Gu Kaizhi's Depiction of Female Grace: Elegance, Composure, and Contemplation
When it comes to elegant women in ancient Chinese paintings, the most outstanding is the series of figures created by Gu Kaizhi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Among them, 'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' is a milestone work in Chinese art history. The 'Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' in the Palace Museum are divided into Tang-style copies and Song-style copies. The Tang-style copy was stolen during the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance and is now located in the British Museum. The Song-style copy is still collected in the Palace Museum.
Hidden within Gu Kaizhi's works are also other figures such as the Song-style copy of 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' by the Palace Museum and 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' and 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' . This year is the 600th anniversary of the Palace Museum's founding. 'Ancient Art of the Palace Museum' (www.thepaper.cn) is successively launching the '600 Years of the Palace Museum Appreciation' series, and the focus this time is on the female beauty presented by Gu Kaizhi in the Palace Museum. 'Winged and graceful, blessed with prosperity. Quiet and respectful, reflecting on matters. '
'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort Scroll'
'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort Scroll' (Song Copy) partial paper ink vertical 600.5 cm horizontal 27.9 cm collected in the Palace Museum
'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' is written by Zhang Hua of the Western Jin Dynasty, and the content is about the virtues and conduct of women, with the purpose of teaching and admonishing. Gu Kaizhi depicted this story in the form of paintings, making it easy for the public to understand. The earliest extant copy of 'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' is the Tang-style copy, originally a collection in the Qing Dynasty, now located in the British Museum. The Palace Museum's copy of 'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' is a Song-style copy, with 11 scenes depicted, namely 'Fan Ji's Admiration for Zhuang,' 'Wei Nu's Confrontation with Huan,' 'Feng Jieyu's Blocking of Xiong,' 'Ban Jieyu's Farewell to Nian,' 'Preventing Minor Offenses and Considering Distant Risks,' 'Adorning One's Nature,' 'Observing Their Words and Actions,' 'Spirit Animals in the Spirit Palace,' 'Enjoying Pleasures Without Excessive Indulgence,' 'Quiet and Respectful, Reflecting on Matters,' and 'The Scribe's Consort's Pledge.' This scroll is characterized by white-ink figure painting, with fluent brushwork and slender, continuous lines, more robust and closer to Li Gonglin's style. The figures have ancient charm, and this scroll's Song-style copy is more extensive than the Tang-style copy by two scenes, providing important references for understanding the original 'Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' and the early evolution of figure painting.
'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' Scroll
The old transmission of 'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' claims it was created by Gu Kaizhi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. This is a Song-style copy made by a person in the Southern Song Dynasty.
The Han Dynasty Emperor indulged in wine and women, favored Zhao Fiyuan sisters, and the imperial power fell into the hands of external clans. Liu Qi, the fourth grandson of Chu Yuanwang, created 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' to present to Emperor Han, hoping he could learn from his experience and maintain the Liu Dynasty. The book divided into seven scrolls, namely 'Motherly Virtues, Wise and Intelligent Females, Virtuous and Noble Females, Obedient and Loyal Females, Strict and Loyal Females, Wise and Intelligent Females, and Wicked Females.' This is the 'Wise and Intelligent Females' section. This scroll is a partial copy, with 15 stories preserved completely, including 'Chu Wu Duan Man,' 'Xu Mu Fuyuan,' 'Feng Xi Shi Wife,' 'Sun Suo Ao's Mother,' 'Jin Bo Shi Wife,' 'Ling Gong Fuyuan,' 'Wei Nu's Confrontation with Huan,' 'Feng Jieyu's Blocking of Xiong,' 'Ban Jieyu's Farewell to Nian,' 'Preventing Minor Offenses and Considering Distant Risks,' 'Adorning One's Nature,' 'Observing Their Words and Actions,' 'Spirit Animals in the Spirit Palace,' 'Enjoying Pleasures Without Excessive Indulgence,' and 'The Scribe's Consort's Pledge.'
'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort Scroll'
The Han Dynasty Emperor indulged in wine and women, favored Zhao Fiyuan sisters, and the imperial power fell into the hands of external clans. Liu Qi, the fourth grandson of Chu Yuanwang, created 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' to present to Emperor Han, hoping he could learn from his experience and maintain the Liu Dynasty. The book divided into seven scrolls, namely 'Motherly Virtues, Wise and Intelligent Females, Virtuous and Noble Females, Obedient and Loyal Females, Strict and Loyal Females, Wise and Intelligent Females, and Wicked Females.'
'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' Scroll'
'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' Scroll' (Song Copy) by Jin Dynasty Gu Kaizhi (Song Copy) paper ink vertical 27.1cm horizontal 572.8cm
'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' is based on the 'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' written by Cao Zhi of the Three Kingdoms (220-265 years) . The picture depicts the moment of the first section when Cao Zhi encounters the goddess of the Luo River by the Luo River. Cao Zhi stepped forward, watched the clouds and dragons dance, and a goddess of the Luo River appeared, with a shoulder like a sharpened blade, waist like a regular white, and eyebrows connected by graceful eyebrows. The scene was depicted in the second part: Cao Zhi's steps approached, watching the clouds and dragons dance, and a goddess of the Luo River appeared, appearing and disappearing, appearing and gone, and finally, showing a scene of departure, with six dragons accompanying the goddess of the Luo River, with crystal birds and whales, and the goddess of the Luo River turned back to look, unwillingly, and a sense of regretful parting was displayed.
