Five Horses - Main Painting 1
Li Gonglin’s masterful brushwork brings this tribute horse from the Kingdom of Khotan to life, led by a groom in distinctive Central Asian attire. As a Song Dynasty master of 'baimiao' (pure line drawing), Li defined the horse's powerful muscles and unique shoulder markings with incredibly precise ink lines rather than heavy color. The calligraphy on the right acts like an ancient royal receipt, recording the horse's arrival in 1086 AD, its age of eight years, and its height, turning imperial bureaucracy into high art. The long inscription at the top was added centuries later by the Qianlong Emperor, showing just how much later rulers obsessed over this masterpiece.
- Technique
- Ink on paper
- Material
- Paper
Location: Tokyo National Museum
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