"The ways architecture, interior design and displays connect to imperial culture can be seen here."
He expects the repair of the edifices, which are inlaid with enamel, porcelain, mother-of-pearl and painted glass, will bring a host of surprises.
Fuwangge, for instance, contains a unique type of chiffon that features complicated patterns created with gold leaf and embossed painting techniques not found anywhere else in the Forbidden City. The methods for creating these patterns are a total mystery.
The repairs will be documented visually and in 3D to enable before-and-after comparisons. And the museum is creating an online 3D model.
While work is under way on the garden, the final details of Juanqinzhai are still being restored, even though the major work ended in 2008.
Wang says his team is experimenting with methods to reinforce, without destroying, the fragile embroidery.
Juanqinzhai is currently sealed and fitted with an air-circulation system that controls temperature and humidity. The number of experts who visit is also limited.
Plans for opening it to the public are still in the works.
"Through advanced technology, I believe Juanqinzhai's restored interior can last at least another 200 years," Wang says.
By Zhang Zixuan
Print
Save