The scroll painting known as Qingming Shanghe tu is a vividly detailed record of life in a Song Dynasty city and suburbs. Zhang Zeduan (1085-1145) gets credit for the original, but the Qing emperors in the 18th century commissioned teams of painters who reflected in their versions the Manchu peaceable kingdom.
The title is problematic and has been translated as "City of Cathay," but Wikipedia in its wisdom lists it as "Along the River During the Qing Ming Festival." The article gives a confused account but has links to several versions available online.
The first image here is from the earliest version, now in Beijing. You will see that in addition to being old and faded, is was more austere than the almost posterish colors of the Qing dynasty versions. The "rainbow bridge" is probably legendary, not actual, but it displays the advanced bridge technology of the time.
The second image shows an outdoor theater, probably playing a Chinese opera.
The third image shows the lively commerce going into the city, reminding us that the Song had a national currency and international trade not only in luxuries but rice and industrial products.
Other parts of the scroll, available through the links in the Wikipedia article, show the shops, restaurants, wine shops (complete with a customer puking over the railing).
The title is problematic and has been translated as "City of Cathay," but Wikipedia in its wisdom lists it as "Along the River During the Qing Ming Festival." The article gives a confused account but has links to several versions available online.
The first image here is from the earliest version, now in Beijing. You will see that in addition to being old and faded, is was more austere than the almost posterish colors of the Qing dynasty versions. The "rainbow bridge" is probably legendary, not actual, but it displays the advanced bridge technology of the time.
The second image shows an outdoor theater, probably playing a Chinese opera.
The third image shows the lively commerce going into the city, reminding us that the Song had a national currency and international trade not only in luxuries but rice and industrial products.
Other parts of the scroll, available through the links in the Wikipedia article, show the shops, restaurants, wine shops (complete with a customer puking over the railing).
A theater
The city gate
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