• The exhibition showcases unique features of Qing weaponry

Imperial Weaponry Showcases Majesty of Qing Empire

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'The Golden Parade - Imperial Weaponry from the Palace Museum' is currently exhibiting in Macao Museum of Art (MAM). In order to enable the public to have a more in-depth experience of the exhibition, MAM has organized a series of activities, including seminars conducted by experts from the Palace Museum, workshops, guided tours, and mini Chinese music concerts, among others. Guided tours are also available.

The exhibition is divided into three sections - namely, 'Dignified Bearing', 'Military Prowess' and 'Military Systems' - and showcases over one hundred items featuring weaponry, equipment and devices produced by the imperial workshops, and tributes from different regions of China and other places, revealing the diverse sources, varieties of imperial weaponry and well established system of Qing military power. The exhibition will be held until 11th March.

The section titled 'Dignified Bearing' features as its central piece Emperor Qianlong's Review of the Grand Parade of Troops Scroll 2: Battle Array. The scroll - measuring more than 17 metres and created by royal painter Jin Kun - portrays a spectacular review of troops by Emperor Qianlong in Nanyuan, describing the skills of the Eight Banners troops in military parades, archers on horseback, artillery and shooting, allowing the Emperor to review the troops' weaponry and military skills. The same section also includes military items used by the court, such as an 'Armour of gold brocade with iron plates and copper studs' and 'Emperor Qianlong's imperial broadsword used in Review of the Grand Parade of Troops', which show the importance attached by the Emperor to the solemnity of the troop review.

The section titled 'Military Prowess' includes paintings of Qianlong's hunts in the woods and forests, such as Illustration of Emperor Qianlong striking a tiger and Illustration of Emperor Qianlong shooting a deer as well as Emperor Kangxi's imperial wooden bow with birch bark veneer and Emperor Kangxi's imperial bird-hunting long gun used by the Qing Emperors for hunting, as well as other military equipment of the court.

The section titled 'Military Systems' features a number of relics, such as a Seal of Commander of the Guard Corps of Plain White Banner with silver tiger seal knob and Copper Hefu (tally) with the inscription "Deploy Officers and Soldiers of Vanguard Battalion and Guard Corps", reflecting the military power of the Eight Banners system of the Qing Dynasty as well as the strict code that existed in the imperial court for gatekeepers, palace guards and inspections.

Also on display is the Illustration of drill formation of Shenjiying (firearmed palace guard) regarding the secret training of the first military division in the world dedicated to firearms, the Shenjiying, and also, among other documents, the Illustration of battle formation of Wusheng New Army depicting the training drills of the Wusheng New Army, later renamed 'New Army', a division established during the late Qing Dynasty in Western army style. These two maps clearly show the most relevant changes in terms of arrangement and military drills of China's most traditional troops and those of the late Qing period.

The exhibition is open from 10:00am to 7:00pm (no admission after 6:30pm), including on public holidays, and closes on Mondays. Admission is free. In order to enable the public to experience the exhibition from various perspectives, MAM has organized a series of activities, including seminars conducted by experts from the Palace Museum, workshops, guided tours, mini Chinese music concerts and games with prizes, among others. Meanwhile, guided tours are also available from 3:00pm to 4:00pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

For more information about the exhibition, please visit www.mam.gov.mo.