Jilin Publishing Group has recently published The Blessed Prince Kung's Palace, an interactive Chinese-English bilingual picture book that explores the palace as a "Garden of Ten Thousand Blessings" and introduces the cultural meanings of fu (福), or blessings, through a range of storytelling approaches.
With Feng Nai'en, director of Prince Kung's Palace Museum, as the publisher, and with Su Ning, deputy director of the museum, serving as editor-in-chief, the book combines carefully researched content, clear bilingual text, detailed hand-drawn illustrations, and interactive features to present the history and culture of the palace in an accessible way. Six interactive features — including augmented reality (AR), touch-sensitive elements, scent, seal stamping, AI-generated fu character, and virtual reality (VR) — invite readers to explore auspicious motifs, discover traditional customs, and create and share their own fu characters.
The book is organized around four themes: architecture, palace life, seasonal sceneries, and living creatures. Together they explore and elucidate the symbolism and craftsmanship of the palace buildings, recreating aspects of traditional life and festivities, and celebrating the harmony between people and nature reflected in the palace and its garden.
As a bilingual publication, The Blessed Prince Kung's Palace goes beyond conventional reading by combining visual storytelling with interactive experiences. It offers readers a new way to explore the cultural heritage of Prince Kung's Palace and reflects the museum's efforts to promote traditional Chinese culture through contemporary and creative forms.
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