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- Pearls of Ink Mastery (墨妙珠林)
Qing Dynasty Imperial Painting Encyclopedia (1745–1747)Overview
Commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor (r. 1735–1796), this monumental 12-volume set represents the zenith of 18th-century Chinese court artistry. Twelve master painters, including Yu Sheng (余省), Jiang Pu (蒋溥), and Dong Bangda (董邦达), each crafted an album exploring 24 variations of classical themes—from seasonal flowers to Confucian parables—uniting meticulous brushwork with scholarly inscriptions. Organized by the Chinese zodiac branches, the collection exemplifies the Qing court’s synthesis of art, ethics, and cosmology, bearing imperial seals of both Qianlong and Jiaqing emperors.
Structure & Content
Each volume combines 24 paintings with calligraphic texts by court scholars Ji Huang (嵇璜) and Zhuang Yougong (庄有恭). Below are key highlights:
Volume (Zodiac) Artist Theme Notable Features 1. Rat Yu Sheng 24 Seasonal Flowers Chronicles flora through 24 solar terms, e.g., plum blossoms for Winter Solstice. 2. Ox Jiang Pu 24 Filial Piety Tales Confucian morality scenes like Wang Xiang Cracks Ice for Stepmother. 3. Tiger Li Zongwan 24 Sacred Mountains Huangshan rendered in “axe-cut” texture strokes. 4. Rabbit Zhang Ruo’ai 24 Solar Terms Agricultural scenes aligned with the lunisolar calendar. 5. Dragon Yunxi (Prince Shen) 24 Edicts of Han Wendi Imperial governance exemplars in archaic script .6. Snake Dong Bangda 24 Taoist Grottoes Esoteric Longhu Mountain landscapes with alchemical motifs. 7. Horse Li Shizhuo 24 Celestial Pavilions Mythological Kunlun Mountain structures in gold-leaf clouds. 8. Goat Zou Yigui 24 Peony Varietals Botanical studies like Imperial Purple with scientific accuracy. 9. Monkey Tang Dai 24 Master Landscape Styles Tributes to Song-Yuan masters (e.g., Guo Xi’s Early Spring). 10. Rooster Shen Yuan 24 Tang Dynasty Statesmen Portraits of Li Shimin’s advisors in court regalia. 11. Dog Ding Guanpeng 24 Academicians Scholars depicted with scrolls and inkstones, blending realism and idealism. 12. Pig Pan Shiji 24 Poetic Moods Visualizations of Sikong Tu’s aesthetic categories (e.g., Flowing Rhythm). Artistic Techniques
- Baimiao (Plain-Line)
- Minimalist ink outlines in 24 Seasonal Flowers (Vol.1) and 24 Peonies (Vol.8).
- Gold-leaf clouds in Celestial Pavilions (Vol.7) reflect Jesuit-influenced perspective.
- Hybrid Styles
- Confucian ethics (filial piety) merge with Daoist cosmology (sacred mountains).
- Botanical accuracy in peony studies parallels European Enlightenment-era herbals.
Historical Context
- Purpose: Part of Qianlong’s “Ten Perfections” cultural campaign to codify Chinese heritage.
- Provenance: Each page bears Qianlong’s and Jiaqing’s seals, preserved in original zodiac-themed lacquer boxes.
- Legacy: Inspired Japan’s Ehon Taikōki (1797) and Korean court encyclopedias.
Digital Access: Select volumes digitized by Taipei’s National Palace Museum.
Cultural Notes for Western Audiences
- “24” Symbolism: Represents cosmic harmony (12 months × 2 cyclical forces).
- Comparisons:
- Similar to Diderot’s Encyclopédie (1751) as a knowledge synthesis project.
- Imperial patronage parallels Louis XIV’s Gobelins Manufactory tapestries.
- Artists’ Backgrounds: Many painters (e.g., Yunxi) were scholar-officials blending art and governance.
- Baimiao (Plain-Line)
- Pearls of Ink Mastery (墨妙珠林)
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