Most of the NPM's treasures come from Qing-Dynasty imperial collections, and thus represent the finest exemplars of traditional art and culture. Since the museum has tended to exhibit works from Chinese imperial households, foreign artworks acquired through military conquest, migrations, envoy exchanges, religious proselytization, and trade have rarely been put on view.
由於故宮的寶物多來自清宮收藏，宮廷文物又以正統主流文化的藝術精粹為主，過去故宮也多以中國歷代皇室精品的角度來規劃展覽，以致許多透過軍事征服、民族遷徙、使節往來、宗教佈道、僧侶朝聖、商旅貿易等交流管道而來的外國古文物或貢品，以往都少有露臉機會。