Robert PonzioChair, Fine Arts

Oak Hall SchoolGainesville, FL

“Journey Through Space”

 What the Kangxi and Qianlong

Southern Inspection Tour Scrolls reveal about

Chinese and WesternConceptions of

SPACE

Website studies Qing Dynasty History and Culture by examiningSouthern Inspection Tour scrolls commissioned by

Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong

Kangxi Emperor Reigned 1662-1722

Portrait of the Kangxi Emperor as a Young Man, Anonymous

The Manchus were foreignerswho established the Qing Dynasty after

conquering the Ming.

Traditional Western Depictions of Space

•Concerned with reproducing how the eye sees

• Image has fixed edges

•Organized based on receding vanishing points

•Artist controls viewer vantage point

One Point Perspective System

Gentile Bellini’s “Procession in Piazza San Marco”, 1496

Traditional Chinese Depiction of Space

Artist Wang Hui’s hand scrolls utilize traditional Chinese depictions of space.

The Hand Scroll Format

Traditional Chinese Maps: Experience of the journey is more important than Scale

Spatial Transition PointSpatial Transition Point

Mist / Transition- Kangxi Scroll 7

Working with the traditional Chinese conceptions of shifting space, Wang Hui utilizes a thick fog to fade out from one scene to the next.

This creative means of transitioning impressed upon the viewer the perception of the passing of time.

Elements of the landscape and architecture are subtly revealed as they peak out of the mist, allowing the viewer to gain a sense of traveling over a great distance.

As the mist ultimately disappears, we then find ourselves in the next town.

Mist / Transition- Kangxi Scroll 7

Wang Hui shows travelers disappearing into the mist as they embark upon a long

journey…

Mist / Transition- Kangxi Scroll 3

…they eventually reappear after an immeasurable passage of time and distance.

Mist / Transition- Kangxi Scroll 3

Qianlong EmperorReigned 1736-96

Inauguration Portrait of Qianlong (Detail)Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining), 1736

Expansion of Qing

Empire

TThe Qianlong Scrolls:he Qianlong Scrolls: Showing Western InfluenceShowing Western Influence

Giuseppe Castiglione Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shih-ning)(Lang Shih-ning)

1688-17661688-1766

Giuseppe Castiglione Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shih-ning)(Lang Shih-ning)

1688-17661688-1766

Qianlong Emperor as the Bodhisattva Manjusri (Detail), face by

Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining)

Giuseppe Castiglione,

(Lang Shih-ning), 1688-1766

IntroducesThe

Vanishing Point

Influence of Western Perspective in Qianlong Scrolls

Qianlong Scroll Number 4 by Xu Yang

More concerned with reproducing how the eye sees than in Kangxi scrolls.

Xu Yang maintains consistent vanishing points throughout duration of scroll.

Qianlong Scroll Number 4 by Xu Yang

Figures diminish in size and number limiting information available to viewer.

Qianlong Scroll Number 6 by Xu Yang