Paris: An exhibition curated by Taiwan’s National Palace Museum (NPM) exploring the cultural and historical significance of dragons across Asia opened at the Mus©e du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac in Paris Tuesday. NPM Director Hsiao Tsung-huang and Deputy Director Yu Pei-chin joined Emmanuel Kasarh©rou, president of the Mus©e du Quai Branly, at an opening ceremony for “Dragons.”
According to Focus Taiwan, visitors entering the gallery are first greeted by the “Jade Plate with Dragon Pattern,” a national treasure believed to date to the Liao or Northern Song dynasty. Nearby stands another highlight: the “Celestial Globe Vase with Lotus and Dragon Decoration in Underglaze Blue” from the Yongle period of the Ming dynasty.
Yu, who also served as co-curator, told CNA that the NPM loaned 83 objects to the exhibition. Among them, the jade plate is considered the centerpiece for its exceptionally detailed depiction of a dragon. She said the exhibition is divided into four sections: dragon imagery across historical eras, dragons in folklore and religion, imperial dragon culture, and contemporary interpretations of dragons.
Other NPM national treasures on display include a “Pan Water Vessel with Coiling Dragon Pattern” from the late Shang dynasty and two jade imperial seals of the Qianlong Emperor — the “Treasure of His Majesty at 70” and the “Treasure of His Majesty at 80” — created to mark the emperor’s 70th and 80th birthdays.
The Taipei museum’s artifacts feature mainly in the first three sections, while the Quai Branly also invited the Mus©e des Arts Asiatiques de Nice, the Mus©e Guimet, and the Mus©e Cernuschi to participate. Security was also a major focus during the exhibition following a high-profile theft of historically significant jewels from the Louvre in October, prompting widespread scrutiny of museum safeguards across France.
The NPM said it carried out internal reviews and simulations and worked closely with the Mus©e du Quai Branly to ensure rigorous protection of the loaned artifacts. Hsiao noted that while the Louvre relies on added security systems installed within a historic structure, the modern architecture of the Quai Branly incorporates advanced security mechanisms from the outset, resulting in stronger overall protection.
More than 700 guests attended Monday evening’s opening reception, including Taiwan’s representative to France, Hao Pei-chih, and Marie-No«lle Battistel, chair of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan friendship group.
