Scroll of the Palace of the King of Yue” (越王宫殿图卷)
This Qing-dynasty handscroll (50.4 × 608.8 cm), housed in the ​National Palace Museum, Taipei, is believed to be a Ming-Qing copy of a Southern Song prototype. It depicts the lavish landscape of ​Shaoxing’s Yuezi City (越子城), focusing on the palatial estate of ​Jia Sidao (贾似道, 1213–1275), a controversial Southern Song chancellor. The painting combines meticulous architectural detail with poetic naturalism, blending ​blue-green landscape (青绿设色) techniques and cartographic precision.

Key Features:

1. ​Historical Context & Provenance:
   • The scroll centers on Jia Sidao’s estate, marked by the ​Hall of Majestic Virtue and Grand Merit (懋德大勳之閣), a structure bearing a plaque bestowed by Emperor Lizong of Song. Its architectural accuracy—such as ​overhead beam gates (过梁式城门) and garden layouts—aligns with Southern Song records like Jiatai Kuaiji Zhi (《嘉泰会稽志》), suggesting the original likely dates to the 13th century.
   • Though labeled as a “Yue King’s Palace,” the scene primarily showcases Jia’s residence, reflecting Qing artists’ reinterpretation of historical sites.
2. ​Artistic Hybridity:
   • The work merges ​ruled-line painting (界画) for architectural precision with lyrical landscape elements, such as mist-shrouded mountains, pine forests, and winding rivers. Each structure and landmark is annotated, creating a hybrid of art and map.
   • The ​apocryphal colophon attributed to Wen Zhengming (文徵明跋) critiques its misnomer: “The so-called ‘Yue Palace’ barely shows traces of the ancient king—only a terrace and well. It likely portrays a grand mansion built for a high official during the Southern Song”.
3. ​Cultural Legacy of Yuezi City:
   • Yuezi City, founded in ​490 BCE by ​Fan Li (范蠡) under King Goujian’s orders, served as the political heart of the Yue Kingdom. The painting captures its transformation into a Southern Song administrative hub, with landmarks like ​Zhenyue Hall (镇越堂) and ​Liubei Pavilion (流杯亭) reflecting its layered history.
4. ​Controversies & Scholarly Debates:
   • Scholars note discrepancies: The Southern Song-style architecture contrasts with Qing-era brushwork, and the colophon’s calligraphy differs from Wen Zhengming’s authentic works. Yet, its fidelity to historical texts suggests reliance on a lost Southern Song original.

Translation of Key Terms:

• ​越子城: Yuezi City, the ancient core of Shaoxing, established as the Yue Kingdom’s capital.
• ​懋德大勳之閣: Hall of Majestic Virtue and Grand Merit, a Southern Song imperial inscription for Jia Sidao’s estate.
• ​界画舆图: A painting combining ruled-line architectural detail with cartographic annotations.

Legacy:

This scroll bridges artistic and historical study, offering insights into Southern Song urban planning and Qing reinterpretations of antiquity. Its digitized version at Taipei’s National Palace Museum allows global access to its intricate details.