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The art of generosity

Late scholar, connoisseur and collector of Chinese antiquities Rong Geng once said, "Knowledge should be shared and used by all people. "Mr Rong's Great World, an exhibition at the National Art Museum of China until Jan 3, unpacks the diverse spiritual and cultural world of the learned scholar, offering a glimpse into his vast knowledge, his devotion to education and his generosity in sharing his findings with people. On show are nearly 300 objects, including paintings, calligraphy works, carved seals, manuscripts, letters and books once owned by Rong. They not only reflect his academic accumulation over the years but also form the basis of his well-rounded scholarship in the realm of Chinese cultural traditions. During his lifetime, Rong donated nearly 200 bronze objects, ranging in age and category, to the State, with the oldest dating back more than 2,000 years. All are now housed at numerous public museums and universities. It is believed that, to this day, Rong's donation is still the largest made by any private collector of such antiquities to the country. He also donated more than 1,000 classical Chinese ink paintings and calligraphy works, one of the largest submissions of ancient art on paper the country has received.

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