HONG KONG - An exhibition of figure paintings featuring stories about people and their lives during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) opened at the Hong Kong Palace Museum on Wednesday.

Running through Nov 30, the exhibition titled “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Stories Untold—Figure Paintings of the Ming Dynasty from the Palace Museum” tells stories about the painters and the painted, shedding lights on the multifaceted lives and spiritual world of people living in the dynasty, deepening visitors’ understanding of Chinese history and culture.

The exhibition is the last of the four rotations, presenting total 20 figure paintings. Five grade-one national treasures were on display, including Auspicious Omens Leading to the Song Emperor Gaozong’s Reign by Qiu Ying (1494–1552) and Wang Ao Coming Out of Seclusion to Resume Office by Tang Yin (1470–1524). 

Both painters were part of the Four Masters of the Wu school, named after Wu county in the region of Suzhou, Jiangsu province, where the painters worked. Another figure painting on display, titled Tang Emperor Minghuang Roaming the Moon Palace, was created by their teacher, Zhou Chen (about 1460–1535). 

READ MORE: Origins of Chinese civilization

China Daily photographer Adam Lam took the photos.