Hello everyone,
I'm Andy, a tea enthusiast.
What fascinates me about tea is that, beyond enjoying the drink itself, the related objects and history are just as intriguing.
The National Palace Museum is currently holding a special exhibition titled “Enduring Legacy: Jiazi Wannian” at its Southern Branch.
In addition to showcasing three National Treasures-Travelers Among Mountains and Streams by Fan Kuan,Early Spring by Guo Xi,
and Whispering Pines in Myriad Valleys by Li Tang-the exhibition also includes the album Remaining Calligraphy by Three Song Generations of the Su Family from Meishan,
as well as a wide variety of ceramics.
Let me share with you some of the highlights.
Letter to Magistrate Yisun - from Remaining Calligraphy by Three Song Generations of the Su Family
Su Guo, the third son of Su Shi (Dongpo), wrote this letter to a deputy county magistrate named Yisun.
In the letter, he mentions receiving “Mt. Lu tea” from Jiangxi and sharing half of it with
Yisun, along with a small amount of “Jianming tea.”
The act of sharing good tea with close friends has a history going back nearly a thousand years.
Additionally, casual notes, drafts, and letters from ancient times often express true emotion and spontaneity,
becoming masterpieces in their own right.
Examples include:
- Draft of a Requiem for My Nephew by Yan Zhenqing (Tang Dynasty)
- Offering Oranges by Wang Xizhi (Jin Dynasty):
> “I send you 300 oranges. Since the frost has not fallen yet, I couldn’t harvest more. They may not be sweet enough.”
Ceramics
The ceramic section features works from Ru ware, Guan ware, and Longquan ware.
More info:
https://theme.npm.edu.tw/EnduringLegacyS302/page-4#main
If you look closely, you’ll see crack patterns on many of the ceramic pieces. These are not damage,
but a natural phenomenon called crackle glaze (kaipian).
In Ru ware, the ceramic body and glaze cool at different rates, resulting in natural cracks that do not affect structural integrity.
Interesting facts about Ru ware:
- The Northern Song celadon narcissus basin in Taipei is the only Ru piece without crackle glaze.
- Fewer than 100 authentic Ru ware pieces exist today.
- Crackle sounds are said to resemble wind chimes.
- The Rockefeller Foundation in the United States was once willing to fully sponsor the construction of the National Palace Museum in Taipei,
on the condition that one piece of Ru ware would be given to the foundation. Converted to today’s value, the amount would be approximately NTD 8.4 billion.
Landscape Paintings: The Three Great Treasures
The three masterpieces:
- Travelers Among Mountains and Streams by Fan Kuan
- Early Spring by Guo Xi
- Whispering Pines in Myriad Valleys by Li Tang
These are classified as restricted exhibits due to their fragility-displayed only once every 3 years, for about 42–47 days.
More info:
https://theme.npm.edu.tw/EnduringLegacyS203/en
Seeing them in person is a powerful experience-their scale (nearly a story high) is beyond what books can convey.
However, the exhibition space is dimly lit and crowded, making detailed observation difficult.
Notable observations:
Fan Kuan – Travelers Among Mountains and Streams
- The signature “Fan Kuan” is subtly hidden among trees behind a traveling group.
Guo Xi – Early Spring
- Clearly depicts the seasonal transition: cold remains, warmth is coming.
- Trees resemble crab claws, with almost no leaves.
Li Tang – Whispering Pines in Myriad Valleys
- Signature is placed on the mountain to the left.
- Viewing the central forest evokes a feeling of exploration.
- Though monochrome, the textures of wood, leaves, and rock are vividly expressed.
These are my thoughts and impressions. I highly recommend bringing binoculars to enhance your viewing experience.
See you next time!
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