The Chinese Admonitions Scroll at the British Museum

Name: Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies
Start: 2025-07-14
End: 2025-08-25
Location: British Museum

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Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies

Where? British Museum, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury When? 14th July to 25th August 2025 10 AM to 5 PM (Mon-Thu, Sat-Sun); 10 AM to 8.30 PM (Fri); Last entry 15 mins before closing Price? Free · See britishmuseum.org Parking: Nearby car parks Buses: 1, 8, 14, 19, 24, 25, 29, 38, 55, 59, 68, 73, 91, 98, 134, 168, 188, 242, 390, X68 Bus fares Trains: The closest station is Tottenham Court Road Central Elizabeth Northern Other nearby stations: Holborn and Russell Square Train fares

This is your chance to see the Admonitions Scroll at the British Museum (also known as the Admonitions of the Court Instructress), which is not only a masterpiece, but also one of the true milestones in Chinese painting history. Due to its delicate condition it can only be displayed for six weeks each year.

The scroll is traditionally attributed to Gu Kaizhi and dates to about 400-700 AD, but may have been a copy of a much earlier work from the Jin dynasty (266–420 AD). It contains a poetic text written by Zhang Hua that provides advice to women in the imperial court.

The illustrations demonstrate the ideal behaviour expected of palace ladies, as well as some more general scenes that show the day-to-day life of a lady.

It is one of the earliest surviving examples of a Chinese handscroll, although the painting and inscriptions were later separated and mounted onto panels.

It has passed through many hands over the centuries, including the Emperor Huizong of Song (1100-1126) and Qianlong Emperor (1735-1796), and came in to the possession of the British Museum via Captain Clarence Johnson, who was stationed in Beijing during the Boxer Rebellion of 1899.

How to get to the British Museum

Bus and train fares to British Museum
Fare zone	Cash	Oyster & Contactless				Travelcard
	Single fare	Single fare		Daily cap		One day
	Single fare	Peak	Off-peak	Peak	Off-peak	Anytime	Off-peak
Bus (all zones)	n/a	£1.75		£5.25		£6
Train (zone 1)	£7	£2.90	£2.80	£8.90	£8.90	£16.60(zone 1-4)	£16.60(zone 1-6)
Train (zone 1-2)	£7	£3.50	£2.90	£8.90	£8.90
Train (zone 1-3)	£7	£3.80	£3.10	£10.50	£10.50
Train (zone 1-4)	£7	£4.60	£3.40	£12.80	£12.80
Train (zone 1-5)	£7	£5.20	£3.60	£15.30	£15.30	£23.60(zone 1-6)
Train (zone 1-6)	£7	£5.80*	£3.80*	£16.30	£16.30	£23.60(zone 1-6)
* Journeys between zone 1 and Heathrow are always charged at the peak rate. Prices are correct as of 2nd March 2025

Bus No.1, 8, 14, 19, 24, 25, 29, 38, 55, 59, 68, 73, 91, 98, 134, 168, 188, 242, 390 and X68 all stop near the British Museum. The closest train station is Tottenham Court Road Central Elizabeth Northern. Plan your journey from Bank, Charing Cross, Earl’s Court, Euston, King’s Cross St. Pancras, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Marylebone, Paddington, Victoria, Waterloo or another station: