Hong Kong Palace Museum

Audio guide

The thematic exhibition of the Hong Kong Palace Museum “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Stories Untold — Figure Paintings of the Ming Dynasty from the Palace Museum” is the first ever exhibition of historical Chinese figure paintings in Hong Kong. The exhibition has carefully selected 81 sets (97 pieces) of the exquisite surviving works by around 60 Ming dynasty painters from the Palace Museum collection, among which 14 sets (16 pieces) are national grade-one cultural relics. The paintings will be shown in four rotations, with about 20 on display in each rotation for around three months. The paintings in each rotation are thoughtfully divided into groups to showcase the artistic pursuits and achievements of court painters, literati painters, and professional painters from the early, middle, and late periods of the Ming dynasty. It will unveil fascinating stories about the painters and the painted and show the multifaceted lives and spiritual world of people living in Ming dynasty. The paintings and the stories about them will deepen visitors’ understanding of traditional Chinese paintings, Chinese history, and Chinese culture.

This exhibition is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Palace Museum. It is solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

Jointly organised by

Solely sponsored by:

HKJC

Disclaimer: In no event shall the Funder have any liability of any kind to any person or entity arising from or related to any actions taken or not taken as a result of any of the contents herein.

Wu Bin (active 1573–1620)
Portrait of the Buddha
Ming dynasty, Wanli period, 1602
Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper
© The Palace Museum

Highlighted objects

Emperor Taizu Calling on Zhao Pu on a Snowy Night

Liu Jun (active mid- to late 15th century)
Emperor Taizu Calling on Zhao Pu on a Snowy Night
Ming dynasty, mid- to late 15th century
Hanging scroll, ink and colour on silk
© Palace Museum

Gathering at the Orchid Pavilion

Wen Zhengming (1470–1559)
Gathering at the Orchid Pavilion
Ming dynasty, Jiajing period, 1542
Handscroll, ink and colour on gold paper
© Palace Museum

The Tree in the Wind

Tang Yin (1470–1524)
The Tree in the Wind
Ming dynasty, early 16th century
Handscroll, ink on paper
© Palace Museum

Illustration of Tributaries

Qiu Ying (about 1494–1552)
Illustration of Tributaries
Ming dynasty, mid-16th century
Handscroll, ink and colour on silk
© Palace Museum

Confucius, Laozi, and Buddhist Arhat

Ding Yunpeng (1547–after 1628)
Confucius, Laozi, and Buddhist Arhat
Ming dynasty, late 16th or early 17th century
Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper
© Palace Museum

Rotation 1: December 13, 2023 – March 10, 2024

Section 1	Section 2	Section 3
Unidentified court artist Amusements in the Xuande Emperor’s Palace	Tang Yin (1470–1524) Appreciating Plum Blossoms	Ding Yunpeng (1547–after 1628) Confucius, Laozi, and Buddhist Arhat
Unidentified court artist Seated Portrait of Prince Xing Xian	Zhang Ling (about 1470–before 1511) Scholar in the Autumn Woods	Chen Hongshou (1598–1652) Children Worshipping the Buddha
Unidentified court artist Portrait of Zhao Hongyin	Zhou Guan (active mid-15th–early 16th century) Admiring Lanterns and Composing Poetry	Yuan Shangtong (1590–after 1661) New Year’s Day Celebration
Liu Jun (active mid- to late 15th century) Song Emperor Taizu Calling on Zhao Pu on a Snowy Night	Wen Zhengming (1470–1559) Gathering at the Orchid Pavilion	Chen Guan (about 1563–1639) Portrait of Junshi (Li Rihua)
Dai Jin (1388–1462) Zhong Kui Travelling in the Night	Qiu Ying (about 1494–1552) Stories of Legends	Cui Zizhong (1594–1644) Fishermen
Zhu Bang (active mid- to late 15th century) Three Daoist Immortals (Li Tieguai, Han Zhongli, Lü Dongbin)	Song Xu (1525–after 1606) Immortal’s Abode at Dongshan	Li Changchun (active 17th century) Portrait of Cheng Fang
Zhang Lu (about 1464–1538) Ning Qi Herding an Ox	Zhang Han (1510–1593) Illustrations of Official Accomplishments

