China’s Culinary Legacy Unveiled

Description

The exhibition A Movable Feast: The Culture of Food and Drink in China examines the evolution of Chinese food culture, highlighting its significance in both material and spiritual life. It is structured around four thematic sections, each focusing on a different aspect of culinary heritage.

The first section, “Crossing from Life to Death,” features ceremonial meals for the deceased, emphasising the importance of food in afterlife rituals through artefacts from the Neolithic to Han dynasties. This sets the stage for understanding how deeply ingrained food practices are within Chinese beliefs.

Next, “Crossing Cultures” showcases multicultural banquets with exquisite eating vessels from the Tang to Song periods, illustrating the culinary exchanges along the Silk Routes that enriched Chinese dining traditions.

The third section, “Crossing Mountains and Lakes,” highlights literati gatherings and picnic sets from the Ming and Qing dynasties, demonstrating how food facilitated social interactions among scholars.

Finally, the “Crossing Time” multimedia table bridges past practices with modern dining experiences, inviting visitors to explore the evolution of eating and drinking vessels.

Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Palace Museum and The Palace Museum, this exhibition includes loans from prestigious institutions such as The British Museum and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. It provides a comprehensive look at the profound impact of food on Chinese civilisation.