China: Han Xizai listens to the pipa (detail). Scroll painting Hanxizai yeyan tu or 'Night Revels of Han Xizai' by Gu Hongzhong (937-978). Gu's original no longer exists, but the painting survives as a 12th-century Song Dynasty (960–1279) version

'The Night Revels of Han Xizai' is a painted scroll depicting Han Xizai, a minister of the Southern Tang Emperor Li Yu (937-978). This narrative painting is split into five distinct sections: Han Xizai listens to the pipa, watches dancers, takes a rest, listens to music, and then sees guests off.

The original, painted by Gu Hongzhong (937-975), is lost, but a 12th century copy, housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing, survives (reproduced here).

The full scroll should be viewed from right to left.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

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Pictures From History