In ancient China, those who passed the highest imperial examination held at the imperial palace and presided over by the emperor were known as jinshi. The Qing dynasty (1644–1911) saw the emergence of a large number of calligraphers with the prestigious jinshi title. These scholar-officials held positions in the imperial court while retaining the elegance and gentleness of literati and conveying their ideas and aspirations through literary works. The jinshi group thus became a vital force in inheriting and innovating Chinese calligraphic art — a unique artistic treasure of the Chinese nation.
The National Museum of China houses a vast collection of over 40,000 pieces of ancient Chinese calligraphy, on oracle bones, bronzes, seals, bamboo and wooden slips, silk manuscripts, bricks, tiles, steles and rubbings, and model calligraphic works in ink. Among them, those from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911) constitute the majority. This exhibition selects more than 70 precious works from the museum's collection. Divided into four thematic sections, these works highlight the artistic achievements and personal pursuits of Qing dynasty jinshi, who, in the twists and turns of their own lives, made diverse creative expressions through literary refinement.
As a Chinese philosopher commented over 2,000 years ago, "writing is a picture of the mind." Brushstrokes leaping off the pages are therefore more than writing techniques: they illustrate the calligrapher's own aesthetics, life experience, and inner world. Let's immerse in the boundless beauty of Chinese calligraphy and marvel at the masterpieces of brush and ink. In doing so, we may experience the profound charm of Chinese culture.