The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Art of Armaments — Qing Dynasty Military Collection from the Palace Museum

The Hong Kong Jockey Club promotes the development of arts and culture to enrich the lives of Hong Kong people. We proudly support the establishment of the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), providing unique opportunities to appreciate national treasures. Additionally, we support a series of creative initiatives by HKPM from 2023 to 2032 to promote Chinese arts and culture, including an annual major exhibition showcasing arts and cultural expressions from China and around the world.

This is the third major annual exhibition supported by the Club. Jointly organised by the HKPM and the Palace Museum, it is an exhibition with four rotations featuring nearly 190 pieces of military artefacts from the Palace Museum’s collection, within which 18 pieces are grade-one national treasures. Being structured into six thematic units: “The Rise of the Eight Banners and the Qing Rule”, “Swords and Sabres Across the Realm”, “Equestrian Archery and Firearms”, “Drills, Inspections, and Military Rites”, “Images as Histories”, and “Coastal Defence”, this exhibition aims to present the development of Qing dynasty military organisation, technology, and artistry through a diverse array of objects and multifaceted perspectives, seeking to improve the audience’s comprehension of Qing military culture.

Furthermore, the exhibition features dynamic digital animations that break down key battle scenes, and it offers audio guides bringing to life the concept of the Eight Banners system and the stories behind the exhibits. As with other Series’ showcases, the Club also supports a series of learning and outreach programmes, including an interactive workshop themed around battle prints and paintings for children to learn about the unique multi-spatial narratives and to create and role-play their own characters based on the exhibits. This further supports the HKPM’s vision to promote the inheritance of Chinese culture and history while developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange, as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

We are committed to building an inclusive, creative and vibrant Hong Kong, where everyone can enjoy the benefits offered by cultural experiences and an improved quality of life through arts.