Chui Hu Knihy

Hu Chui was born in 1952 into a scholarly family in Shanghai, China and has had a keen interest in photography since childhood. In 1969, he was sent to the countryside, where he spent a number of years working as a farmer and manual laborer. During that time, Hu Chui continued with his avid pursuit of photographic art, learning theories and techniques on his own. In 1978 Hu Chui joined the Palace Museum as a photographer. He later took charge of the Museum's photography studio in 1985. Throughout his career Hu Chui has tirelessly researched and experimented with ways to apply photography - an "imported" and relatively new art form - to the architecture and relics that represent China's ancient civilization. His aim is to break away from the staid approarch typically used in the past to photograph such monuments and art objects. In doing so, Hu Chui strives to inspire the viewer a simultaneous appreciation for the beauty of the objects themselves, and for the artistic medium he uses to capture these images. Hu Chui's works have been published in numerous books and catalogues. This volume is a compilation of some of his best works of the Forbidden City, capturing the spirit of its monumental architecture and stunning interiors.

Thousands lived in the Forbidden City when it was imperial China's center of power and the world's most extravagant palace. With the exceptions of the eunuchs, only one of those thousands was an adult male -- the emperor himself. Planned by emperor and architect Yongle, in 1405, it was laid out with open space and buildings corresponding to specific parts of the human body. The high, vermilion palace walls, by hiding the emperor, enhanced his mystique and glory.This chronicle richly blends history, anecdotal narrative, biographical portraits and illustrations and takes the reader through 500 years of life in imperial China. The authors gathered previously inaccessible materials from the archives in Beijing, making this a truly unique and insightful work. The photographs of Hu Chui breathe life into the structures of the Forbidden City, along with a wealth of treasures and paintings collected during imperial times.