Scroll of the Divine Turtle (Full Scroll), Colors on Silk, 26.5x53.3, Collection of the Palace Museum
Imagine a birthday card for an emperor, but make it a masterpiece. This handscroll features a 'Divine Turtle' swimming through dark, rippling water on the far right, rendered with meticulous, net-like lines that create a sense of deep, moving current. The turtle, a powerful symbol of longevity and stability in Chinese culture, is the visual anchor for the rest of the scroll, which is filled with elegant calligraphy. These inscriptions, including a date from the Ming Dynasty's Chenghua era (1485), likely offer poetic praises for the ruler's long life ('Wan Shou'), turning the artwork into a sophisticated political tribute.
- Technique
- Ink and color on silk
- Material
- Silk
Location: The Palace Museum, Beijing