Publications Catalogue

Lasting Impressions: Seals from the Museum Collection(in Chinese)

The National Palace Museum is home to a collection of more than 1,650 bronze seals and nearly 250 jade and stone seals collected and produced by the Ch’ing dynasty court. In addition, it includes seals by modern masters and those made of bamboo, wood, ivory, and stone, totaling more than 610 that have been donated or entrusted by private individuals. There are also two Shang dynasty imperial seals that had been purchased by the original Central Museum. Selected here are nearly a thousand imperially related seals for exhibit, providing a grand overview that is also accompanied by a guide booklet for the appreciation of readers.

ISBN: 978-957-562-514-6
Price: NT$450 (softcover)

Treasures of the Forbidden City: Palace Imprints of the Ch'ing Dynasty(in Chinese)

This book is divided into two major sections. The first deals with how the Manchu rulers of the Ch'ing dynasty pursued military and civil success through the contents and publication of books as a means of confirming their orthodox status in China's dynastic heritage. The other deals with the achievements in printing and bookbinding achieved in the Ch'ing dynasty. It is hoped that through this overview of the main points and an introduction to the selections, readers will be able to better understand the finer points of the art and contents of Ch'ing palace imprints.

ISBN: 978-957-562-510-8
Price: NT$250 (softcover)

The "Old is New" NPM Guidebook: Splendors of the New National Palace Museum(Chinese, English, Japanese editions)

Since its founding in 1925 more than eighty years ago, the National Palace Museum has witnessed and gone through much over the course of its history, which can be conveniently divided into two forty-year periods. The first forty years dealt with the turbulence and upheaval that shook much of modern China in the 20th-century, as tens of thousands of precious objects were moved and safeguarded from wars before finally being moved to Taiwan for preservation. The second period of forty years involves the continuous efforts to protect these objects in Taiwan, learn about them, and present them to the public as their numbers have increased and efforts made to make concrete advances in modern museology. At this very moment, we are at the beginning of a third period, as the Museum is shouldering new desires and responsibilities that require a new organization and personnel to develop innovations and new values. The contents of this guidebook are both informative and pleasing to the eye, perfectly representing both the efforts and achievements of Museum personnel over the years. On the foundations of this milestone, we hope to set the pace for even more advances, bringing the National Palace Museum even further into the new century, where the sky's the limit.

ISBN: 978-957-562-511-5 (Chinese edition)
Price: NT$399 (softcover)
ISBN: 978-957-562-517-7 (English edition)
Price: NT$750 (softcover)
ISBN: 978-957-562-516-0 (Japanese edition)
Price: NT$550 (softcover)

Treasures of the National Palace Museum (Painting and Calligraphy & Books and Documents) (Antiquities)(Chinese, Japanese editions)

In celebration of the eightieth anniversary of the founding of the National Palace Museum, a special selection of eighty masterpieces from the collection of painting, calligraphy, books, and documents along with eighty treasures of antiquities have been assembled into a two-volume book set. The two oversized books include large illustrations of some of the most famous works in the collection along with detailed discussions by museum curators. The refined printing make this an ideal choice for appreciation or collecting.

ISBN-13: 978-957-562-503-0 (Chinese edition)
ISBN-10: 957-562-503-X
Price: NT$2400 (two-volume set) (hardcover)

Grand View: Special Exhibition of Ju Ware from the Northern Sung Dynasty(in Chinese with English)

Among the most prized and cherished of porcelains among traditional scholars were those of Ju ware. With its full glaze, tiny sesame-seed sized support marks, and marvelous sky-blue glaze color, it was not just the lustrous hue but also the simple elegance that fascinated connoisseurs through the ages. Vessels are noble and solid in appearance, their surfaces marked by a simple and elegant blue color compared to the sky after a rain. Making them even more precious is the fact that they are so rare.

