Scholar gives academic lecture at Prince Kung’s Palace Museum

Ren Wanping, deputy director and senior research fellow of the Palace Museum, delivered a two-hour academic lecture at Prince Kung's Palace Museum last month. The lecture, titled Interpreting Rites through Images: A Visual Analysis of Imperial Rites in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), provided the audience with an in-depth exploration of the visual representations of imperial rites during the Qing era.

Ren offered a comprehensive analysis of the imperial system of rites in the Qing Dynasty, supported by the Palace Museum's extensive collection of artifacts and historical illustrations. Through vivid case studies, she recounted significant ceremonial practices such as the Winter Solstice sacrificial rituals at the Temple Of Heaven, imperial wedding ceremonies, and the state funeral of Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908).

Ren also explained the symbolic roles of clothing, colors and various ceremonial objects within the ritual framework, shedding light on their deeper cultural significance and functions in the imperial tradition.

The lecture marks the seventh installment in a series organized by Prince Kung's Palace Museum. This ongoing event serves as a platform connecting the public with scholars and experts, covering a range of topics including Chinese national identity, princely mansion culture, Qing Dynasty history and culture, classical architecture and garden design, and intangible cultural heritage.