28/3 《京》 album

Palace in the Snow - Mitsuko

A So Bi Ma Sho - Naoyuki Onda

Verdurous Mountains - Masaji Watanabe

"Hailed as one of China's greatest emperors, the Kangxi Emperor, XuanYe, succeeded his father, Emperor Shunzhi, at the tender age of eight. During his reign (1662 to 1722), the Manchus consolidated rule over China and the Chinese empire expanded.

The Kangxi Emperor's many achievements can be attributed to his passion and competence in his various roles. He was an astute ruler, skilled warrior, keen scholar and patron of the arts. His intellect, political acumen, diverse talents and civic virtues won him the admiration and support of his subjects.

This exhibition showcases treasures from The Palace Museum, Beijing and offers visitors a rare glimpse into the Forbidden City - right here in Singapore. "

Taken from "The Kangxi Emperor: Treasures from the Forbidden City"

Had made plans to go there (ACM) ever since I've got to know about this special exhibition. I told myself that it is a rare chance that I get to see those antiques with my OWN EYES in Singapore!!! If not, I would have to wait till the chance when I go to Beijing, which is dont-know-how-many thousands years later! =(

Made plans to go ALONE since right from the start. Why? Because I know some people out there will go, '' wah lao... go this kinda of exhibition! You nth better to do, is it? You so auntie! Or Guai pi go guai pi's place." If not, roll eyes at me. *Roll eyes too*

Firstly, please find out the meaning of 'Guai Pi' in chinese dictionary before you 滥用 it! That's the reason why now I hate people using that word on me. Do use proper words la dey. Secondly, though I know their comments are meant for fun, but sometimes it becomes irritating when it gets too much and too frequent. When I expressed that I like something which not many people will like, doesnt mean that it is weird. Just like majority of the people MIGHT prefer pop, so do you mean that the minority of people who prefer hard metal, got weird taste?

Maybe is the transition of 21 that makes me want to be serious in some ways. To me, this kind of logic is the same as the different mindset of different religions. Even if you dont agree with certain religion's mindset, learn to respect. Right? So, it's the same for me.

I like what I like. Respect it. If one day, you find me laughing at your likes, look back. This could be the reason. Bleah.. I'm not going to repeat myself on this issue anymore. Phew~ It's tiring to tell this to one by one. So, blogging it out is the easiest way out.

This is the reason why I don't plan to jio any of them - Lessen the possibility of conflicts and my unhappiness towards them. Muahaha.. Although I did try to jio one of them. Muahaha.

Just when I thought that I am going to go ACM alone on today's event, Weifen offered to go with me. Because she wanted to learn something new there.

As there is Manchu Mania on tis sat and sun, the entrance fee to the museum and all of its galleries are FREE! If not, you will have to pay $8 (Or half price for students) if you want to go the Kang Xi's Special Gallery (and it ends on 14 June 09).

We, with her irritating and sickening brother (HAHAHA!), reached the shaw foyer in front of ACM at around 12pm. We bought ice-creams and sat at one side while enjoying the Sanshou Chinese Wrestling. Whoa.. There's also wushu performance by the kids and also Tai Ji swords by the adults. Ahem, there's also a very young girl in there, who look like in her twenties or late teens.

After which, we went up to the 2nd floor of ACM to enjoy the Dramatisation of Kangxi's Early life, which turned out to be opera (OMG!), and also the Colourful Qing Dances, that came right up after the opera.

Some snapshots taken during the opera.

Colourful Qing Dances

Videoman, 玮芬是也~

The dancers were from NUS Chinese Dance. Lol. The girls were wearing the high-heels shoes like what the Qing women would wear in the past. One of the girls nearly lost her balance while performing. In fact, I saw her hands shivering right frm the start. haha. Either she was nervous, or she was trying to keep herself balanced.

Then when the guys joined in, I was like.. OMG at the first part. Because I saw what they were wearing - ballet shoes!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!! I was trying not to laugh as I was sitting at the front row. Then weifen noticed the same thing as I do, at the same time. xD Haha.

We walked around the museum after the performance before we went back to the hall for the Majestic Chinese Classical Music, which was performed by the Singapore National Youth Orchestra String Ensemble. =.=" WHY NOT CHINESE ORCHESTRA!? =( Is ok. At least the performance was good and the dance was entertaining~~ xD

We went for lunch at Mac before going back to the museum for the Kang Xi's Gallery.

