The book catalogs an exhibition to be presented at the Asian Art Museum, the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the St. Louis Museum of Art in 2008 and 2009. The exhibition gathered rare objects from China''s prestigious Palace Museum (Forbidden City) in Beijing, the Nanjing Municipal Museum and the Shanghai Museum. More than 200 objects in a variety of materials - porcelain, paintings, textiles, lacquer, jade, jewelry, architectural elements, etc. - are discussed in detailed entries. Essays by authors He Li and Michael Knight, and a special contribution on Ming painting from Richard Vinograd (Stanford University), provide background, context, and interpretation.  (less)