The Three Eternal Jewels of Taipei’s National Palace Museum

🏯 The Three Eternal Jewels of Taipei’s National Palace Museum

【時光之外的寶藏】臺北故宮鎮館三寶詩意巡禮

The Jadeite Jade by Claire Rodan

In the heart of Taipei, within mist-veiled hills and golden palace rooftops, the National Palace Museumcradles three peerless treasures.They are not just relics—they are masterpieces of civilization, etched in jade, bronze, and story.

台北故宮，如詩如畫，藏於翠嶺與金瓦之間，靜靜守護著三件人類藝術與文明的巔峰之作。

🥩 I. The Meat-Shaped Stone 肉形石

Qing Dynasty 清代 | Banded Jasper | 5.7×6.6×5.3 cm

📈 Sotheby’s Estimate: $3–5 million USD (hypothetical auction)

A stone that sizzles in silence. A piece of jade that breathes with flesh.

一塊不曾入口的東坡肉，一段讓時間靜止的玉之幻術。

by C.R

This Qing Dynasty banded jasper carving mirrors a perfect cut of Dongpo pork belly, with glistening skin, layered fat, and realistic pores. Natural mineral layers and artisanal polishing create a surreal illusion—so real, it's humorous. So refined, it’s revered.

🎨 Art Analysis 藝術觀點

This is Chinese trompe-l'œil at its finest—a marriage of humor and perfectionism. Though playful in subject, it demonstrates extreme precision and material mastery.

🏆 Its appeal is visceral—visitors smile, then marvel. It has become one of the most beloved icons in Taiwanese art culture.

🥬 II. The Jadeite Cabbage 翠玉白菜

Qing Dynasty 清代 | Hetian Jade | 18.7×9.1×5.1 cm

📈 Sotheby’s Estimate: $5–7 million USD (hypothetical auction)

A cabbage of virtue, carved from frost and emerald. Within its veins dwell silent symbols of womanhood.

一株不凋的白菜，綠白交織，蟬與螽斯靜棲其上，是清宮最溫柔的象徵。

By C.R

Using flawed, dual-colored jadeite, Qing artisans transformed nature’s imperfections into beauty. The white stalk and green leafy veins, plus hidden grasshopper and cicada, symbolize female virtue, fertility, and endurance—ideal bridal metaphors in imperial China.

🎨 Art Analysis 藝術觀點

By elevating a humble vegetable, the sculpture captures a Confucian elegance of domesticity. The insects lend realism and symbolic richness, suggesting life's persistence through fragility.

🏆 Voted Taiwan’s most iconic artifact in public surveys. Replicas are sold globally as emblems of Chinese femininity and fortune.

🛕 III. Mao Gong Ding 毛公鼎

Western Zhou 西周 | Bronze Ritual Cauldron | Inscription: 500 characters📈 Sotheby’s Estimate: Invaluable / Not for sale

In bronze and fire, the weight of a dynasty. Its belly holds the earliest philosophies of governance.

青銅為骨，銘文為魂。五百字的銘刻，是對未來王朝的神聖囑託。

By C.R

Cast over 2,800 years ago, the Mao Gong Ding is the largest bronze inscription of the Western Zhou period. The 500-character text records a royal edict and moral guidance, offering a rare political and linguistic window into ancient China.

🎨 Art Analysis 藝術觀點

This is not merely a ritual object; it is a philosophical monument. Its script pre-dates Confucius and bridges art, history, and governance. Calligraphers, historians, and anthropologists alike regard it as foundational.

🏆 Designated a national treasure, its value is immeasurable—not just in money, but in memory.

💰 Sotheby’s Comparative Auction Notes | 蘇富比拍賣估價參考

Treasure	Estimated Value	備註
Meat-Shaped Stone 肉形石	$3–5 million USD	Based on similar high-quality Qing jade carvings
Jadeite Cabbage 翠玉白菜	$5–7 million USD	Comparable to rare imperial jade sculptures
Mao Gong Ding 毛公鼎	Invaluable / Not Auctionable	Nationally protected; historical significance outweighs price
Chicken Cup 雞缸杯 (Ming 明)	$36.3 million USD	Sold at Sotheby’s HK in 2014 as world’s most expensive porcelain cup

🧭 Why They Matter 為什麼這三寶舉世無雙？

• Meat-Shaped Stone – Wit and craftsmanship unite

• Jadeite Cabbage – Symbolic purity and fertility

• Mao Gong Ding – The very voice of early civilization

Together, they form a triptych of Chinese aesthetics: playful, personal, and political. They represent not only beauty, but values: home, humor, and heritage.

✈️ Plan Your Visit 計劃您的文化朝聖之旅

📍 Taipei National Palace MuseumExplore these treasures in imperial serenity, where feng shui gardens, wisteria lakes, and palace architecture tell stories without words.

🌐 Travel with Global Mandarin Academy 全球文華書院旅遊服務

We offer exclusive cultural travel services for educators, art lovers, and Mandarin learners:

• 🎧 Bilingual museum tours with expert guides

• 📚 Art & Culture Vocabulary Packs

• 🧾 Pre-departure learning sessions

• 🖌️ On-site calligraphy and seal-carving workshops

• 🚌 Custom travel planning for individuals & groups

Discover. Learn. Connect. 讓旅途成為一場語言與文明的共鳴。

📌 Next in the Travel Series:🔜 Chiayi Southern Branch: The Buddhist Art and Ink Landscapes of Asia