The collection of Ju ware in the National Palace Museum stands out in both quantity and quality as the best in the world. To make this exhibit as part of the "Grand View" series even more complete, the Museum also borrowed outstanding pieces from the Percival David Foundation at the University of London and the Museum of Oriental Ceramics in Osaka as well as new archaeological discoveries from the Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage. The simultaneous publication of this refined catalogue allows lovers of Chinese ceramics both domestically and internationally to enjoy this pinnacle of Chinese culture.

ISBN-13: 978-957-562-506-1
ISBN-10: 957-562-506-4
Price: NT$1450 (hardcover)

Grand View: Special Exhibition of Northern Sung Painting and Calligraphy(in Chinese)

Although the collection of the National Palace Museum is said to be inherited from the Ch'ing court, its beginnings actually can be traced much further back in time, more than a thousand years to the Sung dynasty. When the Northern Sung founder, Emperor T'ai-tsu, stabilized the country and absorbed contending states, he took over the imperial collections of the Latter Shu and Southern T'ang. His successor, T'ai-tsung, also scoured the land in search of masterpieces of painting and calligraphy. Later, during the reign of Emperor Hui-tsung, the imperial collection had reached a pinnacle, and the Northern Sung treasures in the National Palace Museum collection today all come from the Hsüan-ho court of Hui-tsung.

The collection of Northern Sung masterpieces of painting and calligraphy in the Museum have long been renowned around the world. This special exhibition as part of the "Grand View" series not only presented many of these national treasures, but five select masterpieces were also borrowed from The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City to round out the display. In celebration of the Museum's reopening after renovations and its eightieth anniversary, this exhibit was truly a feast for the eyes. As such, the Museum also published this exquisite catalogue, worthy of appreciation and collecting.

ISBN-13: 978-957-562-504-7
ISBN-10: 957-562-504-8
Price: NT$2600 (hardcover)

Charioting in the Shang Dynasty: Artifacts from the Horse-and-Chariot Pits at Hsiao-t'un(Collection of the Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica)(in Chinese)

In the spring of 1936, researchers from the Institute of History and Philology at Academia Sinica discovered Shang dynasty horse-and-chariot pits in the former palatial district in the village of Hsiao-t'un in Anyang, Honan. This startling discovery helped to reconstruct the glorious achievements of the chariots used by the Shang dynasty kings. The earliest publicly announced Shang dynasty horse-and-chariot archaeological discovery became known as "Hsiao-t'un Tomb 20" This collection of objects, brought by the Institute after moving to Taiwan, still forms one of our most important sources of information on chariots of the Shang dynasty. This catalogue to the special exhibition not only brings readers back to the days of that initial discovery, but it also provides penetrating insights into the myriad world of objects related to chariots that were uncovered along with their illustrations.

ISBN-10: 957-562-498-X
ISBN-13: 978-957-562-498-9
Price: NT$280 (softcover)

Thoughts on an Octogenarian: The National Palace Museum at Eighty(in Chinese)

This book reflects the thoughts and work of eighteen seasoned researchers as they look back and reflect on the story and people who made and make up the National Palace Museum. The contents deal with the transport of the collection objects away from the flames of war, the renovations that the Museum has undergone, the exhibitions and events held at the Museum, and the stories of colleagues at the Museum. They have worked together to bring about a collection of stories that will move the reader.

Flipping through this book and witnessing the difficulties encountered in the preservation of these objects, as well as the achievement and joy in inheriting this tradition, these sentiments seem to emerge from between the lines to impress the reader even more.

Using the past as a cue to the future, the National Palace Museum has a foundation of eighty years and now looks ahead with vision. With an open outlook and a firm foothold, the Museum is advancing towards modern and international trends, setting the pace for another glorious eighty years.

ISBN-13: 978-957-562-500-9
ISBN-10: 957-562-500-5
Price: NT$420 (softcover)

Early Dwellers of Taiwan: Illustrated Historical Documents in the Collections of the National Palace Museum(in Chinese)

"Early Dwellers in Taiwan" is an exhibition that focuses on Taiwan's aboriginal peoples. The National Palace Museum collection includes a wide array of painted handscrolls, maps, books, archives, and woodblock prints from the 18th and 19th century dealing with Taiwan's native inhabitants and their customs. This catalogue to the exhibition is divided into several sections, providing a more in-depth look at Taiwan's aborigines and the Ch'ing court's policies in dealing with them.

