The second batch of exhibits of "The Pride of China: Masterpieces of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy of the Jin, Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties from the Palace Museum" will be put on display at the Hong Kong Museum of Art from next Monday (July 23) to August 11. Sixteen exhibits on display include Qiu Ying's "Copy after Along the River During the Qingming Festival" of the Ming dynasty, Wang Xun's "Letter to Boyuan" of the Jin dynasty, Yan Liben's "Emperor Taizong Receiving the Tibetan Envoy" of the Tang dynasty, Su Shi's "Letter on the Consignation of Author's Graveyard" of the Northern Song dynasty, Li Song's "Puppet Play of a Skeleton" of the Southern Song dynasty, and Chen Rong's "Ink Dragon" of the Southern Song dynasty. Pictured is Li Song's "Puppet Play of a Skeleton". In front of the platform sits a couple, apparently puppeteers. The big skeleton, or the husband, is manipulating a small skeleton. The kind of string puppet show seen in the painting was a popular street entertainment during the Song. Some believe that both puppets and puppet shows embody the duality of joy and grief as well as life and death.   Close