Places for paper treasures

The Palace Museum's Hall of Literary Glory reopens with a comprehensive exhibition of the works of Wu Changshuo. Wang Kaihao reports.

First built in 1420, the Hall of Literary Glory (Wenhua Dian) in the Palace Museum in Beijing, China's former royal palace, also known as the Forbidden City, used to house myriad books during the imperial age.It was also where emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties reviewed imperial examinations.

In recent years, the hall has been used to present porcelain artifacts before a brief closure.

However, since it reopened to the public on Sunday, the hall will better live up its grandiose name, as the space will now house the museum's abundant paper treasures - ancient Chinese paintings and calligraphy.

Perhaps an exhibition of works by painting guru, Wu Changshuo (1844-1927), is the perfect way to inaugurate this new era of the hall as he, too, initiated a new era.

About 100 of his works, which were selected from the collection of the Palace Museum, will be displayed for Iron Pens Grow Flowers: Exhibition of Wu Changshuo's Works, which will run through July 15.

It almost makes for a perfect summer exhibition as the painted flowers make it like a garden on paper.