The Forbidden City with Matthew Hu

Barbarians at the Gate

This week’s topic is the Forbidden City, and our tour guide once again is Matthew Hu Xinyu, Trustee of the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CHP) and founder of the Courtyard Institute. Matthew provides us with updates on recently renovated sections of the Palace Museum previously inaccessible to tourists, such as the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility (Cining Gong 慈宁宫), where the Empress Dowager celebrated her birthdays and worshipped the Buddha, and the living quarters of the imperial concubines located north and west of Longzong Gate. Matthew also gives us a fascinating overview of the complex task of renovating the centuries-old compound and the challenges faced by the Palace Museum in restoring, protecting, and exhibiting the museum’s 1.8 million artifacts.

Palaces, artifacts historical figures mentioned on the podcast:

Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yangxin Dian养心殿

Palace of Established Happiness建福宮Jianfu Gong

jinzhuan金砖 ”metal/gold bricks”

Dr. Shan Jixiang 单霁翔, curator of the Palace Museum from 2012 and 2019

Imperial Fasting Palace Zhai Gong斋宫

“Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains” Fuchun Shanju Tu 富春山居圖, famous Yuan Dynasty painted by Huang Gongwang (黃公望, 1269-1354). The painting was divided into two pieces after being rescued from a fire. The two sections were later separated, the main section is now housed at the Taipei Palace Museum, and the smaller section, referred to as “The Remaining Mountain,” 剩山圖 Sheng Shan Tu, is part of the Beijing collection.

“Precious Works of the Stone Canal Pavilion” 石渠宝笈 Shiqu Baoji. A vast Qing collection of paintings and calligraphy by emperors and famous artists, divided into categories such as books, paintings, scrolls, and calligraphy.

Hall of Three Rarities Sanxi Tang 三希堂

“Reign behind the curtain” Chuilian tingzheng垂帘听政

Retirement Lodge Juanqin Zhai倦勤斋

Palace of Longevity and Health Shoukang Gong寿康宫

Fragile Cargo: China’s Wartime Race to Save the Treasures of the Forbidden City by Adam Brookes. “The gripping true story of the bold and determined museum curators who saved the priceless treasures of China’s Forbidden City in the years leading up to World War II and beyond.”

“Masters in the Forbidden City” Wo zai Gugong xiu wenwu 我在故宫修文物. State media documentary on the ongoing restoration projects of the Forbidden City. Available on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw6awYYu_6s