Cultural traditions stand the test of time

Li Xue, the exhibition's curator says, "Many forms of handicrafts were taken by Fujian migrants to Taiwan. A sophisticated sculpted table lamp on show, for example, reflects that the technique of wood carving, coated with gold and lacquer, was introduced to Taiwan by artisans from the mainland, and developed into an important genre of wood carving there".

Objects related to Zheng Chenggong, the 17th-century admiral who led forces to expel Dutch occupiers and recover Taiwan, are also in the spotlight at the exhibition, including an ink figure painting of him, from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and a jade belt of the general, the kind that was then exclusive to high society and those rewarded with titles by the emperor.

Li says the items were donated to museums by descendants of the Zheng family.