The queue to get in there was much longer than before that it stretched to another gallery. After some queuing, finally I stepped into the "ancient world".

Oh My! I am so near to the antiques that dated back to the 17th and 18th century. If I am not wrong, I think I saw some items was noted at 19th century. Whoa!!!! Close contact with history!!!!!! 这一刻我突然觉得，原来历史也可以离我这么近！

Portraits of Grand Empress Xiao Zhuang (Kang Xi's Grandmother), Emperor Kang Xi and Emperor Shun Zhi are the first few things that greeted the visitors when we entered. Gosh..the portraits are about 2-storeys high! There are many portraits of Emperor Kang Xi in the museum which included how he looked like when he was in the late twenties, early fifties and sixties.

The portraits were drawn very well! Looking at his 50s portrait, he looked rather energetic. However, he looked very worn out in his sixties. It was a great change which you have to see it for yourself. Aging could be one of the reasons, but it was definitely not enough to make someone look so 憔悴. Lol. It was because of the disappointment that his sons brought to him.

Other than those listed, there are also portraits of Emperor Qian Long (when he was 25), Empress Xiao Cheng Ren (Kang Xi's first empress) and Empress Xiao ____ Ren (another of his empress).

What amazed me the most were the two scrolls!! The first one I saw was 22m long which depicted the scenes when Emperor Kang Xi went to temple of yu, when he went past some towns. The second one was close to 80m long, showing the grand scene of his 六十大寿。It was not the length that amazed me. It was the art work!!!! The first scroll which I mentioned, took 6 years to complete! And the painting were so fine and detailed! One human being was like about half the size to the size of my first segment of my index finger! Even so, we could even see the expression on the face!!! And everything else were so detailed and fine. OMG! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

虽然我曾在documentaries上看过这些画，不过，这也还真的是百闻不如一见啊！

I was telling weifen that if I can get to keep those scrolls, 我一定会幸福的死掉的！haha.. To have the chance to see it with my own eyes, 我也快要幸福死了啦。Haha!

We also got to see the real emperor robe, his armor, his rifle and his bow. WHOA~~~ And also his 文房四宝! Also, the textiles, snuff bottles and palace furnishings. And yea.. I saw the calculator that they used back then. They even got small timetable books which are in chinese. Oh Oh!! The telescope, the globe.. even the geometry sets which Kang Xi got people to make for him. And many many more! OMG! They even brought in the palace simulation graphic game from Palace Museum! Aww.. the graphic is so nice!!!!!!!!!!!! Although some of the items are duplicated, like the examination 谕旨, but it is enough le. Because most of the things there are real, and even those copied ones are made to be as closely-duplicated to the original ones.

Omg! I think it would be nice to be born in that era in the royal family if you are destined to be doted by the elders. LOL!!!

Frankly speaking, thinking back now.. I wouldnt mind spending that $8 to get to see the exhibition again! Er.. is it only $8? Because $8 is only for the special gallery (the kang xi one), but usually the entrance to museum is $5. Hmm.. Ahh.. heck. =X I wont care much as long as I get to go again during the non-peak hours (like weekdays' afternoon) and before the exhibits fly back to Beijing. =(

Oh.. there's one thing that I brought back with me today;

Emperor Kang Xi was really a good father, a very filial son, good husband and good leader. Aww.. I would be so proud if he was my ancestor. MUAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WISH! XD

I've decided. My first stop to China would be Beijing! I was hesitating b/w Shanghai and Beijing previously. I'm not sure if they are re-furnishing the 紫禁城 (now known as 故宮) now as there was one documentary that I watched, mentioned that it would take many years to finish it. =( Hopefully not. Muahaha! So I wouldnt have to wait so long to visit there. Muahaha. But, it's a pity that you cant enter those halls. =( Then I cant feel how it is like to b standing right in the middle of the hall. =((((

紫禁城 is second to Ancient Egypt's Pyramids to make me go, "WOW...IT'S SO MAGNIFICENT!!!"

haha...

I cant believe that I took more than 2.5 hours (going to b 3hrs soon) to complete this post. Haha. Well, I was like IM-ing and checking things at the same time. haha. So.. time check now, 2.13am! Muahaha!

Ok la.. I am tired of writing le.Lastly, the information on this exhibition could also be found on straittimes.com too.