Fighting past comes alive in treasure show

Charlotte Lam

Hong Kong Palace Museum is set to thrill history buffs with its latest exhibition, showcasing 18 grade-one national treasures from the Qing Dynasty.

Opening on January 22 in gallery four, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Art of Armaments - Qing Dynasty Military Collection from The Palace Museum" promises to be a landmark event for both history enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.

The year-long exhibition will feature 190 military artifacts, including helmets, bows, arrows and equestrian equipment, all sourced from the Palace Museum in Beijing.

Standout items include a Qianlong-period replica of the helmet used by legendary Qing emperor Nurhaci.

Deputy director Daisy Wang Yiyou pointed to the exhibition's scale, which exceeds the 120 artifacts found in most exhibitions.

"Items such as large-scale battle paintings and archery equipment need to be rotated out every three months to ensure preservation," she said, adding that many of these relics are made with fragile materials.

Curator Chou Weichiang said multimedia displays will enhance engagement by allowing visitors to explore the full collection even if they can't attend all four phases of the exhibition.

The exhibition is divided into six distinct sections: "The Rise of the Eight Banners and Qing Rule," "Swords and Sabres across the State," "Equestrian Archery and Firearms," "Military Drills, Inspections, and Rites," "Images as Histories" and "Coastal Defence."

Director Louis Ng Chi-wa said the timing of the exhibition, coinciding with the Lunar New Year, is expected to draw more than 500,000 visitors during its run.

Executive deputy director Lou Wei hopes the exhibition will resonate globally, saying: "We aim to share the historical stories of the Palace Museum's treasures with both Chinese and international visitors."