Ambassador from Persia (波斯國), visiting the court of the Tang dynasty. The Gathering of Kings (王会图), circa 650 CE
The Portraits of Periodical Offering (simplified Chinese: 职贡图; traditional Chinese: 職貢圖; pinyin: Zhígòngtú) were tributary documentative paintings (with illustration on each of the portrait) produced by various Chinese dynasties and later as well in other East Asian dynasties, such as Japan and Vietnam. These paintings were official historical documents by the imperial courts. The term "職貢圖" roughly translates to "duty offering pictorial". Throughout Chinese history, tributary states and tribes were required to send ambassadors to the imperial court periodically and pay tribute with valuable gifts (貢品; gòngpǐn).
Drawings and paintings with short descriptions were used to record the expression of these ambassadors and to a lesser extent to show the cultural aspects of these ethnic groups. These historical descriptions beside the portrait became the equivalent of documents of diplomatic relations with each country. The drawings were reproduced in woodblock printing after the 9th century and distributed among the bureaucracy in albums. The Portraits of Periodical Offering of Imperial Qing by Xie Sui (謝遂), completed in 1751, gives verbal descriptions of outlying tribes as far as the island of BritaininWestern Europe.
Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang (526–539 CE)[edit]
The Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang (梁職貢圖) was painted by the future Emperor Yuan of Liang, Xiao Yi (ruled 552–555 CE) of the Liang dynasty while he was a Governor of the Province of Jingzhou as a young man between 526 and 539 CE, a post he held again between 547 and 552 CE, and had the opportunity to meet many foreigners.[1][2][3] It is the earliest surviving of these specially significant paintings. They reflect foreign embassies that took place, particularly regarding the three Hephthalite (Hua) ambassadors, in 516–520 CE.[4][5] The original of the work was lost, but three copies or derived works are known.
Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang (526–539 CE) (Song dynasty copy of the 11th century CE)[edit]
A surviving edition of this work is a copy from the Song dynasty in the 11th century, the Song copy of the Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang (梁職貢圖宋摹本),[6] and is currently preserved at the National Museum of China. The original work consisted of at least twenty five portraits of ambassadors from their various countries. The copy from the Song dynasty has twelve portraits and descriptions of thirteen envoys; the envoy from Dangchang has no portrait.[7] The work included individual descriptions, which follow closely the dynastic chronicle Liangshu (Volume 54).
The Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang with descriptions on the back of each foreign ambassador visiting the Liang court. Song dynasty copy of Liang dynasty original from 526–539 CE, in the National Museum of China.
The remaining countries, now lost, are thought to have been: Gaojuli 高句麗 (Goguryeo), Yutian 於闐 (HotaninXinjiang), Xinluo 新羅 (Silla), Kepantuo 渴盤陀 (Tashkurgan塔什干 in present-day Xinjiang),[8] Wuxing fan 武興藩 (inShanxi), Gaochang 高昌 (Turpan), TianmenMan天門蠻 (somewhere between Henan, Hubei, and Guizhou), Dan 蜑 Barbarians of Jianping 建平蠻 (between Hubei and Sichuan), and Man 蠻 Barbarians of Linjiang 臨江蠻 (East Sichuan). There may also have been: Zhongtianzhu 中天竺, Bei tianzhu 北天竺 (India), and Shiziguo 獅子國 (Sri Lanka), for a total of twenty-five countries.[3]
Tang dynasty The Gathering of Kings (circa 650 CE)[edit]
ATang period painting consisting in a version of the Liang portraits of Periodical Offerings, entitled The Gathering of Kings (王會圖, Wanghuitu).[9] It was probably made by Yan Liben.
Ambassador from Central India (中天竺 Zhong Tianzhu) to the court of the Tang dynasty. 王会图 circa 650 CE
Southern Tang Entrance of the Foreign Visitors (10th century CE)[edit]
Emperor Yuan of Liang, Xiao Yi (552-555 CE) made another painting entitled "Entrance of the Foreign Visitors" (番客入朝圖), now lost. A copy named "Entrance of the Foreign Visitors of Emperor Yuan of Liang" (梁元帝番客入朝圖) was made by the painter Gu Deqian (顧德謙) of the Southern Tang dynasty (937–976 CE), native of Jiangsu.[10]
"Entrance of the Foreign Visitors of Emperor Yuan of Liang" (梁元帝番客入朝圖), Southern Tang variant by Gu Deqian (顧德謙) 10th century.
Portraits of Periodical Offering of Tang (Song dynasty copy, 11–13th century)[edit]
The Portraits of Periodical Offering of Tang by painter Yan Liben, depicting foreign envoys with tribute bearers for the Tang dynasty arriving at Chang'an in 631, during the reign of the Emperor Taizong of Tang. The painting consists of 27 people from various states. The original work was lost, and the only surviving edition was a Song dynasty copy, which is currently preserved at the National Palace Museum in Taipei.[12]
The Portraits of Periodical Offering of Tang, depicting foreign envoys with tribute bearers. Song dynasty copy in the National Palace Museum in Taipei.
Portraits of Offerings to the Imperial Qing (1759)[edit]
In the mid-18th century during the Qing dynasty, the painter Xiesui (謝遂) again painted a Portraits of Periodical Offering of the Imperial Qing (Huángqīng Zhígòngtú皇清職貢圖), completed in 1759, with a second part added in 1765, showing various foreign people known at that time, with texts in Chinese and Manchu. See the complete Huangqing Zhigongtu.
Xiesui (謝遂) again painted a Portraits of Periodical Offering (職貢圖)
The painting was intended to show the cosmopolitanism and the centrality of the Qing Empire, since most countries of Asia and Europe are shown paying their respects to the Chinese Emperor.[13][14] The title literally refers to ten thousand countries ("万国"), but this simply has the meaning of an uncountable multitude.
Popular multicolored New Year print (nianhua 年畫) entitled "Ten Thousand Countries Coming to Court" (Wanguo laichao tu 萬國來朝圖), by Wang Junfu 王君甫, mid to late 17th century.[15]
![Popular multicolored New Year print (nianhua 年畫) entitled "Ten Thousand Countries Coming to Court" (Wanguo laichao tu 萬國來朝圖), by Wang Junfu 王君甫, mid to late 17th century.[15]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Popular_multicolored_New_Year_print_%28nianhua_%E5%B9%B4%E7%95%AB%29_entitled_%22Ten_Thousand_Countries_Coming_to_Court%22_%28Wanguo_laichao_tu_%E8%90%AC%E5%9C%8B%E4%BE%86%E6%9C%9D%E5%9C%96%29%2C_by_Wang_Junfu_%E7%8E%8B%E5%90%9B%E7%94%AB%2C_mid_to_late_17th_century.jpg)
