Ongoing
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Dates
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Location
Freer Gallery of Art | Gallery 15
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Collection Area
Chinese Art
China’s Song dynasty established many prototypes in government, society, and the arts. A system of schools and examinations for entering public office led to an efficient, centralized government headed by the emperor but staffed by well-educated commoners. Emerging as a class of scholar-officials, who were both artists themselves and consumers of art, these men looked to ancient tradition as a source for moral principle and creative inspiration.
At the same time, a spirit of inquiry and close examination of nature led to advances in art and science. Widespread gains in literacy and disposable income also stimulated growth in the arts.
Elegance and refinement in form, line, and color characterize the visual arts of China during the Song dynasty. As new technology enhanced ceramic production and the number of kilns rose, fresh approaches to decoration developed. The rise of ink painting paralleled a taste for monochrome ceramic glazes. A multitude of other painting styles and techniques emerged as well, with a strong preference for realistic detail, modulated colors, and individualized faces and postures.
The Drunken Monk (detail), artist: traditionally attributed to Li Gonglin (傳)李公麟 (ca. 1049–1106); calligrapher: frontispiece by Hongli, the Qianlong emperor 乾隆帝 (1711–1799); inscription: three inscriptions by Hongli, the Qianlong emperor 乾隆帝 (1711–1799); colophon: two colophons by Hongli, the Qianlong emperor 乾隆帝 (1711–1799), colophon attributed to Su Shi (1037–1101), colophon by Dongcun (13th–14th century?); China, Southern Song dynasty, mid-12th to mid-13th century, ink and color on paper, Gift of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer, Freer Gallery of Art, F1968
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Peonies Details
Peonies
Peonies
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Period
Qing dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Ink and color on silk
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Accession
F1901.172
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Planter with impressed character yi (one) Details
Planter with impressed character yi (one)
Planter with impressed character yi (one)
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Period
Probably Ming dynasty, or possibly Yuan dynasty
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Geography
Juntai, Henan province, China
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Material
Stoneware with Jun glaze
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Accession
F1907.38a-b
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Flower pot stand with impressed character liu (six) Details
Flower pot stand with impressed character liu (six)
Flower pot stand with impressed character liu (six)
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Period
Probably Ming dynasty, or possibly Yuan dynasty
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Geography
Juntai, Henan province, China
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Material
Stoneware with Jun glaze and copper pigment
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Accession
F1907.99
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Three Horsemen Riding under Willows Details
Three Horsemen Riding under Willows
Three Horsemen Riding under Willows
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Period
Ming dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Ink and color on silk
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Accession
F1909.163
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Vase shaped like an archaic gu Details
Vase shaped like an archaic gu
Vase shaped like an archaic gu
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Period
Qing dynasty, Kangxi reign
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Geography
China
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Material
Cloisonné
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Accession
F1911.145a-c
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Tiger with cubs and magpies Details
Tiger with cubs and magpies
Tiger with cubs and magpies
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Period
Ming dynasty
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Geography
Possibly Zhejiang province, China
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Material
Ink and color on silk
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Accession
F1911.252
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Zhong Kui and Demons Crossing a Bridge Details
Zhong Kui and Demons Crossing a Bridge
Zhong Kui and Demons Crossing a Bridge
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Period
Ming dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Ink and color on silk
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Accession
F1911.283
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Visiting the Sage at Wei River Details
Visiting the Sage at Wei River
Visiting the Sage at Wei River
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Period
Ming dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Hanging scroll mounted on panel; ink and color on silk
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Accession
F1911.296
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Guan ware Vase with tubular handles Details
Guan ware Vase with tubular handles
Guan ware Vase with tubular handles
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Period
Southern Song dynasty
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Geography
Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China
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Material
Stoneware with Guan glaze
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Accession
F1911.347
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Playing Weiqi under the Pines Details
Playing Weiqi under the Pines
Playing Weiqi under the Pines
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Period
Ming dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Hanging scroll mounted on panel; ink and color on silk
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Accession
F1916.193
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Palace Women and Children Celebrating the New Year Details
Palace Women and Children Celebrating the New Year
Palace Women and Children Celebrating the New Year
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Period
Ming dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Ink and color on silk
