One of the attractions of Prince Kung’s Palace is the centuries-old crabapple trees growing there. Ever since the trees were planted, owners of the mansion have dedicated odes to them in their literary works.
The Blossoms of Wisdom, an elegant gathering of poets and literati, was initiated in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) when the mansion was resided by Prince Kung (1833-98).
When Fu Jen University was installed in the mansion (1937-52), the event gained even greater popularity.
However, due to the subsequent social unrest and wars, the gathering came to an end.
In 2010, the renowned scholar Zhou Ruchang (1918-2012) wrote to the museum twice to propose the resumption of the event. In response to Zhou’s proposal, in the early spring of 2011, the museum re-launched the literary activity.
To date, the event has been held 12 times and has evolved into a signature cultural brand of the museum.
The second Blossoms of Wisdom event at Prince Kung’s Palace Museum, 2012
