Director's Welcome

Amazing Facts About The Forbidden City

Highlights From Secret World Of The Forbidden City

Selected World Events During The Qing Dynasy 1644-1911

Director's Welcome

The new millennium's yardstick to measure human progress will be the success of our relations among nations. Those countries most highly "evolved" will be those who form partnerships, who share their cultural resources, who enter into economic ventures together, and who work toward environmental preservation and conservation with the mutual goal of making this a better world. This goal of sound international relations is even more critical as global immigration reaches new levels — we are no longer isolated from one another and must recognize our interdependence.

Perhaps there is no better way to greet the new millennium than with this important milestone in the history of Chinese and American cultural exchange — Secret World of the Forbidden City: Splendors from China's Imperial Palace. The Oakland Museum of California is honored to be one of only three U.S. venues for this marvelous and much-awaited exhibition. As the only museum anywhere devoted solely to the art, history, and environment of California, we have come to know that we are primarily about the people of California. It is therefore perfectly appropriate for us to showcase precious objects and stories from China's Imperial Palace, for these are part of the rich artistic and cultural heritage of the many Chinese in California.

We see this exhibit strengthening the friendship between China and America and applaud the Palace Museum in Beijing and the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art in Santa Ana for their foresight and persistence. We also see this exhibit serving the relationship between the Oakland Museum of California and the Chinese community in the Bay Area and beyond. Many Chinese families are new to America, but many are descended from those first adventurers (20,000 in 1852 alone) who arrived during the California Gold Rush. It has been said that "California is America, only more so." We thank the Chinese and Chinese Americans for making California the dynamic place that it is: enriching our lives and infusing our culture with new ideas and talents. Seeing the artistry in this exhibit will convince you this is so.

Dennis M. Power, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Oakland Museum of California

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