Ming Dynasty Carved Images of a Hundred Beauties Through the Ages

Author: Zhong Nianren
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: What people are often willing to remember and cherish but easily forget or become vague about is the past history. If people want to navigate a small boat through the long river of history, they need a continuous source of living water. This source of living water is the rich and diverse variety of documents. China has been a civilization that has always placed great importance on documents since ancient times. Although the "He Tu Luo Shu" is heavily steeped in legend, it is the earliest generalization of the classification of documents, indicating that documents mainly include text and images. Without documents or insufficient documentation, it would be very difficult to explain history. Even Confucius, the revered sage for over two thousand years, would have been helpless in his lament. In the "Analects·Bai Yi" chapter, it records the following passage: "I can speak of the Xia rites, but there is insufficient evidence. I can speak of the Yin rites, but there is insufficient evidence from Song. It is due to the lack of documents that I cannot verify them. If there were enough, I could verify them." Since the Qin and Han dynasties, each dynasty, upon seizing power or even during the process of overthrowing the existing regime, paid great attention to collecting documents, which were then broadly referred to as "tu ji," including both images and written records. Those who destroyed documents would inevitably face severe condemnation, often referred to as "misfortune." Thus, preserving documents became an excellent cultural tradition in China. In recent years, as people have gradually corrected their attitude toward traditional culture, the collection, organization, and promotion of historical documents, as well as the publication of historical archives and old photographs, have become a trend. In particular, the search for old photographs has been highly valued. As a result, scholars in the fields of literature, publishing, and collecting have actively unearthed, organized, and explained these materials, publishing them for readers to enjoy.
Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House, in response to social demand, organized efforts to collect a substantial number of documents from museums, libraries, and collectors, compiling them into ten thematic series and combining them into a set of books named "Old Documents Series" based on their primary function.
The "Old Documents Series" is structured around four pillars: celebrities, nostalgia, tradition, and collecting. It includes ten volumes: "Photographs of Modern Figures," "Women of the 1930s," "Swimsuit Body Images of the 1930s," "Western Female Body Images of the 1930s," "Shanghai Skyscrapers and Folk Customs of the 1930s," "Scenic Spots Along the Yangtze River in the 1930s," "Photographs of Centennial Old Bridges Around the World," "Illustrations from the Soviet magazine 'Zvezda'," "Ming Dynasty Carved Images of the Hundred Beauties of Each Dynasty," and "Ming Dynasty Carved Images of the Emperors and Sages of Each Dynasty." In addition to the old carvings from the Ming Dynasty, the main time frame covers the early to mid-20th century, with the 1930s being the most represented. At that time, China was in an upward phase of modern and contemporary historical development, with surging cultural trends and a nationwide anti-invasion movement. Coastal cities were trending toward becoming metropolises, leaving behind a wealth of photographs and images. Social and historical conditions are vividly brought to life through these visuals. The value of compiling and publishing this "Old Documents Series" lies in this very aspect.
The publication of the "Old Documents Series" can serve as a nostalgic reminder for the elderly who experienced the social conditions of that time, allowing them to reflect on the past and compare it with the present, thereby increasing joy. For the younger generation, it not only satisfies their curiosity about historical events but also provides inspiration and motivation for progress. The historical information provided by these photographs and images not only offers valuable reference materials for researching and exploring the social dynamics and landscapes of the early 20th century but also offers a more direct sensory experience. For those engaged in art, these images are particularly valuable for reference and inspiration. This is also the significance of this work.
The compilation of the "Old Documents Series" adopts a format that combines text and images. It features fluent and readable essays, providing relatively complete textual discussions, alongside complete images for readers to appreciate, thereby reinforcing the impression of the text. The integration of text and images is a key feature of this series.
The compilation and publication of this series are merely a part of the plan by the organizers—Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House. If it is well-received by society and achieves the desired effect, then the second and third sets of similar series will be published in a timely manner.
I had the privilege of reviewing the preliminary drafts of this series. From the perspectives of preserving materials, passing them down to future generations, providing references, and offering useful insights, it will be a series of books with dual benefits.