Macao exhibits imperial weaponry from Palace Museum

Some fearsome-looking imperial weaponry has gone on display in Macao as the Chinese region hosts a selection of items on loan from Beijing’s Palace Museum.

Armor of gold brocade with iron plates and copper studs

The exhibition of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) weapons opened on Thursday and will run until March 11 next year. It includes over 100 items.

Copper Hefu (tally) with inscription “Deploy Officers and Soldiers of Vanguard Battalion and Guard Corps”

Organizers will hold seminars, workshops, guided tours and concerts to allow the public to enjoy the exhibition from various perspectives.

Emperor Kangxi's imperial wooden bow with birch bark veneer

According to the Macao Museum of Art’s (MAM) introduction, the exhibition, "ranging from imperial armaments to court paintings of the Qing Dynasty, allows viewers to get a sense of the political and military aspects of this dynastic period, the life of emperors in the Imperial Palace and the Qing court’s emphasis on military prowess".

Emperor Kangxi's imperial bird-hunting long gun

The exhibition has been jointly organized by the MAM, the Palace Museum, the Macao Foundation, the Macao SAR Government Tourism Office and the Macao Daily News.

December 20 is the 18th anniversary of Macao's return to China.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)