ISBN: 957-562-488-2
Price: NT$125 (softcover)

Illustrated Catalog of Painting and Calligraphy in the National Palace Museum (vol. 24)(in Chinese)

The 24th volume in the series of catalogues illustrating the full collection of painting in the National Palace Museum has been published. The contents include not only the collection of paintings in the National Palace Museum transported to Taiwan, but also those from the Central Museum, including hanging scrolls, handscrolls, and album leaves. Arranged chronologically, they are then grouped by artist in sequence. Not only does this make it easy to locate specific artists and works, relevant information about the works has also been recorded in detail, making this an important visual and documentary record.

ISBN: 957-562-000-3 (set)
ISBN: 957-562-491-2 (vol. 24)
Price: NT$1300 (hardcover)

Taiwan Historical Materials in Ch'ing Palace Archives and Memorials (vol. 11) (vol. 12)(in Chinese)

The 11th and 12th volumes of Taiwan historical materials in the Ch'ing palace archives and memorials of the National Palace Museum collection have been published. The set of twelve is now complete, making this an important source of material for all, especially historians and scholars.

ISBN: 957-562-273-1 (set)
ISBN: 957-562-489-0 (vol. 11)
Price: NT$600 (hardcover)
ISBN: 957-562-490-4 (vol. 12)
Price: NT$600 (hardcover)

Investigative Report on the Handscroll "Autobiography" by Huai-su(in Chinese with Japanese)

This book represents the efforts of two specialists from the Independent Administrative Institution of the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo, who were invited by the National Palace Museum to conduct a detailed optical study on the handscroll of calligraphy by Huai-su entitled "Autobiography," the subject of debate among connoisseurs and scholars for centuries with regards to its authorship and transmission. Using high resolution, infrared transmission, and fluorescent digital photography techniques, combined with the study and analysis of specialists in the Museum, both parties came up with some surprising results. For scholars who had tussled with the problem of the relationship between the tracing copy, original, and rubbed engraving, this study provides definitive answers and reflects a satisfactory convergence of art and technology in the pursuit of scholarship.

ISBN: 957-562-486-6
Price: NT$800 (softcover)

Guidebook to "The First Family Under the Heavens: Imperial Art and Artifacts of the Ch'ing Dynasty"(in Chinese)

As part of the initial celebrations for the eightieth anniversary of the National Palace Museum, the Museum and the Chiayi County government cooperated in holding an exhibit entitled "The First Family Under the Heavens: Imperial Art and Artifacts of the Ch'ing Dynasty". A special selection was made of 56 works of painting, antiquities, and documents, some of which rank as national treasures. Not just displaying the splendor of the Ch'ing imperial family, the exhibit also attempted to delve into their family life, daily life, leisure activities, artistic taste, and religious beliefs in an attempt to understand them even more from different historical perspectives.

ISBN: 957-562-487-4
Price: NT$250 (softcover)

The World and Its Warp and Woof: A Special Exhibition of Antique Maps Donated by Prof. Johannes Hajime Iizuka(in Chinese)

The July 2003 opening of the "Treasures of the Sons of Heaven" exhibition in Berlin, Germany, from the National Palace Museum inspired Professor Johannes Hajime Iizuka, a famous Japanese-born German neurosurgeon, to donate 23 maps of Asia and two woodblock illustrations in his collection to the Museum.

All of these antique maps came from Europe and range in date from the late 16th century to the 19th century, closely echoing the period when the West was developing a keen interest in learning and even controlling parts of the East and other areas of the world. The Museum is quite fortunate to have this rare group of maps as part of its collection, because it perfectly complements the Museum's southern branch devoted to Asian art that is currently being planned for Chiayi. This book is the catalogue to that special exhibition in honor of the donation.

