Admonitions Scroll (Song Dynasty Baimiao Copy) - Main Painting 4
Imagine an ancient instruction manual for royal ladies, but make it poetic and slightly existential. This delicate scroll is a Song Dynasty copy of Gu Kaizhi’s famous 'Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies,' rendered in 'baimiao'—a style using pure, elegant ink outlines without color. On the left, a kneeling archer aims his bow, while a rugged mountain dominates the center, hiding tigers and rabbits in its crags. The calligraphy on the right delivers a heavy philosophical truth: 'The sun declines after noon; the moon wanes after being full.' It’s a visual reminder that nothing stays at the peak forever—high mountains are just accumulated dust waiting to crumble.
- Technique
- Ink line drawing (Baimiao)
- Material
- Paper
Location: The Palace Museum, Beijing