Spring Festival on the River

This long handscroll is a copy of a famous work attributed to the Song dynasty painter Zhang Zeduan (active early 12th century), which shows the imperial capital Bianliang (modern Kaifeng, Henan Province) during the annual spring festival. Many copies of Zhang's painting are attributed to Qiu Ying, including this scroll, which bears his forged signature. These later copies often contain scenes that are absent from Zhang's original composition, such as the section shown here, which depicts the palaces on Golden Shining Pond, an imperial park located just outside the western city wall.

The emperors of the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127) used the pond both for naval exercises and festive regattas, especially on the occasion of the spring festival. Such an event is pictured here. A group of palace women punt their phoenix-headed craft under a rainbow bridge surmounted by a small kiosk, while a line of four other boats rowed by eunuchs proceeds in the opposite direction, urged on by flag-waving figures standing atop their dragon-headed prows. The pavilions are populated by beautifully attired palace ladies and their attendants engaged in various leisure activities.