Rotation 2: March 13 – June 2, 2024

Section 1	Section 2	Section 3
Unidentified court artist Xuande Emperor Watching Quails Fighting	Zhou Yong (1476–1547) Immortal of Sweeping Flowers	Li Shida (active mid-16th–early 17th century) New Year’s Day Celebration in the Village
Zhu Zhanji (1399–1435) Zhuge Liang Takes His Ease	Lu Zhi (1496–1576) Bamboo Grove in the Summer	Wu Bin (active 1573–1620) Portrait of the Buddha
Unidentified court artist Portrait of Song Emperor Huizong	Li Cuilan (active mid- to late 16th century) Episodes of Tao Yuanming’s Life	Chen Hongshou (1598–1652) Ladies Singing and Playing a String Instrument
Wang E (active late 15th–early 16th century) Searching for Plum Blossoms in the Snow	Tang Yin (1470–1524) The Tree in the Wind	Chen Hongshou (1598–1652), Chen Yuyin (active mid-17th century), Yan Zhan (active early to mid-17th century) Inquiring of the Way
Zhu Duan (active late 15th–early 16th century) Tigers Leaving the Hongnong Commandery	Qiu Ying (about 1494–1552) The Orchid Pavilion	Fang Zong (active early to mid-17th century) Lady Wenji Returns to Her Homeland
Zhang Lu (about 1464–1538) Phoenix and Female Immortal	Unidentified artist Portrait of Wang Ao with His Own Inscription	Zhang Hong (1577–after 1652) Performing Acrobatic Acts
Peng Shunqing (active 16th century) Nine Elders of Mount Xiang	Zhou Chen (about 1460–1535) Figures

Rotation 3: June 5 – September 1, 2024

Section 1	Section 2	Section 3
Unidentified court artist Seated Portrait of Emperor Guangzong	Du Jin (active 1465–1509) Inscribing on Bamboo	Ding Yunpeng (1547–after 1628) Resting in the Pine Ravine
Lü Wenying (1421–1510), Lü Ji (about 1439–1505) Birthday Gathering in the Bamboo Garden	Unidentified artist Portrait of Shen Zhou	Chen Hongshou (1598–1652) Appreciating a Painting
Unidentified court artist Portrait of Song Emperor Yingzong	You Qiu (active 16th century) Eight Scholars Indulging in Wine	Shi Zhong (active early to mid-17th century) Portrait of Li Liufang
Ji Sheng (active 15th century) Knick-knack Peddler	Qiu Ying (about 1494–1552) Illustration of Tributaries	Cui Zizhong (1594–1644) Li Bai Collecting Clouds
Dai Jin (1388–1462) Inquiring the Way at the Grotto-Heavens	Unidentified artist Portrait of Shen Lian	Li Lin (1558–after 1635) Ox-Herding
Wu Wei (1459–1508) An Immortal Admiring a Scroll	Huang Chen (active mid- to late 16th century) Floating Wine Cups Down a Winding Stream	Zhang Hong (1577–after 1652) Chang Gate Congested with Boats
Jiang Song (active 16th century) Reminiscing One’s Hometown	Luo Wenrui (active mid- to late 16th century) Portraits of Five Virtuous Men after Zhao Mengfu	Li Shida (active mid-16th–early 17th century) Arhats

Rotation 4: September 4 – November 30, 2024

Section 1	Section 2	Section 3
Unidentified court artist Seated Portrait of Emperor Xizong	Shen Shuo (active early to mid-17th century) Admiring the Waterfall	Yuan Shangtong (1590–after 1661) Chang Gate Congested with Boats at Dawn
Artist with the surname Ding (active early 16th century) Gathering of Five Officials	You Qiu (active 16th century) Appreciating Antiques	Wu Bin (active 1573–1620) Bodhisattva
Unidentified artist Portrait of Wen Tianxiang	Unidentified artist Elegant Gathering in the Western Garden	Chen Hongshou (1598–1652) Drunk Yang Shen with Flowers on His Head
Wang Zhongyu (active late 14th century) Portrait of Tao Yuanming	Qiu Ying (about 1494–1552) Auspicious Omens Leading to the Song Emperor Gaozong’s Reign	Zeng Jing (1564–1647) Portrait of Ge Zhenfu (Ge Yilong)
Ni Duan (active mid- to late 15th century) Inviting Pang Degong	Zhou Chen (about 1460–1535) Tang Emperor Minghuang Roaming the Moon Palace	Li Shida (active mid-16th–early 17th century) Three Laughs at Tiger Brook
Wang Zhao (active early to mid-16th century) Child Shepherd and Rams	Tang Yin (1470–1524) Wang Ao Coming Out of Seclusion to Resume Office	Unidentified artist (Attributed to Qiu Ying) Along the River During the Qingming Festival
Shi Wen (active late 15th–early 16th century) Waiting for the Moon on an Anchored Boat	Qian Gu (1509–after 1579) Stories from the Records of the Grand Historian

Hong Kong Palace Museum | The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Stories Untold — Figure Paintings of the Ming Dynasty from the Palace Museum

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