On April 18,2014, a special exhibition “The Qianlong Colour Palette: Qing Dynasty Colours from Historic Archive Brought to Life” holds its opening ceremony at Textile Conservation Gallery, CNSM.

        The Qingdynasty (1644CE — 1911CE) is the last feudal dynasty in China. During the end of this dynasty, natural dyes usages fell dramatically. That age also witnessed natural dyeing techniques' greatest success. In the early 17th century,Nurhaci, Qing Taizu (a temple name reserved for dynastic founders) established the Qing dynasty. He demanded court dresses should be dyed with the Han ethnic people's techniques and issued a decree of dress etiquette that is very similar to that of the previous dynasty. During Qianlong's reign (1711CE —1799CE,Qianlong is the sixth emperor in Qing dynasty), two books came out – DaQing HuiDian (Great Qing empire statutes collection) and Huang Chao LiQi TuShi (Illustrated Precedents of the Ritual Paraphernalia of the Imperial Court). Both of them govern dress codes strictly. From those colours one can imagine the history andpast cultures.

        The exhibitionis about dyeing fabrics in colours and with dyestuffs recorded in the archive document (of dyestuffs consumed for dyeing certain fabrics in certain colour)from Weaving and Dyeing Service (a professional craft shop operated by the state to supply the palace with silks) during Qianlong's reign. In the exhibition, analytical techniques have proved that the dyestuffs recorded in archives do work. Visitors can see Qing dynasty clothes in shades from the achieve. The exhibition also explains the culture behind each colour,displaying from April 18 to June 20, 2014.