ISBN: 957-562-482-3
Price: NT$1350 (softcover)

Thou Art Understood!--Ch'ing Court Communication as Reflected in Palace Memorials(Chinese, English, Japanese editions)

The expression "Thou art understood" was often used by the Ch'ing emperors as confirmation in responding to officials who wrote memorials to them. This guidebook to the exhibition uses this phrase written in Manchu and Chinese by the K'ang-hsi Emperor as the cover title. The purpose is to show how the Ch'ing emperors used "memorials" to learn about what was happening in the country, and how their responses known as "vermilion rescripts" reflected their control of the empire.

ISBN: 957-562-470-X (Chinese)
ISBN: 957-562-476-9 (English)
ISBN: 957-562-478-5 (Japanese)
GPN: 1009302925 (Chinese)
GPN: 1009400089 (English)
GPN: 1009400090 (Japanese)
Price: NT$200 (Chinese) (softcover)
Price: NT$230 (English, Japanese) (softcover)

A Picture is Worth More than a Thousand Words: Selected Illustrated Texts from the National Palace Museum Collection(Chinese, English, Japanese editions)

This guidebook mainly discusses selections of illustrated books from the exhibition of the same title. The categories include woodblock prints, painted editions, and lithographic versions. The four subjects are stories, life, scenery, and figures, as found in the exhibit, providing a brief introduction to the pluralistic features of the art and tradition of illustrated Chinese texts and illustrated books.

ISBN: 957-562-469-6 (Chinese)
ISBN: 957-562-475-0 (English)
ISBN: 957-562-477-7 (Japanese)
GPN: 1009302936 (Chinese)
GPN: 1009400091 (English)
GPN: 1009400092 (Japanese)
Price: NT$210 (Chinese, English, Japanese) (softcover)

The Casting of Religion: An Exhibition of Mr. Peng Kai-dong's Donation(in Chinese)

Peng Kai-dong, one of the most renowned collectors of Buddhist art in the world, had a broad range of collecting interest and an unparalleled eye for quality. In 2003, at the age of over 90, Peng Kai-dong generously donated his entire collection, consisting of 358 sets of objects, to the National Palace Museum. The Museum not only published this refined catalogue of this precious collection for the benefit of scholars and art lovers, a special hall was created in his honor to permanently display his works for all to appreciate.

ISBN: 957-562-468-8
Price: NT$1200 (softcover)

The Arts and Cultures of Asia(in Chinese)

Through the history of Asia, the cultures in its realm have long experienced exchange and influence as a result of trade, religion, diplomacy, and intermarriage--even war has left an indelible mark. Taiwan and China are both a part of Asia, and in order to allow audiences to better understand the multicultural makeup of Asia as a whole, the National Palace Museum is in the process of establishing a Southern Branch devoted to the art and cultures of Asia. As a precursor, "The Arts and Cultures of Asia" exhibition was held at the Chiayi County cultural center in Minhsiung. Of considerable note is that all of the exhibit items came from private collections. This is the guidebook to the exhibition.

ISBN: 957-562-459-9
Price: NT$125 (softcover)

Through the Prism of the Past: Antiquarian Trends in Chinese Art of the 16th to 18th Century(in Chinese)

"Antiquarianism" is one of the features of traditional Chinese art. The imitation of antiquity flourished in the late Ming and early Ch'ing dynasty, not just in response to market demands, but also as a positive influence in the process of artistic creation. This is the first time that the National Palace Museum as taken so-called "fakes" and "forgeries" and put them in their proper perspective as works of art in their own right. The exhibition and the catalogue here divide the selected paintings and antiquities into three categories: "Antiquarianism and Life," "Versed in Antiquity and Modeling the Past," and "Imitating Antiquity and Creating Anew." As such, audiences can capture a glimpse of this important cultural trend and study how ancient art and life converged on an unprecedented scale in society. This is of major significance in terms of both the function of museum exhibits and as a reflection of modern life.

