Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Beauties and Heroes: Legends and Stories in Chinese Art

(from 21st Jan until 15th Jul 2012)

Explore paintings, prints and papercuts depicting legendary figures from Chinese folklore.

Detail of Heroes from The Water Margin, by Shi Dawei, Shanghai, 2003 (Museum No: EA2007.194)
The Hero's Happy Encounterfront

© Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

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The Hero's Happy Encounter

  • Description

    Chen Chongguang, also known as Ruomu, is a painter and poet from Yangzhou, Jiangsu province who strictly follows the traditional style of Chinese painting. His use of calligraphic paint strokes is particularly evident on the clothes of the three heroes in this painting.

    Depicted in this painting are three legendary figures that played key roles in the establishment of the powerful Tang Empire (AD 618-907). According to the story, Qiuranke (the Knight of Big Beard) (left) wanted to take over the throne in the chaos of war. He then met Hongfunü (Lady of Red Horsetail-Whisk) (right) and her husband Li Jing (centre). Hongfunü, who excelled at kung fu, had left her former master and eloped with Li, in whom she saw political talent. Through this couple, Qiuranke got to meet Li Shimin (AD 599-649), who he immediately recognized as the ‘Son of Heaven’. Qiuranke therefore gave up his ambition and left all his fortune to the couple to support Li Shimin, who eventually became one of the greatest emperors in history, Emperor Taizong (r. AD 627-649). This Tang legend, revised to show the legitimacy of the dynasty, has since been adapted into dramas, martial novels and movies.

  • Details

    show all
    Associated place
    Asia › China › Jiangsu province › Yangzhou (place of creation)
    Date
    1878
    Artist/maker
    Chen Chongguang (1839 - 1896) (artist)
    Associated people
    Li Jing (AD 571 - 649) (subject)
    Material and technique
    ink and colour on paper
    Dimensions
    mount 220 x 62 cm (height x width)
    painting 127 x 52 cm (height x width)
    along roller 70 cm (length)
    Material index
    processed material › paper
    Technique index
    decorated › painted,
    painted,
    covered › coated › painted,
    marked › painted,
    drawn (image) › line drawing › brush drawing
    Object type index
    visual representation › scroll › hanging scroll,
    communications equipment › art/writing equipment › scroll › hanging scroll,
    visual representation › painting
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Purchased, 1966.
    Accession no.
    EA1966.85

  • Further reading

    Vainker, Shelagh, Chinese Paintings in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 2000), no. 4 on p. 26, illus. p. 27 fig. 4

Past Exhibition

see (1)

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

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