Palace Museum Centennial: Seminar on the Publication of "Studies on the Inheritance of Qing Dynasty Imperial Craftsmanship" Series Held in Beijing

On the morning of November 1, 2025, the Symposium on the Publication of the Series of Achievements of the Palace Museum's Open Project "Research on Examples of Qing Dynasty Imperial Craftsmanship Inheritance" in Tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Palace Museum was grandly held at the National Base for International Cultural Trade (Beijing). This event was guided by the Palace Museum Academy of Palacology and jointly hosted by the Hebei University Institute of Cultural Industries, Hebei Provincial Key High-End Think Tank - Hebei Provincial Cultural Industry Development Research Center, Hebei Provincial Cultural Industry Innovation and Integrated Development Research Base, Hebei Provincial Association of Social Cultural Relics, Hebei University Yanzhao Culture Advanced Research Institute, Hebei University School of Journalism and Communication, Hebei University Cultural Inheritance and Innovation Research Center, and Hebei University Press. It was organized by the Hebei University Center for Palacology Research and received strong support from Beijing Shouwenke Cultural and Creative Real Estate Co., Ltd. Over forty guests from the cultural, academic, publishing, and intangible cultural heritage fields gathered to witness the release of a series of academic achievements and engage in in-depth discussions on the inheritance and innovation of Palace Museum culture.

Conference Site

The year 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Palace Museum in Beijing. After a century of trials and tribulations, the Palace Museum has transformed from a former imperial forbidden garden into a world-class cultural heritage site open to the public, consistently shouldering the important mission of guarding and inheriting Chinese civilization. At the beginning of the symposium, Mr. Cao Baogang, President of the Hebei Provincial Association of Social Cultural Relics, reviewed the Palace Museum's centennial journey and particularly noted that General Secretary Xi Jinping's visit to the Palace Museum on October 27 reflected the high importance the Party and the nation's top leaders attach to cultural heritage protection and pointed the way for the Palace Museum's future development.

Mr. Cao Baogang, President of the Hebei Provincial Association of Social Cultural Relics, presided over the meeting.

Since 2021, the research team led by Professor Du Hao has undertaken the Palace Museum's open project, "Research on Examples of Qing Dynasty Imperial Craftsmanship Inheritance." After several years of dedicated research, the team has not only systematically documented the lineage of Qing Dynasty imperial handicrafts but also creatively proposed the academic concept of the "Palace Museum Cultural Circle," deepening the understanding of the Palace Museum's cultural system. The three newly published works, "Research on Examples of Qing Dynasty Imperial Craftsmanship Inheritance," "Six Hundred Years of Enduring Imperial Abodes – The Palace Museum Cultural Circle (Hebei Volume)," and "Research on Cultural and Creative Product Design and Communication Strategies of the Palace Museum," are significant achievements of this project, marking a new stage of systematic and theoretical research into Qing Dynasty imperial craftsmanship.

Guests visiting the special exhibition of the "Research on Examples of Qing Dynasty Imperial Craftsmanship Inheritance" series of achievements

At the symposium, Professor Du Hao, the project leader, introduced the research process and results. He pointed out that the project focuses on the historical mechanisms of imperial craftsmanship inheritance and is dedicated to exploring its practical significance for contemporary intangible cultural heritage protection and the cultivation of "craftsmanship spirit." The publication of these three works is not only a tribute to the Palace Museum's century-long academic tradition but also provides valuable historical references and theoretical support for the contemporary revival of traditional crafts.

Professor Du Hao led his doctoral research team in introducing the research process and results to the attending guests.

Subsequently, several guests delivered keynote speeches. Deng Yiming, Vice President of Hebei University Press, stated that the publication of this series of achievements is a model of in-depth cooperation between the publishing and academic communities. Zhang Hongwei, former President of the Palace Museum Publishing House, affirmed the positive role of the research results in promoting the development of "Palacology" from the perspective of Palace Museum cultural dissemination. Gao Shusheng, former Deputy Director of the Cultural System Reform and Development Office of the Central Propaganda Department, emphasized the need to further strengthen the revitalization and utilization of cultural heritage and promote the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional Chinese culture.

Mr. Deng Yiming, Vice President of Hebei University Press, delivering a keynote speech.

Mr. Zhang Hongwei, former President of the Palace Museum Publishing House, delivering a keynote speech.

Mr. Gao Shusheng, former Deputy Director of the Cultural System Reform and Development Office of the Central Propaganda Department, delivering a keynote speech.

During the open discussion session, experts, scholars, and inheritors of intangible cultural heritage engaged in lively discussions on topics such as Palace Museum cultural protection, craftsmanship inheritance, and cultural and creative product development. Several inheritors of imperial craftsmanship, including filigree inlay, also shared their practices and insights into the inheritance of their crafts, demonstrating the vitality of traditional crafts in contemporary society.

Professor Wang Fengming, Executive Vice Chairman of the Xiongan Higher Education Collaborative Innovation Alliance

Professor Liu Yan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Hebei Agricultural University, speaking.

Professor Du Bosi of Beijing Normal University speaking.

Mr. Li Jie, President of China Copyright Magazine and Editor-in-Chief of "Creative China," speaking.

Mr. Zhao Lisan, Counselor of the Hebei Provincial Government and Professor at the School of Management, Hebei University, speaking.

Mr. Song Shaojun, Vice President of Hebei University Yanzhao Culture Advanced Research Institute, speaking.

Mr. Lu Guoxin, Dean of the College of Arts, Hebei Agricultural University, speaking.

Professor Shang Jianhui, Vice Dean of the School of Journalism, Hebei University, speaking.

Mr. Jia Peng, Secretary-General of Shijiazhuang Cultural Industry Association and Deputy General Manager of Elite Entertainment Group, speaking.

Mr. Zhang Jiansong of Beijing Open University speaking.

Mr. Sun Zheng, Guardian of Imperial Carpet Weaving Techniques, speaking.

Mr. Tian Haitao, inheritor of Gaoyang dyeing and weaving techniques, speaking.

Mr. Chai Xuechao, inheritor of filigree inlay techniques, speaking.

The symposium concluded with a summary by Mr. Cao Baogang. He stated that this conference was not only a tribute to the Palace Museum's centennial anniversary but also a re-mobilization of efforts in cultural heritage research and protection. He expressed hope that this achievement release would serve as an opportunity to further promote the research, dissemination, and innovation of Palace Museum culture.

This event systematically showcased the latest achievements in Palace Museum cultural research, fostered consensus among academia and industry, and laid a solid academic and public opinion foundation for the Palace Museum's cultural development in the next century.