ISBN: 957-562-455-6
Price: NT$1200 (softcover)

Guidebook to "Through the Prism of the Past"(in Chinese)

ISBN: 957-562-458-0
Price: NT$120 (softcover)

Emperor Ch'ien-lung's Grand Cultural Enterprise(in Chinese)

The rule of the Ch'ing dynasty rose to its height of power with the Ch'ien-lung Emperor, under whom China witnessed military victories and social peace and prosperity. In fact, much of the collection of painting and calligraphy as well as antiquities passed through the court of the Ch'ien-lung Emperor. The Museum also holds a rich collection of memorials and archives of the period as well as books collected and printed at the time. All of these bear witness to the taste, interests, beliefs, court life, and personality of the Ch'ien-lung Emperor.

This book is divided into five sections dealing with Ch'ien-lung as emperor, his cultural pursuits, his historical concerns, geographic considerations, and innovations of the period. These will bring you into the mind and world of the emperor, offering a new understanding of him and his reign. Published in conjunction with this catalogue is a booklet "Ch'ien-lung in the Palm of Your Hands," providing a glimpse of this important emperor in both text and images.

ISBN: 957-562-435-1
Price: NT$1200 (hardcover)

Empty Vessels, Replenished Minds: The Culture, Practice, and Art of Tea(in Chinese)

The collection of the National Palace Museum includes a wide assortment of tea vessels, paintings related to tea, and books on tea dating from the T'ang, Sung, Ming, and Ch'ing dynasties. With the rise of tea culture and its practice of more than a thousand years, the various facets of this culture can be presented in various periods, including the different methods of consumption. The exhibition was not only a retrospective on the culture of tea, many of the objects were also a feast for the eyes, offering a glimpse into the art of drinking tea at the time. This book is the catalogue to the special exhibition.

ISBN: 957-562-429-7
Price: NT$1450 (hardcover)

Japanese Lacquer from the Ch'ing Court Collection(in Chinese)

"Emaki-e" is a kind of lacquer painting technique in which gold and silver powder is sprinkled onto the wet lacquer and then ground down when dried. Exquisitely refined, it is one of the unique lacquer techniques of Japan. Beginning in the Nara period, it was traded by Europeans who came to Japan in the late 16th century, resulting in its import into Europe. At this time, the Chinese were also becoming interested in trade markets, and the collection of Japanese "emaki-e" by the Ch'ing court thus became one of the products of this cultural exchange. This is the catalogue to the exhibition on such lacquerwares in the National Palace Museum collection.

ISBN: 957-562-419-X
Price: NT$390 (softcover)

Taste and Refinement--Guidebook to the Exhibition of a Hundred Artworks in the NPM(in Chinese)

This is the guidebook to the exhibition of a hundred artworks from the National Palace Museum collection that traveled to southern and eastern Taiwan. All of the exhibit objects were artworks of the court. Through the fascinating text, one can appreciate these pieces in even more detail.

ISBN: 957-562-398-3
Price: NT$120 (softcover)

The Calligraphy and Seal Carving of Wang Chuang-wei (1909-1998)(in Chinese)

Wang Chuang-wei's achievements in the field of calligraphy and seal carving have been well known for quite some time, as he stood out as a representative figure in these fields in the twentieth century. Specializing in these two ancient Chinese arts, Wang advocated the idea of "using old for new" as he gave tradition new meaning and was also able to develop his own style. The Yun-ch'en Cultural Foundation donated 20 works of calligraphy, 24 seals, and six rubbings of seals by Wang to the National Palace Museum. In honor of this donation, the Museum held a special exhibition and published this catalogue for future generations to appreciate.

ISBN: 957-562-393-2
Price: NT$600 (hardcover)

Representations of the Literary Mind: The Theme of Poetry and Literature in Chinese Art(in Chinese)

By taking the themes of poetry and literature and converting them into works of painting and calligraphy, Chinese artists through the ages developed ingenious ways of interpretation and representation, creating many masterpieces in the process. This catalogue to the exhibition of the same title is divided into the following five sections: "Emotive Images," "Sites of the Mind," "Ideas and Ideals," "Words and Worlds of Imagination," and "The Three Perfections." Some of the most famous works of Chinese poetry and literature were transformed into stunning pieces of painting and calligraphy, for the appreciation of audiences and readers in terms of texts and images.

