Emperors' Treasures: Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, Taipei

In the mid-fifteenth century, an extraordinary type of Ming porcelain known as doucai ware emerged, as potters ventured from blue-and-white ware to the more complex underglazing and overglazing technique that produced multicolors. The depiction of a rooster, hen and chicks chasing insects represents a wish for nobility, wealth and good fortune. (The Chinese word for “chicken” is a pun on the word for “luck.”) By the 16th century, this type of porcelain commanded large sums in the art market, and its value has certainly not declined since. Just two years ago, a similar “chicken cup” was sold for over $36 million, setting the world auction record for any Chinese porcelain.

Emperor Huizong, who preferred artistic pursuits to governance, created his own “slender-gold” style of calligraphy, named for its delicate, elongated brushstrokes. This work describes an unusual rock; it looked, the emperor wrote, like a beast about to pounce, or a dragon about to soar. While they might seem odd subjects for poetry, rocks have long been admired in Chinese culture, as a kind of artwork carved by nature.

This jasper stone shaped like a piece of pork is one of the most popular works at the National Palace Museum, Taipei. A “smart carving” (qiaodiao), the object was made by deeply understanding the stone’s properties and using its natural hues and forms to an advantage. Tiny holes were drilled in the surface to replicate pores in the meat, and traces of pigment indicate that the top layer was artificially colored to a lustrous reddish brown, resembling pork belly marinated in soy sauce. With these techniques, this cold, hard piece of stone is utterly transformed into a tender, succulent piece of dongpo rou, a fatty pork dish.

Chinese potters of the eighteenth century were some of the greatest the world has ever seen, and this piece boasts both artistic and technical mastery — it even has moving parts. The neck, upper body, lower body and inner vase components were each fired independently and, once finished, fitted together in such a way that the inner vase actually rotates when the neck is turned. The decoration is no less complex; it features eight trigrams (combinations of broken and unbroken lines symbolizing yin and yang energy, from the ancient classic text “I Ching”) and wish-granting wands in the shape of mushroom heads, a motif associated with longevity and heaven in Daoism.

This portrait of Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan and founder of the Yuan dynasty, captures a head position and calm facial expression typical of formal imperial portraits. However, the use of contouring and soft color washes to give the illusion of three-dimensionality marks a departure from traditional Chinese methods, which primarily relied on ink delineation. After conquering China and ending over 100 years of internal struggles, Kublai Khan became the first non-native ruler of all of China. In this portrait, his Mongol identity is evident in his plain robe, leather hat and three braided loops of hair hanging below each ear. This small bust portrait was likely produced by a court painter at the emperor’s decree.

This Qing dynasty sculpture was carved from a piece of banded jasper, a naturally occurring stone that forms in layers, the artwork resembles a thick slab of dongpo rou, or braised pork belly. Capitalizing on the jasper’s natural appearance, the unknown Qing-dynasty artist carved the stone until it resembled layers of pork skin, lean meat and fat. Then the skin layer was stained, which, along with the veining of the stone, enhances the illusion.

Traveling outside of Asia for the first time, this artwork is one of the highlights of the exhibition. When on display in Japan in 2014, the stone drew an average of 6,000 people per day. Even noted chef, author and TV foodie Anthony Bourdain called the artwork “the pork of my dreams.”

The “Meat-shaped stone” is exhibited in the Resource Room on the first floor.

Cafe Asian dongpo pork

Has the “Meat-shaped stone” left you with a serious craving? We’ve got you covered. Dongpo rou, the braised pork belly dish rendered so realistically in jasper by an unknown Qing-dynasty artist, is available at Cafe Asia during the Emperors’ Treasures exhibition. Chef Melinda Quirino seasons the pork with soy sauce, sugar, ginger and other ingredients for a mouthwatering blend of sweet and savory, then braises it for over two hours to achieve the signature succulent texture. Feast your eyes on the art, then enjoy a literal feast. 

Priceless Pork Belly, Plated

Join us for a monthlong porkfest to welcome the U.S. debut of the famous “Meat-shaped stone.” In tribute to this celebrated work of art, 12 San Francisco chefs, including Brandon Jew of Mister Jiu’s, Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese, and Michelle Mah of The Slanted Door, have created signature pork belly dishes inspired by the “Meat-shaped stone.” These dishes will be featured in their restaurants for four week only, from June 17 through July 17, 2016.

Make this tasty treasure at home with our handy step-by-step video to preparing dongpo rou. All you’ll need are a few ingredients, available at most Asian grocery stores, and cooking supplies hiding around the kitchen. Be advised: The process is time-consuming — you should budget about four hours from start to finish. But the juicy, tender, sweet-and-savory pork belly is worth every minute you’ll spend — trust us. 

Delight your taste buds, impress your friends (if you feel like sharing), and eat like a king (or should we say an emperor).

