An exhibition entitled “Stately Demeanour: Costumes of Qing Emperors and Empresses from the Collection of the Palace Museum” at the Macau Museum of Art (MAM) is showcasing nearly 90 pieces and sets of costumes, jewellery and accessories from the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing.
The exhibition is co-organised by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and Macau Foundation (FM) in conjunction with Macao Daily News.
A statement by the museum released on the sidelines of the exhibition’s opening ceremony last Wednesday points out that China is a nation that has valued rituals and ceremonies since ancient times. For instance, according to the legendary book called “Zuo zhuan” (“Zuo’s Annals”), China has great rites, social etiquette and sophisticated clothing, and costumes even serve to identify a code of conduct and distinguish ranks and status.
China’s ancient name, Huaxia (華夏) originated from its clothing culture (“hua”) and its rites and social etiquette (“xia”).
According to Wikipedia, the Zuo zhuan (左傳 in Chinese), generally translated as The Zuo Tradition, Zuo’s Commentary or Zuo’s Annals, is an ancient Chinese narrative history that is traditionally regarded as a commentary on the ancient Chinese Spring and Autumn Annals. It comprises 30 chapters covering the period from 722 to 468 BC, and focuses mainly on political, diplomatic, and military affairs from that era. The annals have traditionally been attributed to the annals to Zuo Qiuming (左丘明), a famous historian who was a contemporary of Confucius.
According to the MAM statement, the exhibition is based on the records from books dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) and the original items collected by the Palace Museum, reflecting the clothing system of that period and showcasing the culture and aesthetics behind the costumes. The exhibition is divided into five sections according to the functions of the apparel: official costumes, festive costumes, regular costumes, military and travel costumes, and leisure costumes, integrating their features in different periods of the Qing Dynasty across the axis of time to showcase the clothing etiquette and fashion trend of the era.
The exhibits include several highlights such as a bright-yellow court robe embroidered with polychrome clouds and dragons, indicating the paramount status of Emperor Qianlong; the suit of armour symbolising Emperor Xianfeng’s supreme military power, and the hair accessory inlaid with kingfisher feathers and jewels, accentuating the empresses’ captivating elegance. The exhibition also displays paintings of Qing emperors and their imperial consorts wearing corresponding costumes at various occasions, giving viewers a glimpse into their life in the imperial court and the culture behind the clothing system of the dynasty. The colourful exhibits with various motifs and exquisite craftsmanship represent the mutual integration of Manchu and Han cultures and the magnificence of the diversified Chinese clothing culture, according to the statement.
The exhibition in the 4th floor gallery of the museum at the Macau Cultural Centre complex runs until March 14. It opens daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (no admission after 6:30 p.m.). It is closed on Mondays but open on public holidays. Admission is free.
Guided tours conducted in Cantonese are available for the public at weekends and public holidays at 3 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. respectively. In addition, an interactive zone is available for visitors interested in knowing more.
Moreover, the museum also offers two prize games which include an online game that gives visitors a chance to win creative items from the Palace Museum. The online game runs until February 28. For more details, visit https://www.mam.gov.mo/game/2021.
All visitors to the museum must wear a facemask, have their temperature checked and present a digital health code.
Photos: Camy Tam
