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This painting is based on a historical event from the reign of Emperor Wen of Han (r. 179–157 BCE). It describes a visit to Shanglin Park the emperor took with the empress and the imperial concubines. Yuan Ang (c. 200–148 BCE) advised the emperor not to allow his favorite consort, Lady Shen, to sit above her rank in the seating arrangement. Yuan warned that upsetting the social order could bring her harm.