ISBN: 957-562-397-5
Price: NT$500 (hardcover)

A Treasured Aviary of Chinese Paintings(in Chinese)

The Chinese have traditionally imbued a variety of birds with symbolic qualities, and their representation in paintings have thus given Chinese art many double meanings in addition the representation of these beautiful animals. Artists through history captured not just the appearance of birds, but also their activities and behavior. This book is a catalogue to the exhibition of selected works of Chinese painting on the subject of birds from the Museum collection, dating from the Sung, Yüan, Ming, and Ch'ing dynasties. With photographs of actual birds for comparison, it makes the birds in the paintings and descriptions come even more alive.

ISBN: 957-562-406-8
Price: NT$250 (softcover)

Age of the Great Khan--Pluralism in Chinese Art and Culture under the Mongols(in Chinese)

In the year 1206, a Mongol by the name Temujin was able to gather all of the Mongol tribes together under his rule to become the Great Khan. Taking the name of Genghis Khan, he established the Mongol empire. His grandson, Kubilai Khan, later changed the name of the Chinese dynasty he founded to Yüan. The Mongol empire in China and elsewhere came to include a wide range of peoples. There were the Mongols themselves, Central Asians, and even Tibetans in Chinese society at the time. The traditional arts of Chinese painting and calligraphy did not escape the attention of the Mongols, either, as they absorbed Chinese art and culture along with others to create a pluralistic style.

ISBN: 957-562-433-5
Price: NT$1200 (hardcover catalogue)
Price: NT$50 (softcover booklet)

Catalogue of Western Chou Bronze Inscriptions in the National Palace Museum(in Chinese)

The study of Chinese bronzes has traditionally focused on inscriptions, using them as first-hand documents to fill in the histories. As such, they are important sources of historical evidence. The National Palace Museum collection of ancient bronzes includes those with long inscriptions that are important for understanding history. This catalogue to the exhibition on inscribed bronzes divides the works chronologically for comparison, providing detailed information for research. Not only that, the epigraphic beauty and unique appearance of these inscriptions can be appreciated in their own right.

ISBN: 957-562-399-1
Price: NT$2500 (softcover)

Neolithic Jades in the Collection of the National Palace Museum(in Chinese)

Among the original collection of jades and new additions to the National Palace Museum, those dating from the Neolithic Age account for 144 refined pieces. All of them are included in this catalogue to their display. Divided into the functions of ritual, warfare, tools, and ornamentation, they are reproduced in color here with descriptions.

ISBN: 957-562-128-X
Price: NT$1600 (hardcover)

Good Fortune, Long Life, Health and Peace: A Special Exhibition of Porcelains with Auspicious Designs(in Chinese)

This is a catalogue to the exhibition on porcelains from the Chia-ching and Wan-li eras of the Ming dynasty and the reigns of the K'ang-hsi, Yung-cheng, and Ch'ien-lung Emperors of the Ch'ing dynasty. These porcelains were selcted for their decorations associated with auspiciousness. Their variety and quality will amaze readers.

ISBN: 957-562-244-8
Price: NT$1200 (hardcover)

Dragon Veins of the Landscape: Catalogue to the Special Exhibition of Hanging Scrolls by Wang Yüan-ch'i (1642-1715)(in Chinese and English)

Wang Yüan-ch'i was known as one of the Four Masters of the Ch'ing Dynasty. However, in the early Republication period, with the rise of appreciation for the more daring styles associated with the Four Monk-Painters of the late Ming and early Ch'ing as well as the Yangchow School, his style fell into disfavor. Chiang Chao-shen, a former Deputy Director of the National Palace Museum, provided a timely reappraisal that restored the respect for and achievements of Wang's works. Holding an exhibit with explanations, Chiang's work formed the basis of this exhibition in honor of his groundbreaking work, for which this catalogue was published.

