Painting as History: A Study of the Thirteen Emperors Scroll Attributed to Yan Liben
Journal
國立臺灣大學美術史研究集刊
Journal Issue
16
Pages
1-48+340
Date Issued
2004-03
Date
2004-03
Author(s)
Abstract
This paper focuses on three issues of the Thirteen Emperors attributed to Yan Liben (c.600-673): 1) authentication of the portraits and the inscription on the latter half of the scroll; 2)connotations and cultural context of the portraits; and 3) iconographical problems of the portraits on the first section of the scroll. In this paper, the author identifies Emperors "Chen Wendi" and "Chen Feidi" to be Emperors Liang Jianwendi and Liang Yuandi on the latter section of the scroll, and reads the seven portraits of the emperors on this section as political emblems of Liang (502-557), Chen (557-589), Later Zhou (556-581), and Sui (581-618) Dynesties. She discovers that the textual sources for the execution of these seven portraits and the inscription include history books of Liang, Chen, Latter Zhou, and Sui (compiled from 629 to 644), and particularly, History of the Northern Dynasties and History of the Southern Dynasties (compiled from 643 to 659). The latter data suggests the terminus a quo for the execution of this section. According to the author, the representation of the emperors of the Northern and the Southern Dynasties exhibits sharp contrast in their poses, costume, and attributes. She also points out that their iconographical details and accompanying inscription clearly reflect Emperor Tang Taizong's (599-649) evaluation of the political, religious, and military achievements of these dyneasties found in Di Fan (Principles of Rulership, 648) and Zhenguan Zhengyao (Political Principles of the Zhenguan Reign). Zhenguan Zhengyao was completed around 720, which suggests the terminus ad quem for the execution of this section. The six emperors on the first section of the scroll are iconographically patterned upon Emperor Wudi of the Later Zhou on the latter section, except for the beginning Emperor, "Former Han Zhaowendi." According to the author, this image should be identified as Wang Mang (45BCE-23CE), whose casual dress signifies his unorthodox regime (8-23CE), which intervenes between the Eastern Han (206BCE-8CE) and the Western Han (23CE-220) Dynasties. Because three earliest Song (960-1127) colophons at the end of the scroll date to 1058-1060 this section of the scroll must have been completed prior to the mid-eleventh century.
Subjects
閻立本
十三帝王圖
郎餘令
唐太宗
貞觀政要
帝範
南史
北史
南北朝帝王
梁簡文帝
梁元帝
陳宣帝
後周武帝
正統觀
The Thirteen Emperors
Yan Liben
Lang Yuling
Tang Taizong
Zhenguan Zhengyao
Di Fan
Nanshi
Beishi
The Northern and the Southern Dynasties
Liang Jianwendi
Liang Yuandi
Chen Xuandi
Hou-Zhou Wudi
Political orthodoxy
Publisher
臺北市：藝術史研究所
Type
journal article
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