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This enormous multicolored map depicts China during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), although it was made in Japan almost forty years after the fall of the Ming. Many Japanese scholars during this later period considered the Ming to be the last great Chinese empire, and they mourned its overthrow by the Manchu. For this reason, the map may have evoked in its viewers nostalgia for a vanished imperial past, a quality enhanced by the inclusion of references to ancient polities and obsolete place names. Ming China’s thirteen provinces, its current and former capital cities, and its numerous administrative subdivisions are all labeled and color-coded, as described in the legend at bottom right. Shown are the Five Great Mountains, revered as pilgrimage sites since ancient times; the “five mountain ranges” (the Nanling Mountains) of southern China; and the Great Wall, delineating the empire’s northern border. A red line marks two main trade routes, one linking Kyushu in Japan to the Chinese port of Ningbo, and the other linking the Ryukyu Islands to the south China coast.

KNOWN PROVENANCEPre-nineteenth century unknown; Nineteenth and early twentieth century, collection of Iwakura Tomomi; Mid-twentieth century, unknown Japanese collection; 1990s or early 2000s, collection of Wesley A. and Linda Brown, purchased in Japan from unknown dealer.

Geographical Map of Great Ming, 1681 (Edo period, Japan). Ink, paint, gold, and silver on paper. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Wesley and Linda Brown, 2018.35.

DIMENSIONS height: 114 in, 289.5600 cm; width: 140 in, 355.6000 cm

DEPARTMENT Arts of Asia

COLLECTION Arts of Asia

Geographical Map of Great Ming
1681, Edo period
Japan
Ink, paint, gold, and silver on paper
Gift of Wesley and Linda Brown
2018.35

Source: Denver Art Museum

[ 2023-12-30 03:59:09 ]

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/What-is-the-tAZZYzkxQ7O2JBepRvNmMg

The Qingming Scroll, also known as "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" or "Qingming Shanghe Tu," is a renowned 12th-century Chinese painting attributed to the artist Zhang Zeduan. Here are some key points about its history:

## Origins and Authorship

- The original scroll is believed to have been created during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in the 12th century by Zhang Zeduan, though little is known about the artist himself.[1][2]

- The earliest known colophon (inscription) on the scroll dates back to 1186, providing evidence of its existence by that time.[1]

## Depiction and Interpretations

- The scroll depicts a prosperous city scene along a river, capturing the daily life and activities of people from various social classes.[3][4]

- There is debate over whether it portrays the Northern Song capital Kaifeng or an idealized city, and whether the "Qingming" in the title refers to the Qingming Festival or simply means "peaceful and orderly."[1][4][5]

## Copies and Variations

- The original scroll is now housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing and rarely displayed due to its age and fragility.[2][4]

- Numerous copies and variations of the scroll were made in later dynasties, with artists reinterpreting scenes and adding details relevant to their times, such as the famous 1736 Qing Dynasty version in the Taipei Palace Museum.[2][4]

- These later variations provide valuable insights into the societies and time periods in which they were created.[5]

So in summary, the Qingming Scroll is an iconic 12th-century painting that has been revered, copied, and reinterpreted over centuries, offering a glimpse into the daily life and prosperity of ancient Chinese cities.[1][2][3][4][5]

Sources
[1] The Qingming Scroll | East Asian Languages and Civilizations https://ealc.fas.harvard.edu/qingming-scroll
[2] The Song Dynasty in China | Asia for Educators - Columbia University http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/songdynasty-module/intro-two-versions.html
[3] Attributed to Zhang Zeduan, Along the River during Qingming ... https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/imperial-china/song-dynasty/a/attributed-to-zhang-zeduan-along-the-river-during-qingming-festival-handscroll
[4] Along the River during the Qingming Festival - China Online Museum https://www.comuseum.com/painting/famous-chinese-paintings/along-the-river-during-the-qingming-festival/
[5] Variation on the Qingming shanghe tu | The New York Public Library https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/galleries/visual-world/item/4106
 

[ 2024-05-08 01:41:43 ]