The Forbidden City with Matthew Hu

<p>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.</p><p> </p><p><u>Palaces, artifacts historical figures mentioned on the podcast</u><u>:</u></p><p><u> </u></p><p>Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yangxin Dian养心殿</p><p> </p><p>Palace of Established Happiness建福宮Jianfu Gong</p><p> </p><p>jinzhuan金砖 ”metal/gold bricks”</p><p> </p><p>Dr. Shan Jixiang 单霁翔, curator of the Palace Museum from 2012 and 2019</p><p> </p><p>Imperial Fasting Palace Zhai Gong斋宫</p><p> </p><p>“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.</p><p> </p><p>“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.</p><p> </p><p>Hall of Three Rarities Sanxi Tang 三希堂</p><p> </p><p>“Reign behind the curtain” Chuilian tingzheng垂帘听政</p><p> </p><p>Retirement Lodge Juanqin Zhai倦勤斋</p><p> </p><p>Palace of Longevi