Qingming Shanghe tu [Going Upriver during the Qingming Festival] ZHANG Zeduan

Japanese facsimile edition, measuring 29x450cm, some sections heightened in colour, chops in red. No colophon, no date, [but possibly Tokyo, first half of the 20th century. Ca. 1930- The Qingming Shanghe tu is the title of several long ink paintings, the original version being by the Song Dynasty artist Zhang Zeduan (1085-1145). It captures the daily life of people from the Song period at the capital Bianjing (today?s Kaifeng) and celebrates the festive spirit and commotion of the Qingming Festival which is the Chinese Tomb Sweeping Day that is still celebrated today. It was painted in handscroll format to be viewed in segments as a narrative, and provides much detail about the lifestyle of all levels of Song society as well as different economic activities in rural areas and the city. It thus offers an insight into the habits, dress, boats and the architecture of 12th century China. The piece has been revered throughout succeeding dynasties and numerous replicas and re-interpretations were made. The present is an attractive Japanese facsimile of the Zhang Zeduan version produced in the first half of the 20th century.