"The Dragon Sutra (龍藏經): A Grand Symphony of Imperial Power, Faith, and Art" (I) (II)

In the sixth year of the Kangxi reign (1667), under the gracious edict of the Grand Empress Dowager Hsiao-chuang (孝莊文皇后) and the impetus of the newly enthroned Emperor Kangxi (康熙皇帝), the Qing court initiated a massive Buddhist cultural project—the creation of a gold-ink manuscript of the Tibetan Kanjur (bka' 'gyur), known to the world as the "Dragon Sutra" (龍藏經). This monumental work, which consumed enormous funds and involved countless top artisans and eminent monks, took two years to complete. Its purpose was to pray for the eternal stability of the imperial throne and the long prosperity of the imperial way, and to consolidate the political and religious alliance between the Manchus and Mongols at the time.
This special exhibition attempts to break away from the previous framework of simply displaying sutra leaves and protective boards. For the first time at the Northern Branch of the National Palace Museum (故宮北院), it presents the "Dragon Sutra" (龍藏經) together with its complete set of mounting accessories, combined with recent testing, analysis, and comparative research conducted by National Palace Museum colleagues on each part. It elevates the perspective from a mere document to the height of a "total work of art," guiding the audience to deconstruct this epochal classic layer by layer.
From the solemn gold-ink script on indigo-blue paper to the protective boards painted with fine mandalas; from the layered, exquisitely embroidered yellow satin sutra wrappers to the colorful five-colored sutra curtains—every detail is the ultimate display of early Qing court craftsmanship. The exhibition will also feature related imperially produced classics from the Ming dynasty's inner court, as well as the "Sutra of Accumulated Mantras" (諸品積咒經), the "Qianlong Kanjur" (乾隆甘珠爾), and even a Manchu-language sutra of similar format, to present the transmission and inheritance of imperial faith across different dynasties and languages.
This is a dialogue about imperial majesty and devout faith, and a visual feast that traverses over three hundred years of time to re-gaze upon the pinnacle of craftsmanship in a prosperous era.