What Did Emperor Chenghua Say: A Study On His Painting “Good Omens On Lunar New Year’s Day”

Abstract

This essay discusses Chenghua Emperor’s painting with emphasis on the “Good Omens on Lunar New Year’s Day”. My work examines the Chenghua Emperor’s thought and wishes in this painting. I would also compare “Good Omens on Lunar New Year’s Day” with other paintings which were works in the Chenghua Era. As a relatively young and practically inexperienced monarch who ascended the throne at the age of 16, Chengua Emperor (1447-1487, r.1464-1487) was challenged by internal unrest and external invasion. The Emperor was not regarded as a strong leader by traditional historians partly because of his reticent and reclusive characters. He chose to express himself by means of paintings. His thought could be deduced from his paintings as he was a gifted artist. His works are rich in religious and political implications which are always metaphorical. Notes on the paintings are usually short and their presentation indirect. My essay aims at investigating what incidents happened to the court and the royal family, as the Emperor might be hinting his comments to these incidents in his painting. The Emperor’s paintings demonstrated significant characteristics of his own. Firstly, his simple lines embraced rich implications. Secondly, he created a new pictorial language to express his wish for a peaceful co-existence among different schools of thoughts and religious. The Emperor had a profound understanding of his subjects. Having painted a picture in his mind, his brushwork is always loyal to his thought.