Baimi Xin Yong Tu Chuan (Lichao Ming Nü Shi Wen Tu Ji)

Author: Liu Jingmin
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Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-06-01
Features: This book was a shining gem in the history of Chinese woodblock prints and a literary treasure that integrated images, biographies, poetry, and calligraphy. It was first published during the Qianlong era, featuring biographies of over 100 famous women from various dynasties, such as Yang Guifei, Zhao Feiyang, Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, and Cai Wenji, accompanied by 100 illustrations. It also includes over 200 poems composed by scholars like Yuan Mei. Compiled by the renowned Qing Dynasty scholar Yan Xiyuan and illustrated by the famous painter Wang Hu, who once served in the Qing imperial court, this book received high praise from the modern scholar Zheng Zhenduo in his work "A Brief History of Ancient Chinese Woodblock Prints." To this day, whenever books on the history of Chinese woodblock prints are published, this book is often cited as a classic, demonstrating its prominent status in Chinese history. However, over the centuries, its non-literary value has often been overlooked, and many of its outstanding works, such as Yuan Mei's poems, have not been included in today's so-called literary anthologies, which is truly a regrettable omission. The republication of this book today showcases its cultural depth and artistic charm, and its academic value is self-evident.