The Tokyo National Museum is marking the 40th anniversary of the normalization of relations between Japan and China with a selection of pieces that "define" their permanent home — the Palace Museum, in Beijing.
Among the 200 masterpieces chosen from the Palace Museum's collection of 1.8 million artifacts are 41 Song and Yuan Dynasty calligraphic works, court and literati paintings, and an array of bronze and jade pieces. Many of the items have never been shown outside the Palace before, including the painting "Life Along the Bian River at the Qingming Festival," which is considered a Chinese national treasure and will be on display until Jan. 24.
The exhibition is split into two sections — the first showing the calligraphic, painting, jade and bronze works; the second, focusing on four portraits of Emperor Qianlong, whose reign marked the Qing Dynasty's golden period; till Feb. 19.
Heiseikan Special Exhibition Gallery, Tokyo National Museum; (03) 5405-8686; 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo; 10-min. walk from JR Ueno or Uguisudani Station on the Yamanote Line (Park Exits); 9.30 a.m. — 5 p.m. ¥1,500; Closed Mon. (except Jan. 2 and 9) and Jan. 10. www.tnm.jp.
