The Hall of Three Rarities

The Hall of Three Rarities

The Hall of Three Rarities, located in the West Warm Chamber of the Yangxin Hall in the Palace Museum, was originally called the Greenhouse before being renamed the Hall of Three Rarities. It served as the study room of Emperor Qianlong (Hongli), the Qianlong Emperor, and remains the most prominent symbol of his time as the master of the Yangxin Hall.

The plaque inscribed with the words "Hall of Three Rarities" by Emperor Qianlong and the handwritten "Record of the Hall of Three Rarities" are still hanging on the wall, with the couplet on both sides reading: “Embrace the past and present in thought; entrust deep feelings to brush and ink” (where “brush and ink” refers to calligraphy). The Hall of Three Rarities was established during the Qianlong reign and remained unchanged through the reigns of Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, Guangxu, and Xuantong, retaining its original appearance to this day.

Originally, the term "Three Rarities" had two interpretations: first, “a scholar aspires to be virtuous, a virtuous man aspires to be a sage, and a sage aspires to understand Heaven.” This means scholars hope to become virtuous, virtuous men hope to become sages, and sages hope to comprehend the ways of Heaven. The “Three Rarities” served as encouragement for constant self-improvement and diligence. The second interpretation refers to “treasures.” In classical Chinese, “希” (xī) is synonymous with “稀” (xī), meaning rare, so the “Three Rarities” signify three rare treasures. At that time, both meanings were equally valued. Emperor Qianlong, a man of both literary and martial prowess, knowledgeable and erudite, skilled in poetry and particularly in calligraphy, sought famous calligraphic works from past dynasties across the country. In the 11th year of the Qianlong reign (1746 AD), he collected Wang Xizhi’s "Kuai Xue Shi Qing Tie" (Clearing After Snowfall), Wang Xianzhi’s "Zhong Qiu Tie" (Mid-Autumn), and Wang Xun’s "Bo Yuan Tie" (Distant Kinship) in this hall. These three ancient calligraphic masterpieces were cherished by Emperor Qianlong, who specifically stored them here for frequent appreciation.

From the 12th year of the Qianlong reign (1747 AD) to the 15th year (1750 AD), Emperor Qianlong ordered Liang Shizheng, Minister of Personnel, and Jiang Pu, Minister of Revenue, among others, to select the finest works from the imperial collection of calligraphy. These were then engraved by Song Zhang, Kou Zhu, Er Ge, Jiao Lin, and others into the "Precious Collection of the Stone Moat: Calligraphy Model Book of the Hall of Three Rarities" (abbreviated as the "Calligraphy Model Book of the Hall of Three Rarities").

The model book is divided into 32 volumes, with over 500 stone engravings, collecting more than 300 calligraphic works by 135 calligraphers from the Wei, Jin, and late Ming dynasties. In the 17th year of the Qianlong reign, five additional volumes of famous calligraphy from past dynasties were carefully selected from the palace collection and engraved on stone. With this, the "Calligraphy Model Book of the Hall of Three Rarities" was completed. By the end of the Qing dynasty, its circulation became widespread, and the original stone engravings of the model book were embedded in the walls of the Ancient Books Pavilion in Beijing's Beihai Park.

In 1951, the "Zhong Qiu Tie" and "Bo Yuan Tie," which had changed hands four times after leaving the palace, were repurchased by the state and returned to the Palace Museum, where they have been kept to this day. By then, 27 years had passed since the “Two Rarities” had left the Forbidden City. The Hall of Three Rarities remains unchanged from its original appearance, but the “Three Rarities” calligraphy scrolls did not all return. The fate-tossed "Kuai Xue Shi Qing Tie" wandered across much of China before eventually ending up thousands of miles away in Taiwan, where it is now housed in the National Palace Museum in Taipei. A replica of the Hall of Three Rarities has been created there.

The Hall of Three Rarities is only eight square meters in size, but its elegant and simple furnishings compensate for the limited space: the long and narrow interior is divided into two small rooms, north and south, by carved nanmu partition screens. The inner room uses the window sill to display the calligraphy tools used by Emperor Qianlong. Below the window sill is a raised and lowered kang bed (a traditional heated brick bed), which can be used for sitting or lying down. Emperor Qianlong’s throne is situated on the higher part of the kang, facing east and west. The plaque inscribed with “Hall of Three Rarities” by Emperor Qianlong and the couplet “Embrace the past and present in thought; entrust deep feelings to brush and ink” are posted above and beside the throne, respectively. On the walls of the lower kang are colorful porcelain wall vases, and beneath them lie nanmu wood boxes containing the "Calligraphy Model Book of the Hall of Three Rarities." These are all captured within a large floor-standing mirror on the opposite wall, making the small room appear suddenly bright and spacious.

In addition, the horizontal lintels of the partition screens in the small room are mounted with Emperor Qianlong’s calligraphy "Record of the Hall of Three Rarities," while the walls display paintings such as "Wang Xizhi Studying Calligraphy" by court painter Jin Tingbiao, "Song of the Hall of Three Rarities" by Shen Deqian, and landscape paintings by Dong Bangda, all of which add endless charm to the Hall of Three Rarities.

The Hall of Three Rarities is not only famous for housing the three treasured calligraphy works but also displays a large number of exquisitely crafted artworks and stationery items from that period. Elegance and refinement permeate this small space, giving off a strong scholarly atmosphere. Visitors, in awe and admiration, often find themselves lingering without wanting to leave.

Location of the Attraction

Inside the Forbidden City, Dongcheng District, Beijing

The Palace Museum

Palace of Purity and Harmony (Zhongcui Palace)

Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Hall)

Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen)

Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe Hall)

Hall of Martial Valor (Wuying Hall)

Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning Palace)

Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing Palace)

Palace of Longevity and Health (Cining Palace)

Yangxin Hall

Palace of Longevity and Peace (Shou’an Palace)

Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City

Palace of Eternal Longevity (Yongshou Palace)

Meridian Gate (Wumen)

Hall of Literary Glory (Wenhua Hall)

Pavilion of Benevolent Virtue (Tiren Pavilion)

Gate of Supreme Harmony

Hall of Union