At the Gallery of Painting and Calligraphy in the Hall of Literary Brilliance, the Palace Museum presents for the first time a rare selection of animal-themed paintings. All Beings Thrive in Harmony, inspired by a line from ancient philosopher Xunzi, brings together 117 works from 63 sets, spanning from the Five Dynasties to the Qing Dynasty. Divided into three sections - Spring Birds in Chorus, Dancing Beasts in Harmony, and Living Creatures in All Forms - the exhibition highlights the symbolic and spiritual roles of animals in Chinese culture. From imperial manuals to paintings by Masters like Huang Quan, Cui Bai, Zhao Mengfu, and Lang Shining, each piece reflects an aesthetic that blends realism, poetry, and close observation of nature.
Through techniques such as gongbi, mogu, and expressive ink painting, the show offers a poetic reflection on ecological balance - an issue that resonates more than ever today.
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