Make It Vegan

Don’t eat pork, but still want to taste this iconic dish? Try our vegan recipe featuring winter melon and green jackfruit…

In the mood for… pork? This sizzling set brings together two seemingly unrelated subjects: meat and stones. From punk rock to Motown, this positively punny playlist will surely jumpstart your dongpo party. Let’s face it. Pork rocks.

Listen to Pork Rocks…

If you’ve still got an appetite for pork, head to the museum store for some meaty mementos. We’ve got “Meat-shaped stone” paperweights, pens, magnets and more, all for under $20.

The formulated order, harmonious presentations and exquisitely crafted forms of Song art make it a symbol of China’s renaissance. Song art continued to prove pivotal in later dynasties, inspiring court arts for centuries to come.

Emperor Huizong (1082–1135): Great patron of arts and philosophy
Huizong was raised in the palace with no expectation of ever becoming emperor. After the unexpected death of his older brother, Huizong was elevated to emperor. Leaving much of the job of governing to his councilors, Huizong indulged himself in cultural pursuits with careless extravagance. He was a great painter, calligrapher and patron of Daoism, classical rituals, tea culture, music and ceramics. During his reign, arts and philosophy prospered immensely.

Emperor Gaozong (1127–1162): Master of calligraphy
The ninth son of Emperor Huizong, Gaozong became emperor when his ousted father and older brother were taken captive by the nomadic Jurchen of the northeast. Gaozong settled the new Song capital in Hangzhou. During his rule, he reestablished Huizong’s painting academy, recruited learned scholars to his court and continued to strengthen the imperial collection of painting and calligraphy. A gifted and influential calligrapher, Gaozong mastered multiple script styles.

Yuan-dynasty works demonstrate the rich diversity of Mongol-ruled society. A departure from the delicateness of Song art, Yuan art captures the coexistence of ethnicities and religions while reflecting the unrest caused by ethnic conflict. Motivated by the Mongols’ ambition of creating a universal empire, commercial trade with many regions of the world expanded enormously during this period, which infused Chinese culture with new points of view.

Kublai Khan (1215–1294): Mongol conqueror turned ruler
The grandson of Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan conquered China and founded the Yuan dynasty. Although Kublai Khan himself did not contribute to any great artistic achievements, he unified the opposing Song and Jin (Jurchen-ruled) dynasties, ending over 100 years of internal struggles. The first non-native ruler of all of China, he moved the capital south from the Mongolian steppe to what is now Beijing — which resulted in an uprising he barely contained.

Seeking to regain the esteem of the Han Chinese majority in the heartland, the early Ming rulers restored a bright (ming) culture that deeply integrated Classicism, Confucianism, Daoism and Tibetan Buddhism. This era marked a dramatic rise and flourishing of the arts, and witnessed new developments in the study of painting, porcelain, jade and lacquer.

Emperor Yongle (1360–1424): Promoter of Islamic culture
Yongle’s unprecedented naval diplomacy sparked an increase in Chinese exploration, which reached as far as the coast of East Africa and enticed Westerners with Chinese wonders. He promoted Islamic culture and art, which inspired innovations in Chinese art.

Emperor Xuande (1398–1435): Renowned artist-emperor
Not only was Xuande a great military leader during his short 10-year reign, he was extraordinarily skilled as a calligrapher and painter, particularly of intimate garden scenes depicting flowers and animals.

Under the Manchu emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, China experienced unprecedented prosperity and exuberance in arts, interior design and architecture, before dramatic historical events marked an end to imperial China in 1911.

Emperor Kangxi (1654–1722): Admirer of Western art and technology
Kangxi kept abreast of global technological advancements and encouraged innovation in the fields of science, culture and the arts. His studies of Western thought included such diverse subjects as mathematics, astronomy, geography, cartography, pharmacology, Latin, musical theory, European philosophy, painting and crafts. Developing relationships with foreign missionaries and royal European families, he was the first Chinese emperor to allow Westerners in court.

Emperor Yongzheng (1678–1735): Art connoisseur with sophisticated taste
A calligrapher and a poet, Yongzheng was also deeply interested in antiques and recording works of art for posterity. He collected large numbers of objects produced in earlier periods. His artistic taste was elegant and refined, and he was personally involved in the decorative and functional design of imperial objects, giving frequent (some might say picky) critiques and instructions to artists.

Emperor Qianlong (1711–1799): The “Old Man of Ten Perfections”
Refinement, extravagance and superior technical skills characterized the courtly arts during Qianlong’s period. He was also a prolific poet, completing more than 40,000 poetry inscriptions. He valued harmony between the old and new, and the East and West.

Empress Dowager Cixi (1835–1908): A regent with a lavish lifestyle
Cixi ruled from “behind the screen” during the reigns of her son and nephew, respectively the Tongzhi and Guangxu emperors. Her reign greatly intensified the country’s poverty and weakening military, leading to unrest that culminated in the fall of the Qing empire in 1911. While she lived a lavish lifestyle and surrounded herself with luxurious goods — including porcelains decorated with lush floral motifs — the once-flourishing art of the late Qing empire declined.