Yuan dynasty AD1279-1368

Wang Zhenpeng

Dragon Boats

Yuan dynasty AD1279-1368

Wang Zhenpeng

Dragon Boats

Roll, ink on silk
32.9 cm (vertical) × 178 cm (horizontal)

This painting is among the few surviving ruled-line painting masterpieces of the Yuan dynasty and vividly portrays a grand dragon boat, along with over ten smaller boats in dragon and tiger shapes, competing in a lively regatta within the imperial garden’s waterway. The scene brims with festive energy, as described in The Eastern Capital: A Dream of Splendor, which recounts similar dragon boat competitions in Jinming Lake in Bianjing, the Northern Song capital. Rendered with meticulous and consistent ink lines, accented with light ink washes, the painting captures the intricate and precise architectural details of the era, preserving invaluable visual records of Yuan wooden structures.

 
Attributed to Wang Zhenpeng (fl. 1280–1329), a renowned Yuan ruled-line painter, this work lacks Wang’s signature or inscription but bears his “Ci Gu Yun Chu Shi Zhang” (Bestowed Seal of the Recluse Guyun) and multiple seals of Ming collector Xiang Yuanbian (1525–1590), verifying its provenance. Ruled-line paintings required mastery of structural principles and the use of tools such as rulers, making them an exceptionally challenging genre. Wang’s professional background as an archivist of the Directorate of the Palace Library, and later as a Thousand Household Commander of Grain Transport likely honed his skills in depicting cities, boats, and vehicles.
 
The National Palace Museum also houses three additional scrolls of the same theme, all bearing Wang’s seals and similar composition, indicating the popularity of this subject. Compared with the other works, this painting is more realistic in its architectural details and spatial arrangement but features fewer dragon boats, lacks water activities, and has simpler patterns and lighter washes. Without inscriptions or colophons, this piece is speculated to be an initial draft that predates the other three scrolls.

 

 
0%