The lecture is based on the exhibition "The World of Zhu Jianshen: The Life and Era of a Chinese Emperor – Chenghua Chicken Cup Exhibition". It specially invites Mr. Xie Xiaodong, who is the exhibition curator, the tutor of Capital Normal University (the Academy of Fine Arts) and deputy general manager of Beijing Council International Auction Co., Ltd., to present this lecture. s

"The World of Zhu Jianshen: The Life and Era of a Chinese Emperor – Chenghua Chicken Cup Exhibition" is not a simple exhibition about porcelain. It attempts to re-examine the historical turning point of the Ming Chenghua period from the perspective of art-emperor-society interaction. 

The exhibition uses the method of narration with pictures, and through a complete story, it recalls the life of a Chinese emperor. The lecture will focus on the new styles and trends that emerged in the cultural and artistic fields such as porcelain, calligraphy and painting, literature, Confucianism, and even the political field. Mr. Xie Xiaodong will lead audiences to explore the transformation of the world and the social changes, and then promote the understanding of the Chenghua dynasty.

Xie Xiaodong will discuss the Emperor Chenghua’s own philosophy, emotions and aesthetics. Through the Chenghua Doucai porcelain represented by the chicken cup, he will demonstrate how Zhu Jianshen’s philosophy and artistic concepts have been shaped by the times, dynasty system and destiny. In turn, how did his personality, knowledge and deeds affect his era: including the rise of the citizen class, the prosperity of art and culture, and the birth of the true Ming Dynasty culture and spirit.