The Unheard Melody: Music in Chinese Paintings 大音希声：中国绘画中的音乐
A Special Showcase of Song Dynasty Art and Music
August 5 – 27, 2026
Opening & Lecture: Wednesday, Aug 5, 2-3:30pm
100 Washington Street, NYC

If Song dynasty paintings could speak, what would they tell us?

Drawing from the musical imagery found in A Collection of Song Dynasty Paintings, The Unheard Melody: Music in Chinese Paintings invites visitors to discover the sounds and stories embedded within these masterpieces at China Institute. Featuring three thematic section —“Harmony Through Music”, “Elegance and Refinement in Music”, and “Music in Common Life”—the special showcase reveals the diverse roles of music in Song society, from court rituals and ceremonial performances to literati gatherings and everyday life. Through high-resolution digital reproductions, audiovisual installations, and interactive experiences featuring traditional Chinese instruments, visitors will experience how ancient paintings preserve the sounds, movements, and musical imagination of their time.

The opening ceremony will bring the world of Song dynasty art and music to life through traditional Chinese music and Kunqu opera performances and immersive cultural experiences including flower arrangement, lacquer fan painting, and Hanfu garment activities.

Professor Miao Zhe’s lecture “Florence, Kyoto and Hangzhou: The Rise of Chinese Painting Collections in the U.S.” will unveil the fascinating journey of Southern Song dynasty paintings across cultures, tracing how changing artistic tastes during the Gilded Age shaped the formation of Chinese painting collections in the United States.

Join China Institute to experience the magic and timeless beauty of ancient China!

To learn more and view the opening day schedule, click here.