© dpa
Weekend Tips: What to Do This Weekend in Berlin
September 18 to 20, 2026: Events, festivals, exhibitions and more things to do for your perfect weekend in Berlin. more
Ghostbuster: Zhong Kui, the Demon Queller
Here to Protect the Family
Tanzender Zhong Kui, Detail, China, Yangliuqing, 1. Hälfte 20. Jh., Holzschnitt
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Gao Qipei (1660–1734), Zhong Kui mit Schwert, Detail, Qing-Dynastie (1644 – 1911), datiert 1716 am Tag des Drachenboot-Festes, Fingermalerei
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Zhong Kui begleitet seine Schwester zu ihrem neuen Zuhause, Detail, Qing-Dynastie (1644–1911), 19. Jh.
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Zhong Kui als Beschützer des Hauses, China, Zhuxianzhen, Provinz Henan, 1. Hälfte 20. Jh., Holzschnitt
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Dem Palast zugeordnete, militärische Gottheiten, China, Yangliuqing, 1. Hälfte 20. Jh., Holzschnitt
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst
According to legends, Zhong Kui 鍾馗 was a brilliant scholar. Although he achieved the highest score in the imperial examination, the emperor denied him the honorary title (狀元) because of his looks. In a fit of rage, he committed suicide. However, the King of Hell recognized his potential and tasked him with hunting evil spirits.
In the arts, Zhong Kui is often depicted wearing an official’s hat, with a bushy black beard, bulging eyes, and an angry expression. Sometimes he is wielding a sword, sometimes he is the dutiful brother giving his sister away as a bride. Woodblock printed images of him posted on doors protect shops and family homes, particularly during the New Year’s or Dragon Boat Festivals. Today, Zhong Kui also appears in video games hunting ghosts.
Curator
The exhibition is curated by Birgitta Augustin.
A temporary presentation of the Museum für Asiatische Kunst (Asian Art Museum) of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in Gallery 319 “Artists and Connoisseurs” at the Humboldt Forum.
In the arts, Zhong Kui is often depicted wearing an official’s hat, with a bushy black beard, bulging eyes, and an angry expression. Sometimes he is wielding a sword, sometimes he is the dutiful brother giving his sister away as a bride. Woodblock printed images of him posted on doors protect shops and family homes, particularly during the New Year’s or Dragon Boat Festivals. Today, Zhong Kui also appears in video games hunting ghosts.
Curator
The exhibition is curated by Birgitta Augustin.
A temporary presentation of the Museum für Asiatische Kunst (Asian Art Museum) of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in Gallery 319 “Artists and Connoisseurs” at the Humboldt Forum.
Runtime: Wed, 18/03/2026 to Mon, 28/09/2026
Price info: Exhibition ticket regular 9 EUR each:
- BERLIN GLOBAL, first floor
- Ethnological Collections and Asian Art, including temporary exhibitions on the 2nd and 3rd floors
You can purchase this ticket online or at the ticket office.
All information regarding free admission and discounts can be found here.
Free admission for:
- Insights. The Humboldt Brothers
- Castle Cellars
- Sculpture Hall
- Video Panorama
- On Water: WasserWissen in Berlin
Price: €14.00
Reduced price: €7.00
Reduced price info: Admission remains free of charge for children and young people up to the age of 19, persons accompanying a severely disabled person (provided this is noted as B on the severely disabled person’s pass), persons receiving transfer payments and Berlin-Ticket-S-holders. Admission is also free of charge for Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the German Museums Association and the Federal Association for Museum Education.
- BERLIN GLOBAL, first floor
- Ethnological Collections and Asian Art, including temporary exhibitions on the 2nd and 3rd floors
You can purchase this ticket online or at the ticket office.
All information regarding free admission and discounts can be found here.
Free admission for:
- Insights. The Humboldt Brothers
- Castle Cellars
- Sculpture Hall
- Video Panorama
- On Water: WasserWissen in Berlin
Price: €14.00
Reduced price: €7.00
Reduced price info: Admission remains free of charge for children and young people up to the age of 19, persons accompanying a severely disabled person (provided this is noted as B on the severely disabled person’s pass), persons receiving transfer payments and Berlin-Ticket-S-holders. Admission is also free of charge for Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the German Museums Association and the Federal Association for Museum Education.
Takes place here:
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