Among exhibits, a work of Michel Boym (1612-59) is displayed. The Polish missionary's Flora Sinensis is believed to be the first European publication about traditional Chinese medicine. The book describes the flora and fauna in China, underlining the medicinal properties of some plants. Another exhibit relates to John Calvin Ferguson (1866-1945), whose lifelong passion was the research and collection of ancient Chinese art.
The American scholar spent 57 years in China and played an active role in the country's cultural and educational fields. He was among the founding fathers of the University of Nanking and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
The exhibition features his Survey of Chinese Art, which was published by Shanghai Commercial Press in 1939. The book covers a wide range of art, from bronze and jade to calligraphy and painting, and contains a large number of pictures of cultural relics.
zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn
