Hall of Three Rarities

　　The Hall of Three Rarities, situated in the Western Warm Room of the Yangxin Hall in the Palace Museum, was originally named the Greenhouse before being changed to the Hall of Three Rarities. It was the study of Emperor Qianlong, also known as the Qing Emperor Gaozong Hongli, and remains the most prominent symbol of his legacy as the master of the Yangxin Hall.

　　The plaque inscribed with “Hall of Three Rarities” by Emperor Qianlong himself and his calligraphy work “Record of the Hall of Three Rarities” are still hanging on the wall. The couplet on either side of the plaque reads, “Embrace the past and present in thought; entrust deep feelings to brush and paper” (where “brush and paper” refer to calligraphy). The Hall of Three Rarities was established in the Qianlong era and remained unchanged through the reigns of Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, Guangxu, and Xuantong, retaining its original appearance to this day.

　　According to its original meaning, “Three Rarities” has two interpretations: the first is “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 understand the ways of Heaven. The “Three Rarities” serve as encouragement for oneself to pursue excellence tirelessly and strive diligently. The second interpretation is “to cherish.” In classical Chinese, “希” (xī) is synonymous with “稀” (xī), meaning rare. Thus, the “Three Rarities” refer to three rare treasures. At that time, both meanings were equally important. Emperor Qianlong, a man of both literary and martial prowess, well-read, skilled in poetry, and particularly adept at calligraphy, had sought famous calligraphic works of past masters across the country. In the 11th year of Qianlong’s reign (1746 AD), he collected and stored in this hall three treasured ancient calligraphic pieces: Wang Xizhi’s “Kuaixue Shiqing Tie” (Clearing After Snowfall), Wang Xianzhi’s “Zhongqiu Tie” (Mid-Autumn Letter), and Wang Xun’s “Boyuan Tie” (Letter to Boyuan). These three ancient artworks were deeply cherished by Emperor Qianlong, who purposely kept them here for frequent appreciation.

　　From the 12th year of Qianlong’s 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, Kouzhu, Erge, and Jiaolin into the “Stone Canal Treasure Catalog of Calligraphy of the Hall of Three Rarities” (abbreviated as the “Calligraphy Collection of the Hall of Three Rarities”).

　　The calligraphy collection consists of 32 volumes, with over 500 stone engravings, gathering more than 300 calligraphic works by 135 calligraphers from the Wei and Jin dynasties to the end of the Ming dynasty. In the 17th year of Qianlong’s reign, five additional volumes of calligraphy by historical figures were carefully selected from the palace collection and engraved on stone. With this, the “Calligraphy Collection 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 calligraphy collection were embedded in the walls of the Ancient Books Pavilion in Beijing’s Beihai Park.

　　In 1951, after changing hands four times following their departure from the palace, the “Zhongqiu Tie” and “Boyuan Tie” were purchased by the state and returned to the Forbidden City, where they have been housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing ever since. By then, 27 years had passed since the “Two Rarities” left the Forbidden City. The Hall of Three Rarities remains as it was back then, but the “Three Rarities” calligraphy pieces did not return together. The fate-tossed “Kuaixue Shiqing 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 can be found in Taipei.

　　Though the Hall of Three Rarities is only eight square meters in size, its elegant and rustic furnishings compensate for the limited space. The long and narrow interior is divided into a north and south chamber by carved nanmu partition screens. The inner room utilizes a windowsill to display the calligraphy tools used personally by Emperor Qianlong. Below the windowsill is a high and low kang bed (a traditional heated brick bed), which can be used for sitting or lying down. Emperor Qianlong’s throne is positioned on the higher section of the kang, facing west. The plaque inscribed “Hall of Three Rarities” by Emperor Qianlong and the couplet “Embrace the past and present in thought; entrust deep feelings to brush and paper” are posted above and beside the throne, respectively. On the walls of the lower kang are colorful porcelain wall vases, beneath which sit nanmu boxes containing the “Calligraphy Collection of the Hall of Three Rarities.” These are all reflected in a full-length mirror on the opposite wall, instantly making the small room appear more spacious.

　　Additionally, the horizontal inscriptions above the partition screens in the room feature Emperor Qianlong’s calligraphy of the “Record of the Hall of Three Rarities,” while the walls are adorned with 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. These further enhance the refined charm of the Hall of Three Rarities.

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

The Palace Museum

Bell and Drum Palace

Hall of Supreme Harmony

Meridian Gate

Hall of Preserving Harmony

Hall of Imperial Supremacy

Hall of Martial Valor

Palace of Earthly Tranquility

Hall of Heavenly Purity

Palace of Longevity and Health

Yangxin Hall

Palace of Longevity for Peace

Imperial Garden

Palace of Eternal Longevity

Meridian Gate