The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Palace Museum jointly present the exhibition “Rare Rubbings of the Song Dynasty” at the Palace Museum’s Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua Dian) from 16 September to 5 November 2023, in celebration of CUHK’s 60th anniversary.

The exhibition and accompanying educational projects were supported by Bei Shan Tang Foundation, Longfor Group and the Forbidden City Cultural Heritage Conservation Foundation. Featuring 40 precious rubbings of the Song dynasty and other select artworks from the collections of CUHK’s Art Museum and the Palace Museum, the exhibition showcases the history of collection, connoisseurship, research, and aesthetics of ancient rubbings. The exhibition comprises three sections: The Huashan Mountain Temple Stele (Xiyue Huashan Miaobei) and Stone Inscriptions in the Han and Tang Dynasties; Model Calligraphies of the Imperial Library from the Chunhua Era(Chunhua Ge Tie) and Song-Dynasty-engraved Model Calligraphies; Rubbings of The Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering (Lanting Preface) from Grand Councilor You Si.

For this exhibition, all the masterpieces of rare rubbings from CUHK’s collection went on loan for the first time, including The Stele of Huashan Temple, Stele of the Preface to the Sacred Teaching, Record of the Altar of the Goddess Magu and Chunhua Ge Tie (Model Calligraphy of the Imperial Library from the Chunhua Era). These precious Song dynasty rubbings are the crystallisation of calligraphy art, engraving craftsmanship and printing technology, which can be traced back to as early as the Eastern Han dynasty and the Southern Song dynasty. As many of the original stelae or rubbings are missing or severely damaged, these are unique copies or rare editions.

Jointly edited by the Art Museum and the Palace Museum, the scholarly catalogue Rare Rubbings of the Song Dynasty will be published during the exhibition period.

More details on the exhibition (Chinese only)

Rare Rubbings of the Song Dynasty Promotional Video (YouTube | Facebook | Bilibili)

Rare Rubbings of the Song Dynasty Exhibition Highlight （Chinese only) (YouTube | Facebook | Bilibili)

360 virtual tour of the exhibition (Chinese only)