Generations of ancient Chinese literati already knew all too well that a study could, or rather should, be a place to get far away from the madding crowd and unleash the power of deep thought.

The Palace Museum on August 30 unveiled an exhibition on the Chinese study, which will conclude on November 30. More than 100 cultural items give visitors a glimpse of what a day in the life of an intellectual must have looked like 1,000 years ago. The museum also offers people the opportunity to embrace their inner tranquility and be alone with their thoughts surrounded by the authentic-looking decor.

A study was not only a place for reading, writing and collecting books, but also the epitome of cultural inheritance and prosperity. This exhibition explores and explains the cultural core of the Chinese study and lends this traditional facility contemporary meaning, revealing the close relationship between the intellectuals and the items they kept in their studies.

The Four Treasures of the Study, also known as the Four Jewels of the Study or the Four Friends of the Study, are different expressions of the four essential implements in Chinese calligraphy: writing brush, paper, ink and inkstone, all highlights of the exhibition. Exquisitely manufactured stationery and several items once owned by royalty reflect how devoted the literati were to their work and how the ancient Chinese created so many masterpieces through their expert use of those four tools.

(Text and photos by Wei Yao)

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

Comments to dingying@cicgamericas.com