ISBN: 957-562-300-2
Price: NT$1000 (hardcover)
ISBN: 957-562-301-0
Price: NT$800 (softcover)

Figure Painting of the Middle Ming Dynasty: A Special Exhibition of Works by Tu Chin, Chou Ch'en, T'ang Yin, and Ch'iu Ying(in Chinese)

During the middle of the Ming dynasty, the economy of the Kiangnan region reached unprecedented levels as wealthy merchants vied with the gentry in the pursuit of refined pastimes. This, in turn, had a direct impact on the forms of art that were practiced and produced at the time. The painters Tu Chin, Chou Ch'en, T'ang Yin, and Ch'iu Ying were a group of professional artists active at this crucial time. This catalogue to the exhibition on the art of these four masters offers an in-depth look at the beauty and content of their works in the collection of the National Palace Museum.

ISBN: 957-562-387-8
Price: NT$1000 (softcover)

Catalogue to the Exhibition of Ch'iu Ying Paintings(in Chinese)

Ch'iu Ying was one of the Four Ming Masters. He began studying painting under Chou Ch'en and excelled at making copies, especially those of the T'ang and Sung dynasty masters. Ch'iu's style was also varied, famous even in his own day.

ISBN: 9575622332
Price: NT$600 (hardcover)

Visions of Compassion: Images of Kuan-yin in Chinese Art(in Chinese)

The Buddhist savior-deity known as Kuan-yin (the Bodhisattva of Compassion) is very common in East Asia. Popular among the Chinese people, even the Ch'ing dynasty court collected many artworks dealing with this figure. The National Palace Museum organized them into a special exhibition and published this catalogue for those who follow Chinese art and pay reverence to this special deity.

ISBN: 957-562-388-6
Price: NT$1000 (softcover)

Exhibition of Selected Works by the Ming Dynasty Painter Lu Chih(in Chinese)

Lu Chih studied under Chu Yün-ming and Wen Cheng-ming. Of pure and upright character, he led a life of reclusion up to the end. Early on, his painting style followed that of Wen Cheng-ming, but he added his own manner with lofty features to form a style of his own. His light and airy manner served as a forerunner of the transformational styles of such late Ming dynasty painters as Lan Ying, Ting Yün-p'eng, and Ch'en Hung-shou.

ISBN: 9575621263
Price: NT$550 (hardcover)
ISBN: 9575621271
Price: NT$400 (softcover)

The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch'ing Court(in Chinese)

The Ch'ien-lung Emperor loved jades. Not only was he a connoisseur of jades, he also strongly advocated the imitation of antiquity and the expression of poetic ideas in their creation. The beauty and luster of jades from his reign are unparalleled, representing a crucial phase in the history of Chinese jades. This catalogue to the exhibition presents these jades in all their splendor.

ISBN: 957-562-286-3
Price: NT$800 (softcover)

The Landscape Tradition of Li Ch'eng and Kuo Hsi(in Chinese)

The Li-Kuo Style, with Li Ch'eng as the founder and Kuo Hsi as his follower, flourished in the reign of Emperor Shen-tsung in the Northern Sung period. With its atmospheric effects, bravura brushwork, and fine use of ink, it differed from the landscape style associated with Tung Yüan and Chü-jan, forming an important mode of landscape representation. This book is the catalogue to the exhibition of Li-Kuo paintings in the National Palace Museum collection, providing a close analysis along with the development of this tradition from the Sung through the Yüan, Ming, and Ch'ing dynasties.

ISBN: 957-562-369-X
Price: NT$700 (softcover)

A Special Exhibition of Recently Acquired Gilt-Bronze Buddhist Images(in Chinese)

Gilt-bronze Buddhist sculptures are made of bronze with a thin gilding of gold. The bronze itself is an alloy of copper and tin. Modern additions to the National Palace Museum collection include 31 gilt-bronze Buddhist sculptures. Although relatively small in number, they are superb in quality and importance, ranging in date from the 5th century up to the 17th century. The quality of the artwork and the religious intensity of the figures are both presented in this catalogue to the exhibition.