'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' Scroll'
The Han Dynasty Emperor indulged in wine and women, favored Zhao Fiyuan sisters, and the imperial power fell into the hands of external clans. Liu Qi, the fourth grandson of Chu Yuanwang, created 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' to present to Emperor Han, hoping he could learn from his experience and maintain the Liu Dynasty. The book divided into seven scrolls, namely 'Motherly Virtues, Wise and Intelligent Females, Virtuous and Noble Females, Obedient and Loyal Females, Strict and Loyal Females, Wise and Intelligent Females, and Wicked Females.'
'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' Scroll'
'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' Scroll' (Song Copy) by Jin Dynasty Gu Kaizhi (Song Copy) paper ink vertical 27.1cm horizontal 572.8cm
The Han Dynasty Emperor indulged in wine and women, favored Zhao Fiyuan sisters, and the imperial power fell into the hands of external clans. Liu Qi, the fourth grandson of Chu Yuanwang, created 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' to present to Emperor Han, hoping he could learn from his experience and maintain the Liu Dynasty. The book divided into seven scrolls, namely 'Motherly Virtues, Wise and Intelligent Females, Virtuous and Noble Females, Obedient and Loyal Females, Strict and Loyal Females, Wise and Intelligent Females, and Wicked Females.'
'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' Scroll'
'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' Scroll' (Song Copy) by Jin Dynasty Gu Kaizhi (Song Copy) paper ink vertical 27.1cm horizontal 572.8cm
The Han Dynasty Emperor indulged in wine and women, favored Zhao Fiyuan sisters, and the imperial power fell into the hands of external clans. Liu Qi, the fourth grandson of Chu Yuanwang, created 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' to present to Emperor Han, hoping he could learn from his experience and maintain the Liu Dynasty. The book divided into seven scrolls, namely 'Motherly Virtues, Wise and Intelligent Females, Virtuous and Noble Females, Obedient and Loyal Females, Strict and Loyal Females, Wise and Intelligent Females, and Wicked Females.'
'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' Scroll'
'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' Scroll' (Song Copy) by Jin Dynasty Gu Kaizhi (Song Copy) paper ink vertical 27.1cm horizontal 572.8cm
The Han Dynasty Emperor indulged in wine and women, favored Zhao Fiyuan sisters, and the imperial power fell into the hands of external clans. Liu Qi, the fourth grandson of Chu Yuanwang, created 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' to present to Emperor Han, hoping he could learn from his experience and maintain the Liu Dynasty. The book divided into seven scrolls, namely 'Motherly Virtues, Wise and Intelligent Females, Virtuous and Noble Females, Obedient and Loyal Females, Strict and Loyal Females, Wise and Intelligent Females, and Wicked Females.'
'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' Scroll'
'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' Scroll' (Song Copy) by Jin Dynasty Gu Kaizhi (Song Copy) paper ink vertical 27.1cm horizontal 572.8cm
The Han Dynasty Emperor indulged in wine and women, favored Zhao Fiyuan sisters, and the imperial power fell into the hands of external clans. Liu Qi, the fourth grandson of Chu Yuanwang, created 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' to present to Emperor Han, hoping he could learn from his experience and maintain the Liu Dynasty. The book divided into seven scrolls, namely 'Motherly Virtues, Wise and Intelligent Females, Virtuous and Noble Females, Obedient and Loyal Females, Strict and Loyal Females, Wise and Intelligent Females, and Wicked Females.'
'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' Scroll'
'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' Scroll' (Song Copy) by Jin Dynasty Gu Kaizhi (Song Copy) paper ink vertical 27.1cm horizontal 572.8cm
The Han Dynasty Emperor indulged in wine and women, favored Zhao Fiyuan sisters, and the imperial power fell into the hands of external clans. Liu Qi, the fourth grandson of Chu Yuanwang, created 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' to present to Emperor Han, hoping he could learn from his experience and maintain the Liu Dynasty. The book divided into seven scrolls, namely 'Motherly Virtues, Wise and Intelligent Females, Virtuous and Noble Females, Obedient and Loyal Females, Strict and Loyal Females, Wise and Intelligent Females, and Wicked Females.'
'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' Scroll'
'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' Scroll' (Song Copy) by Jin Dynasty Gu Kaizhi (Song Copy) paper ink vertical 27.1cm horizontal 572.8cm
The Han Dynasty Emperor indulged in wine and women, favored Zhao Fiyuan sisters, and the imperial power fell into the hands of external clans. Liu Qi, the fourth grandson of Chu Yuanwang, created 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' to present to Emperor Han, hoping he could learn from his experience and maintain the Liu Dynasty. The book divided into seven scrolls, namely 'Motherly Virtues, Wise and Intelligent Females, Virtuous and Noble Females, Obedient and Loyal Females, Strict and Loyal Females, Wise and Intelligent Females, and Wicked Females.'
'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' Scroll'
'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' Scroll' (Song Copy) by Jin Dynasty Gu Kaizhi (Song Copy) paper ink vertical 27.1cm horizontal 572.8cm
The Han Dynasty Emperor indulged in wine and women, favored Zhao Fiyuan sisters, and the imperial power fell into the hands of external clans. Liu Qi, the fourth grandson of Chu Yuanwang, created 'The Illustrations of the Female Officials' to present to Emperor Han, hoping he could learn from his experience and maintain the Liu Dynasty. The book divided into seven scrolls, namely 'Motherly Virtues, Wise and Intelligent Females, Virtuous and Noble Females, Obedient and Loyal Females, Strict and Loyal Females, Wise and Intelligent Females, and Wicked Females.'
'The Illustrations of the Scribe's Consort' Scroll'
