Along the River During the Qingming Festival
Along the River During the Qingming Festival is a handscroll painting by the Song dynasty painter Zhang Zeduan (1085–1145) and copied many times in the following centuries. It captures the daily life of people and the landscape of the capital, Bianjing during the Northern Song. The theme is often said to celebrate the festive spirit and worldly commotion at the Qingming Festival, rather than the holiday's ceremonial aspects, such as tomb sweeping and prayers. Read right to left, as a viewer unrolled it, successive scenes reveal the lifestyle of all levels of the society from rich to poor as well as economic activities in rural areas and the city, and offer glimpses of period clothing and architecture. The painting is considered to be the most renowned work among all Chinese paintings, and it has been called "China's Mona Lisa."
A small section of the painting depicting scenes at the Bianjing city gate
The bridge scene where the crew of a boat are in danger of losing control in the current and crashing into nearby boats.
The digital River of Wisdom, on display at the World Expo 2010.
Along the River During the Qingming Festival (清明上河圖), the 12th-century original by Zhang Zeduan
The handscroll is a long, narrow, horizontal scroll format in East Asia used for calligraphy or paintings. A handscroll usually measures up to several meters in length and around 25–40 cm in height. Handscrolls are generally viewed starting from the right end. This kind of scroll is intended to be read or viewed flat on a table, in sections. The format thus allows for the depiction of a continuous narrative or journey.
Section of a handscroll painting, Early Autumn by Song loyalist painter Qian Xuan.
Japanese, section of the Nezame Monogatari Emaki, 12th century
The extant nine scenes of the Admonitions of the Court Instructress, scene 4 at the right to scene 12 at the left
Panorama of Along the River During the Qingming Festival by Zhang Zeduan (1085–1145)