The Night Revels of Han Xizai

The Night Revels of Han Xizai or The Night Entertainments of Han Xizai (traditional Chinese: 韓熙載夜宴圖; simplified Chinese: 韩熙载夜宴图; pinyin: Hán Xīzaì Yèyàn Tú) is a painted handscroll attributed to Chinese 10th-century artist Gu Hongzhong. It survived as a copy made during the Song dynasty. The painting depicts Han Xizai, a minister of the Southern Tang emperor Li Yu, along with realistic portrayals of more than forty persons.[1] The painting is regarded as one of the masterpieces of Chinese art.[1]

The Night Revels of Han Xizai
The Night Entertainments of Han Xizai
ArtistGu Hongzhong
TypeInk and color on silk handscroll
Dimensions28.7 cm × 335.5 cm (11.3 in × 132.1 in)
LocationPalace Museum, Beijing

Creation

Gu Hongzhong was reportedly sent to spy on Han Xizai. In one version of the story, Han Xizai repeatedly missed morning audiences with Li Yu because of his revelry and needed to be shamed into dignified behavior.[2] In another version, Han Xizai refused Li Yu's offer to become prime minister.[2] To check Han's suitability and find out what he was doing at home, Li Yu sent Gu Hongzhong alongside another court painter, Zhou Wenju, to one of Han's night parties and depict what they saw.[1] Each of two painters created a painting based on their observation after a night of partying. Unlike Gu's painting, the one made by Zhou was subsequently lost.[1]

Composition

The painting is divided into five distinct parts and contains a seal of Shi Miyuan, a Song dynasty official. Viewed from right to left, the parts show Han Xizai listening to a pipa, striking a drum for dancers, resting, watching five female musicians playing flutes, and seeing off his guests. While in the early Tang period, musicians played sitting on floor mats, the painting shows them sitting on chairs, demonstrating the change that had occurred. Gu purposely created a somber ambiance, with none of the depicted persons smiling.[1] The painting helped Li Yu dispel some of his distrust in Han, but did little to prevent the decline of Li's dynasty.[1]

References
  1. "Night Revels of Han Xizai". Shanghai Daily. September 20, 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  2. "The Night Entertainments of Han Xizai". China Online Museum. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  • Entry at the Palace Museum website
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