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Accession
F1916.403
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Carrying a Zither while Searching for Plum Blossoms Details
Carrying a Zither while Searching for Plum Blossoms
Carrying a Zither while Searching for Plum Blossoms
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Period
Ming dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Hanging scroll mounted on panel; ink and color on silk
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Accession
F1919.125
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Xuanwu, God of the North Details
Xuanwu, God of the North
Xuanwu, God of the North
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Period
Ming dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Ink and color on silk
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Accession
F1919.179
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Dish with hollyhocks and gardenias Details
Dish with hollyhocks and gardenias
Dish with hollyhocks and gardenias
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Period
Qing dynasty, Yongzheng reign mark and period
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Geography
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China
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Material
Porcelain with lead-silicate enamels over colorless clear glaze
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Accession
F1928.3a-e
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Dish with flowering trees Details
Dish with flowering trees
Dish with flowering trees
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Period
Qing dynasty, Yongzheng reign mark and period
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Geography
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China
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Material
Porcelain with enamels over colorless clear glaze
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Accession
F1928.4a-b
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Bowl with design of mynahs Details
Bowl with design of mynahs
Bowl with design of mynahs
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Period
Qing dynasty, Yongzheng reign mark and period
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Geography
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China
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Material
Porcelain with enamels over clear, colorless glaze
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Accession
F1930.35a-b
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Guan ware bowl Details
Guan ware bowl
Guan ware bowl
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Period
Southern Song dynasty
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Geography
Jiaotanxia kiln, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China
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Material
Stoneware with Guan glaze
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Accession
F1932.58
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Cup with landscape Details
Cup with landscape
Cup with landscape
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Period
Qing dynasty, Yongzheng reign mark and period
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Geography
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China
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Material
Porcelain with colorless glaze and blue, black, and ruby enamels over the glaze
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Accession
F1932.63a-g
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Small bowl with overglaze decoration Details
Small bowl with overglaze decoration
Small bowl with overglaze decoration
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Period
Qing dynasty, Yongzheng period, Yongzheng reign mark and period
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Geography
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China
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Material
Porcelain with colorless glaze and overglaze enamel decoration and mark
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Accession
F1934.2a-g
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Vase with "peach bloom" copper-red glaze Details
Vase with "peach bloom" copper-red glaze
Vase with "peach bloom" copper-red glaze
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Period
Qing dynasty, Kangxi reign mark and period
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Geography
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China
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Material
Porcelain with copper-red "peach bloom" glaze; ivory stand
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Accession
F1942.20a-c
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Pillow with inscription by the Qianlong emperor dated 1768, Cizhou type ware Details
Pillow with inscription by the Qianlong emperor dated 1768, Cizhou type ware
Pillow with inscription by the Qianlong emperor dated 1768, Cizhou type ware
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Period
Northern Song or Southern Song dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Stoneware with white slip under colorless glaze and traces of cinnabar
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Accession
F1942.21
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Ritual wine cup (gu) with masks (taotie), snakes, and cicadas Details
Ritual wine cup (gu) with masks (taotie), snakes, and cicadas
Ritual wine cup (gu) with masks (taotie), snakes, and cicadas
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Period
Late Shang dynasty, late Anyang period
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Geography
Anyang, probably Henan province, China
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Material
Bronze
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Accession
F1943.9
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Stem bowl permanently set into a stand, with both parts freely revolving Details
Stem bowl permanently set into a stand, with both parts freely revolving
Stem bowl permanently set into a stand, with both parts freely revolving
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Period
Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign
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Geography
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China
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Material
Porcelain with celadon and clear glazes, overglaze enamels
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Accession
F1944.13
