Los Angeles Exhibit Highlights Family's Six-Generation Chinese Art Collection

Works from one of the world's great private collections of Chinese art are on display at The Huntington Library near Los Angeles. The collection is owned by Chinese American Wan-go Weng. It shows the importance of art in China and in one Chinese family, in particular.

The story of this collection isthe story of a Chinese family - the Wengs - and their fortunes during 150 turbulent years of Chinese history. The most prominent family member was Weng Tonghe, a court official who tutored and advised emperors Tongzhi and Guangxu in the waning days of imperial China. Like many scholar-officials, Weng was an art lover and he greatly expanded the collection started by his father.

Wan-go Weng, his 91-year-old great, great grandson, lives in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. His rural home has attracted lovers of Chinese art for several decades. A retired producer of educational films on Chinese history and culture, Weng is himself a collector, poet and artist. And he says he continues his family's love of art and sense of history.