New black and white decorative painting design

Author: Li Zhongxin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-09-01
Features: Among the four sections of the book, the first three sections are most valuable in terms of reference. For example, in the section "On Antiquities," the entry "Hanlin Qingshi Shu" records the addition of Manchu Assistant Vice Ministers in the Imperial Academy and the establishment of Manchu positions such as Secretaries and Middle Secretaries in the Hanlin Academy during the early Qing Dynasty. Entries like "Eight Banners Imperial Examination," "Taiwan Imperial Examination," "Manchu Trial," and others document certain aspects of the imperial examination system during the Shunzhi and Kangxi reigns. The entry "Funeral Sacrifice" describes the old custom of the Eight Banners using servants and concubines for funeral sacrifices in the early Qing Dynasty, which can be cross-referenced and supplemented with classic works such as The Rites of the Qing Dynasty and The Compendium of the Qing Dynasty. Some entries in the section "On Contributions" may be based on rumors, but they can still supplement historical records. For instance, the entry "Shigebu" recounts how Shi Kefa rode a donkey to the Qing army camp when Yangzhou fell, refusing to surrender and being executed, which can broaden knowledge. Approximately one-third of the book is dedicated to "On Art," where the author evaluates poetry and painting with a divine perspective, expressing personal views. Thus, the General Catalogue of the Four Treasuries praises that "the nine volumes of 'On Art' discuss poetry and literature, setting new standards and truly being unique." Some entries also preserve materials related to art in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, such as the entry "Yue Poetry," which records fragments of poems by the three great figures of Lingnan, such as Qu Dajun and Chen Gongyin.