Hong Kong Museum of History

The Splendours of Imperial Costume: Qing Court Attire

Current Exhibitions

Introduction

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Splendours of Royal Costume: Qing Court Attire

The present exhibition provides an excellent opportunity for the public to appreciate from diverse perspectives the court attire of the Qing dynasty and its cultural aspects.

Some one hundred and thirty items/sets of textiles and embroideries from The Palace Museum Collection are featured in the exhibition. The exhibits comprise Official Costumes, Festive Costumes, Regular Costumes, Travel Costumes, Military Costumes and Leisure Costumes. Among them are the armour and helmet of Emperor Kangxi, the dragon robe of Emperor Yongzheng, the court robe of Emperor Qianlong, the matrimonial dragon robes of Emperor and Empress Guangxu, and the surcoat of Puyi the last emperor of the Qing dynasty. The exhibition is also supplemented by large-scale multimedia programmes to enhance the visitors' understanding of the Qing court attire.

The exhibits depict the fusion of Manchu and Han styles and illustrate how the rigorous system of the Qing court attire had served to differentiate rank and status between members of the strictly hierarchical society, ranging from the emperor to his subjects and from the official to the populace. The costumes not only display the highest standard of weaving and embroidery in the Qing dynasty, but also manifest the lifestyle and preference of the Manchus.

The largest of its kind ever launched by The Palace Museum outside the Mainland, this exhibition offers an excellent platform for the comprehensive understanding of the Qing court attire.

Public Guided Tours (in Cantonese)

The Museum offers public guided tours from 31 July 2013 (Wed) onwards.Each tour is about 1 hour and admits 30 persons on a first come, first served basis. Please wait at the "Docent Stop" at the entrance of the Special Exhibition Gallery as scheduled below:

Session 1: 11:30 am daily

Session 2: 3:00 pm daily

Additional sessions will be provided every Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays:

English： 2:00 pm

Putonghua： 4:30 pm

Audio Guide Service

The Museum offers public guided tours from 31 July 2013 (Wed) onwards.Cantonese, English and Putonghua versions are available to introduce the exhibit highlights. Please check details with the Audio Guide Service Counter on 1/F Lobby.

	Lined sapphire blue satin court robe with dragons in clouds Qianlong period (1736-1795) The Palace Museum Collection Court robe of blue colour was among the official costumes worn by the Qing emperors when offering sacrifice at the Altar of Heaven on the Winter Solstice, and at ceremonies invoking bumper harvest and rain.
	Lined bright yellow gauze brocade robe with dragons in clouds Shunzhi period (1644-1661) The Palace Museum Collection Longpao, literally ‘dragon robe', was among the category of jifu (festive costumes) worn by the Qing emperors on important festive occasions such as the empress dowager's birthday and the weddings of princesses and princes.
	Half-coloured cartoon for a *changyi* gown with phoenix motif The Palace Museum Collection This cartoon was sent by the Imperial Household Department to the imperial textile manufactories where the fabric was manufactured exactly to the shape, materials, colours, motifs and measurements specified on the cartoon.
	Wooden clothing box engraved with "Shangyong longgua" The Palace Museum Collection The beech wood box was specially made for holding the fabric of emperor's longgua, festive surcoat.

31/7 – 7/10/2013

Admission Fee：
(including "The Hong Kong Story" permanent exhibition)

Standard：HK$20
Concession：HK$10 (for people with disabilities (and one accompanying minder), full time students and senior citizens aged 60 or above)
Group (20 persons or above)：HK$14
Holders of Museum Pass and Museum Weekly Pass enjoy free admission

*On Wednesdays:
Standard：HK$10
Concession：HK$5 (for people with disabilities (and one accompanying minder), full time students and senior citizens aged 60 or above)
Group (20 persons or above)：HK$7
Holders of Museum Pass and Museum Weekly Pass enjoy free admission

Closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays)

Solely Sponsored by
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust

Jointly presented by
Leisure and Cultural Services Department
The Palace Museum

Co-organised by
Hong Kong Museum of History
The Palace Museum

Introduction

Hong Kong Observatory - Under the Same Sky 130 Years

The Hong Kong Observatory was established in 1883, when it provided a time service and typhoon warnings. Over the 130 years that have elapsed since then, the Observatory has expanded its range of services to cater to the ever-changing demands of society and is now one of the leading meteorological organisations in the world. To celebrate its 130th anniversary, the Observatory has teamed up with the Hong Kong Museum of History to stage an exhibition that outlines the milestones in the Observatory's development and looks back at some of the devastating natural disasters that have hit Hong Kong over the past century through the display of selected artefacts, like early hand-drawn weather charts, typhoon signals and a miniature model of the time ball tower used in the past, supplemented by historical photographs, videos, as well as multimedia programmes.

	Carved oak FitzRoy barometer from the Royal Polytechnic Institute of London, late 19th century.
	The Hong Kong Observatory's earliest extant weather chart, drawn on 30 June 1909.
	The local storm signal code, used by the Hong Kong Observatory from 1931 to 1934.
	An American traveller's photo album, including photos taken when the 1937 typhoon hit Hong Kong.
	Rainfall record on the wrapper of a pack of cigarettes done by the Observatory staff when they were under detention at the Stanley Internment Camp during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong.
	The Hurricane Signal No.10 hoisted in the 1970s.