Journey Through Space What the Kangxi and Qianlong

“Journey Through Space” What the Kangxi and Qianlong Southern Inspection Tour Scrolls reveal about Chinese and Western Conceptions of SPACE Robert Ponzio Chair, Fine Arts Oak Hall School Gainesville, FL

Website studies Qing Dynasty History and Culture by examining Southern Inspection Tour scrolls commissioned by Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong

The Manchus were foreigners who established the Qing Dynasty after conquering the Ming. Kangxi Emperor Reigned 1662 -1722 Portrait of the Kangxi Emperor as a Young Man, Anonymous

Traditional Western One Point Perspective System Depictions of Space • Concerned with reproducing how the eye sees • Image has fixed edges • Organized based on receding vanishing points • Artist controls viewer vantage point Gentile Bellini’s “Procession in Piazza San Marco”, 1496

Traditional Chinese Depiction of Space Artist Wang Hui’s hand scrolls utilize traditional Chinese depictions of space.

The Hand Scroll Format

Traditional Chinese Maps: Experience of the journey is more important than Scale

Spatial Transition Point

Mist / Transition- Kangxi Scroll 7 Working with the traditional Chinese conceptions of shifting space, Wang Hui utilizes a thick fog to fade out from one scene to the next. This creative means of transitioning impressed upon the viewer the perception of the passing of time.

Mist / Transition- Kangxi Scroll 7 Elements of the landscape and architecture are subtly revealed as they peak out of the mist, allowing the viewer to gain a sense of traveling over a great distance. As the mist ultimately disappears, we then find ourselves in the next town.

Mist / Transition- Kangxi Scroll 3 Wang Hui shows travelers disappearing into the mist as they embark upon a long journey…

Mist / Transition- Kangxi Scroll 3 …they eventually reappear after an immeasurable passage of time and distance.

Expansion of Qing Empire Qianlong Emperor Reigned 1736 -96 Inauguration Portrait of Qianlong (Detail) Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining), 1736

The Qianlong Scrolls: Showing Western Influence Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shih-ning) 1688 -1766

Qianlong Emperor as the Bodhisattva Manjusri (Detail), face by Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining)

Giuseppe Castiglione, (Lang Shih-ning), 1688 -1766 Introduces The Vanishing Point

Influence of Western Perspective in Qianlong Scrolls Qianlong Scroll Number 4 by Xu Yang

Qianlong Scroll Number 4 by Xu Yang More concerned with reproducing how the eye sees than in Kangxi scrolls. Xu Yang maintains consistent vanishing points throughout duration of scroll.

Qianlong Scroll Number 6 by Xu Yang Figures diminish in size and number limiting information available to viewer.