complaints of the American manufacturers to metallurgists of China which, using grants of the government, have increased the share in the market of the USA.

So, with 2006 for 2008 import to the USA from China of pipes which are used on oil and gas deposits, has grown for 203%. In 2008 the volume of export of given production has made an order of 2,6 billion dollars.

In April seven American steelmaking companies and trade union of workers of a steel industry of USA United Steelworkers already complained of the Chinese metallurgists to US authorities. According to the American corporations, the increase in export of steelmaking production from China has caused a damage of activity of the American manufacturers and already costed to them more than two thousand workplaces.

In June of current year the administration of the USA has submitted the first from the moment of election as the president of the country of Barack Obama the complaint to the WTO on actions of China. The complaint is connected with unfair, according to the American authorities, restriction of export of raw materials from China (in particular, bauxites and zinc), that gives advantages to the Chinese manufacturers. The raw materials become more accessible to the Chinese companies and decrease in the price.
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— Excuse, at you something there has fallen...
On a photo for us two workers-builders (at them a helmet orange so without doubts, they are simple workers) pose and the 13-storeyed house, and photosession has taken place in Shanghai.
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The Chinese twins
To ladies for 104 years and they the oldest twins in China.
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China as the world centre
To begin with I suggest to look at a picture in the big permission.
There is such Chinese artist Lui Liu which is known enough in China. In particular, the picture «Chinese servants» — gives very good understanding about world system in understanding of Chineses in which centre of the Universe without fail settles down Celestial. For the interested China far not a secret, that Chineses the nation haughty though Chineses will not say directly to you it.

Plot strange enough. Naked and not so naked white aunts in the foreground, some sit on the earth. And Chineses also it is not visible, only are looked through somewhere on a background. At once there is a question on the picture name. Where, actually, servants. It is known, who the Chinese language is extremely rich on symbols and hints that promoted a wide circulation of allegories not only in the literature, but also in the Chinese art as a whole. I do not speak about riches of the numerology, leaving in an extreme antiquity.
For understanding of a plot of a picture, it is necessary to mean, that it is written in the beginning of 2009 when the world crisis generated by the USA, has captured a planet.
China, the unique country which crisis has avoided and on which, the West rests hopes, that China will pull out them from an economic crisis.

Therefore three plates up to the top filled with meal, it is possible to consider as a hint — guzzle the western barbarians, China is rich enough not to allow to die with hunger and you. Clear business, that at barbarians cannot be any culture of meal. They do not own the sticks, therefore the best for them is hands and like a dog from the earth.

Any country in the world has no the history comparable on duration with history of China. Any nation has no the number comparable to number of Chineses. Now supervises over China Hu Jintao. Pay attention to the Chinese on a background and compare to photo Hu.

Hu Jintao in image Chinese the hard workers which fruits of works feed also the western rabble in the foreground which in any way does not appreciate it, spilling meal on the earth.

By the way, about the USA. Quite probably, that the grown fat aunt in the picture centre, just also is image of America.

Interesting analogies are traced and with other silhouettes.

One more hint contains in the form of the poured stain. Compare a stain to a USA map.
The broken egg too is simple so, it symbolises the broken financial system of America.

I think, that in a picture weight of other allegories which to the western sight simply are not clear. Thus the picture name sets thinking — who will be actually the servant in this world?
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The Chinese Inventor
Vu Yulu being the usual Chinese farmer, in house conditions has managed for some years to transform the farm into a Kingdom of Robots. Some of them even are capable to creep on vertical surfaces.
That is surprising, in due time Vu Yulu has not finished even an elementary school.
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