Food culture encompasses the sourcing, preparation, and consumption of food, as well as the customs and ideologies surrounding eating and drinking. According to anthropological archaeologist Kwang-chih Chang, "one of the best ways of getting to a culture's heart would be through its stomach." This concept is especially significant in Chinese civilization.
The exhibition invites visitors to experience a multicourse feast that spans five millennia of Chinese history:
Crossing from Life to Death:
This section features ceremonial meals for the deceased, showcasing ritual and burial objects related to food and drink from the Neolithic period (circa 10,000–2000 BCE) to the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). It highlights the belief in the importance of transferring food and drink to the afterlife in Chinese culture.
Crossing Cultures:
Presenting a multicultural banquet, this part focuses on eating and drinking vessels from the Tang (618–907) to Song (960–1279) periods, including platters and ewers introduced via the Silk Routes. It illustrates the mutual influence of Chinese and Central and West Asian eating practices.
Crossing Mountains and Lakes:
This section exhibits notable scenes of literati gatherings and picnic sets from the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, demonstrating the vital role of food and drink at elegant gatherings and excursions.
Crossing Time:
At the multimedia table in this section, visitors are encouraged to explore the past and present of modern eating and drinking vessels.
The exhibition is jointly organized by the Hong Kong Palace Museum and The Palace Museum, with exhibits primarily sourced from both institutions. Additional loans have come from the British Museum, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and the Hong Kong Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware.
Time and location: 19.03.2025 – 18.06.2025; Gallery 8
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