Core Viewpoint - The Palace Museum, a significant cultural landmark in China, is celebrating its centenary in 2025, showcasing its historical importance and cultural heritage [1][10]. Group 1: Historical Significance - The Palace Museum is the largest and best-preserved wooden structure palace complex in the world, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a testament to over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization [1]. - Established on October 10, 1925, the term "Palace Museum" specifically refers to the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, known as the Forbidden City [3]. Group 2: Visitor Engagement - The museum has seen a significant increase in visitor numbers, with over 17.6 million visitors expected in 2024, following the first-time surpassing of 10 million visitors in 2009 [3]. - The museum's exhibitions, such as "Hundred Years of Guardianship," feature rare treasures like "Five Cattle" and "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," illustrating its evolution and commitment to innovation [5]. Group 3: Architectural and Cultural Appeal - The architectural grandeur of the museum includes the three main halls and exquisite gardens, showcasing the beauty of traditional Chinese architecture [6]. - The museum houses a vast collection of artifacts, including unique treasures and sculptures, which narrate the rich history and culture of China [7]. Group 4: Modernization and Global Influence - The Palace Museum is leveraging technology and cultural creativity to engage a broader audience, enhancing the visibility of Chinese traditional culture on a global scale [10]. - The transformation of the museum reflects broader changes in China, emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage and its role in contemporary society [10].

Core Concept - The exhibition "Joy of Forest and Spring" co-hosted by the Palace Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago focuses on the cultural significance of gardens, showcasing both Chinese classical garden art and global garden culture through various artistic forms and historical narratives [1]. Group 1: Exhibition Overview - The exhibition runs from April 1 to June 29, 2025, and emphasizes the theme of "garden elegance," featuring six major garden activities: gathering, collection, mountain touring, quiet cultivation, flower viewing, and musical enjoyment [1]. - It includes a diverse range of exhibits, such as Chinese paintings, Qing dynasty artifacts, classical furniture, Western oil paintings, sculptures, Japanese ukiyo-e, and Persian miniature paintings [1]. Group 2: Garden Culture and Aesthetics - The "Elegant Gathering" section highlights the traditional Chinese practice of gathering friends in gardens, which inspired numerous literary works and artistic expressions [2]. - The exhibition features models and artworks that recreate historical gatherings like the Lanting Gathering, showcasing the integration of nature and human creativity [2][4]. Group 3: Notable Artworks - The exhibition displays various versions of the Lanting Gathering, including calligraphy and paintings that reflect its enduring impact on Chinese literature and culture [4][6]. - Significant pieces include the "Eight Pillars of Lanting" and the "Nine Songs Scroll," which illustrate the cultural importance of these gatherings in Chinese history [5][27]. Group 4: Cross-Cultural Comparisons - The exhibition also explores Western garden culture, showcasing Persian miniature paintings that depict garden scenes and reflect the influence of Chinese painting techniques [9][10]. - It contrasts the intimate gatherings in Chinese gardens with the more private salons of French nobility, highlighting different cultural approaches to social interaction and artistic expression [15][16]. Group 5: Musical and Artistic Integration - The "Musical Enjoyment" section emphasizes the role of music in garden settings, featuring artifacts related to traditional performances and the integration of natural sounds [70]. - The exhibition includes a reconstruction of a small theater in the Qianlong Garden, showcasing the popularity of theatrical performances during the Qing dynasty [72].

Core Viewpoint - The "Le Lin Quan - Chinese and Foreign Garden Culture Exhibition" at the Palace Museum showcases over 200 cultural relics and artworks, aiming to immerse visitors in the charm of garden culture and humanistic wisdom [1][3]. Group 1: Exhibition Overview - The exhibition is co-hosted by the Palace Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago, featuring six thematic units that integrate garden landscapes with literature, drama, and historical anecdotes, focusing on both Chinese classical gardens and global garden culture [3]. - The exhibition recreates historical gatherings, such as the famous Lantingji Xu gathering over 1600 years ago, where Wang Xizhi and others celebrated in a picturesque setting [3][5]. Group 2: Featured Artworks - Notable artworks include the Ming Dynasty painting "Lanting Xiuxi Tu" by You Qiu, which captures a spring gathering in the mountains, and "Xiyuan Yaji Tu" by Shitao, depicting famous Northern Song Dynasty figures [5]. - The exhibition also features the "Fanghu Tu" by Wu Bin, showcasing a fantastical mountain landscape, and various flower-themed artworks, including "Cengdie Bingxiao Tu" by Ma Lin and Monet's "Water Lilies" [7][9][10]. Group 3: Innovative Exhibition Techniques - The exhibition employs unique presentation methods, including architectural models and historical spatial reconstructions, to illustrate the wisdom behind the construction of the Forbidden City gardens [10][12]. - A highlight is the meticulously replicated Qianlong Garden model, which will officially open to the public in September, showcasing the peak of interior decoration craftsmanship during the Qianlong Emperor's reign [12][14]. Group 4: Cultural Significance - The exhibition emphasizes the pursuit of a transcendent spiritual space in gardens, reflecting the ancient Chinese desire for harmony with nature, whether in artificial landscapes or real mountains and waters [16].