Auction introduction: As the power of the Poon family grew throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, from a leading trading house in Canton and gradually wielding its influence at the Imperial court, so did their art collection, which would first flourish under Pan Youwei (1743-1821) and Pan Zhengwei (1791-1850). The very same idea of possessing the past – so central to classical Chinese thought as a means of establishing one’s moral rectitude, wisdom and political legitimacy – underpins the collection of the emperors of China going back to the Song dynasty. The most profound and surest way to assimilate the past would have come through copying ancient calligraphies and indeed emperors since the Song dynasty and throughout the centuries have copied prized calligraphies from their collections. During the Song dynasty in China, political legitimacy played crucial roles in the reigns of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song and Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song. Emperor Renzong inherited the throne from his father and continued his policies, ensuring a sense of continuity in governance. Meanwhile, Emperor Gaozong’s reign began after the fall of the Northern Song dynasty to the Jin dynasty, forcing the Song court to relocate to the south. Emperor Gaozong faced the challenge of maintaining political legitimacy while ruling from a diminished territory. He sought to preserve the cultural and political legacy of the Northern Song dynasty, emphasising the continuity of the imperial lineage and classical values, so he could present himself as the rightful heir of the imperial lineage. It is the powerful story of the continuum of classical Chinese thought and tradition that is told in this unique generational collection of art spanning a thousand years of history. It is nothing short of a privilege to mark the first season at our Maison at Landmark Chater with such an exceptional collection. Nicolas Chow