Museums in the modern age have benefited enormously from the generous contributions made by individuals. The collection of the National Palace Museum now ranks as one of the world's foremost in terms of quantity and quality. Unparalleled for its holdings of Chinese artifacts, the Museum was established back in 1925 with objects and art inherited from the Ching dynasty court. These treasures, some of which can be traced back to the imperial collection more than a thousand years ago, have been supplemented by private donations over the years.
Although the imperial collection suffered losses at the fall of each dynasty, it has always been regarded as a symbol of court pride. Consequently, no effort was spared to retrieve and add works to the collection over the ages. Considering China's long history, it is not difficult to see how it grew considerably over the Sung (960-1279), Yuan (1279-1368), Ming (1368-1644), and Ching (1644-1911) dynasties. One of the most important sources has always been donations. With the establishment of the Palace Museum, the once private collection of the imperial family became the core of a public institution devoted to the preservation of Chinese art and culture for all. Many people have made great sacrifices to ensure that this tradition is enjoyed for generations to come.
From inception to maturity, the National Palace Museum has been fortunate to enjoy the support of many individuals all over the world. As with the many other items in the Museum collection, restrictions in terms of time and space prevent all donations from being displayed at once. Consequently, in this gallery, a rotation schedule has been arranged to make them available over time for public viewing. In such a way, the Museum wishes to express yet another token of appreciation to the many who have generously donated over the years and to serve as encouragement for others to follow.
* The pictures are from the National Palace Museum
