China’s Hidden Century: Turbulent 1800s in a Vast Land

China’s Hidden Century is the new exhibition at the British Museum considering history and culture in China from, roughly, 1796, when the Qing dynasty ruled over one-third of all humanity to 1912, when imperial rule collapsed. It’s a good, introductory exhibition drastically condensed from the show’s catalogue, which involved, I’m told, more than a hundred scholars. I learned a lot about a time and place of which, aside from the existence of the Opium Wars and, later, the formidable Empress Dowager Cixi, I knew nothing.

I enjoy pushing myself in new directions. I didn’t take any Asian-art classes in graduate school and, aside from very junior jobs, have never worked at a museum with an Asian collection. China’s Hidden Century is worth a visit, though I’d have done it differently.

About the Author

Brian T. Allen

Brian T. Allen is National Review’s art critic.

China’s Hidden Century is the new exhibition at the British Museum considering history and culture in China from, roughly, 1796, when the Qing dynasty ruled over one-third of all humanity to 1912, when imperial rule collapsed. It’s a good, introductory exhibition drastically condensed from the show’s catalogue, which involved, I’m told, more than a hundred scholars. I learned a lot about a time and place of which, aside from the existence of the Opium Wars and, later, the formidable Empress Dowager Cixi, I knew nothing.

I enjoy pushing myself in new directions. I didn’t take any Asian-art classes in graduate school and, aside from very junior jobs, have never worked at a museum with an Asian collection. China’s Hidden Century is worth a visit, though I’d have done it differently.