ISBN: 957-562-249-9
Price: NT$1500 (hardcover)
ISBN: 957-562-250-2
Price: NT$1200 (softcover)

Monarchy and Its Buddhist Way: Tibetan-Buddhist Ritual Implements in the National Palace Museum(in Chinese)

In the early Ch'ing dynasty, the Manchu rulers used both a firm grip and soft approaches to winning the minds of other peoples. One of them was religion. To win the hearts of peoples on the frontiers of the Ch'ing empire, the court established many Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and temples. The court also often held ceremonies, which extended even as far as the inner palaces. The National Palace Museum has a rich collection of Tibetan Buddhist objects and implements from the Ch'ing court. Presented in this catalogue, they offer a rare glimpse into the religious beliefs and art of Sino-Tibetan traditions.

ISBN: 9575623584
Price: NT$1500 (softcover)

Blessings for the New Year: Special Exhibition of Paintings of Chung K'uei(in Chinese)

The tradition of Chung K'uei being a dispeller of evil and demons goes back to the T'ang dynasty, when the master Wu Tao-tzu reportedly first did his portrait. Over the years, images of Chung K'uei have been pasted by the people onto doorways as a way to avoid evil and bring in good fortune. Even later literati painters joined in the tradition, using the subject to give vent to their emotions. This catalogue to the special exhibition on images of Chung K'uei in the National Palace Museum collection presents the variety of his representation through the ages.

ISBN: 957-562-289-8
Price: NT$1000 (hardcover)
ISBN: 957-562-290-1
Price: NT$800 (softcover)

Shang Ritual Bronzes in the National Palace Museum Collection(in Chinese)

The art of bronzes is composed of the four elements of "shape," "decoration," "inscription," and "casting." Among the more than 4,000 bronze vessels and weapons in the National Palace Museum collection, those of the Shang dynasty consist of more than 150 pieces. This catalogue is a selection of a hundred of them that were placed on display. The catalogue includes 360-degree photos and detailed explanations of the bronzes, rubbings of their inscriptions, and X-rays to show their internal structure. This full record can be used to fill lacunae in the archaeological record. Ceramic mold pieces excavated by the Institute of History and Philology were also borrowed to show how these magnificent early bronzes were made.

ISBN: 957-562-333-9
Price: NT$2500 (hardcover)

A Panorama of Ceramics in the Collection of the National Palace Museum: Chün Ware(in Chinese)

In the history of ceramics, Chün ware was one of the most famous porcelains of the Sung dynasty. The kilns used to produce these wares were located in Chün-chou, hence the name. The glaze of Chün porcelains is renowned for its bright colors and myriad transformations, known for its variety in simplicity. The vessel shapes can be divided into two major categories: household objects and decorative vessels. The collection of the National Palace Museum contains more than a hundred Chün wares. This large, superb book not only documents their beauty, but also provides documentary evidence from shipwrecks and archaeological discoveries for reference.

ISBN: 9575623630
Price: NT$1990 (hardcover)

A Panorama of Ceramics in the Collection of the National Palace Museum: Hsüan-te Ware (I)(in Chinese)

Hsüan-te was the reign name of Emperor Hsüan-tsung in the Ming dynasty. Although only on the throne for ten years, the following Ch'ing court collection was said to have several thousand imperial porcelains produced during this period. Judging from surviving works and other documentary evidence, we know that the art of firing imperial porcelains reached very high levels at this time. The first portion in the National Palace Museum collection is presented in this large, well-illustrated book.

ISBN: 9575623851
Price: NT$2000 (hardcover)

China at the Inception of the Second Millennium: Art and Culture of the Sung Dynasty(in Chinese)

If we trace back Chinese history to the turn of the second millennium in the common era, we encounter the reign of Emperor Chen-tsung in the Sung dynasty. Literary pursuits flourished at this time, and the court expanded its collections. At the turn of the present millennium, the National Palace Museum looked back to that time. In celebration, it presented the special exhibition "Art and Culture of the Sung Dynasty," selecting masterpieces from the collection. The Sung dynasty, representing one of the peaks of Chinese art and culture, are on view in this catalogue to the special exhibition.

ISBN: 957-562-333-9
Price: NT$2500 (softcover)