The Art of Armaments – Qing Dynasty Military Collection from The Palace Museum

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) and The Palace Museum jointly present the new thematic exhibition The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Art of Armaments—Qing Dynasty Military Collection from The Palace Museum. It will be the first large-scale exhibition in Hong Kong of recent years to highlight the martial culture of the Qing court. The exhibition is solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and will open to the public in Gallery 4 of the HKPM starting from 22 January 2025.

The Forbidden City in Beijing, which served as the nexus of political and military power during the Qing dynasty, is also a rich repository of traditional military culture. The exhibition features nearly 190 military artefacts from The Palace Museum’s collection, encompassing helmets, archery sets, sabres and swords, equestrian equipment, paintings, textiles, books, albums, and scientific instruments. The exhibition aims to deepen audiences’ understanding of Qing dynasty military culture. It vividly illustrates the Manchu emphasis on ancestral martial traditions, the advancement of weapon-making techniques for bows, swords, and firearms, and their dedication to hunting and drills. The result of these activities was the creation of numerous court military art works, the establishment of military rituals, and the development of fleets and coastal defence.