Join free
HD Download

Han Palace Spring Dawn

Qiu Ying (仇英)
Artist Qiu Ying (仇英)
Date ca. 1540s
Medium Scroll; on silk; heavy color; 30.6 x 574.1 cm.
Collection National Palace Museum, Taipei
Copyright Public domain. Free for personal & commercial use.

Download

Premium Quality
39951 × 1923 pixels · 35.6 MB · JPEG

About the Artist

Qiu Ying (仇英)
Qiu Ying (仇英)
Chinese (1494-1552) · Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)
one of the "Four Masters of the Ming Dynasty," was a painter renowned for his meticulous brushwork and vibrant blue-green landscapes. Born into a humble family in Taicang, he trained initially as a lacquer artisan before studying under Zhou Chen. His style synthesized Tang-Song traditions with Ming courtly precision, blending sumptuous mineral pigments (zhongcai) and poetic lyricism. Masterpieces like Spring Morning in the Han Palace (Han Gong Chun Xiao Tu) exemplify his virtuosity in narrative detail, depicting over 100 figures and architectural intricacies within a handscroll format. A Celestial Realm in the Peach Blossom Spring (Taoyuan Xianjing Tu) merges layered mountain vistas with ethereal atmospheres, redefining blue-green landscape conventions. Though few authenticated works survive—such as Red Cliff Scroll (Chibi Tu) and Sword Gate Pass (Jian Ge Tu)—his technical brilliance in imitating ancient masters and pioneering genre scenes left an indelible mark on Suzhou School painters and later professional artists.

Complete Handscroll Image

  • Scroll left or right to view more

Artwork Story

“Han Palace Spring Dawn” is a traditional subject in Chinese figure painting, primarily depicting the lives of palace concubines. This scroll, “Han Palace Spring Dawn,” was painted by the Ming Dynasty artist Qiu Ying and is regarded as one of China’s top ten surviving masterpieces. Its theme centers on a Han imperial palace bathed in the gentle light of a spring morning, portraying the varied charms of the harem beauties (with approximately 115 figures depicted). This heavy-color silk scroll is currently housed in the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

han gong chun HD Download

“Han Palace Spring Dawn” is acclaimed as one of China’s top ten surviving masterpieces. This handscroll depicts the daily minutiae of palace life in early spring—activities such as dressing up, watering, plucking branches, arranging flowers, raising animals, singing and dancing, playing musical instruments, gathering around the hearth, playing chess, reading, engaging in playful contests with grass, gazing in the mirror, admiring paintings, sketching images, entertaining infants, delivering food, and fanning. It portrays a total of 115 figures—including imperial concubines, palace maids, princes, eunuchs, and painters—each attired in vibrant garments and posed in varied manners, simultaneously appearing idle yet busily engaged. This vivid portrayal attests to the artist’s extraordinary observational acumen and masterful realism. The figures are depicted in clothing styled from the Tang dynasty onward, and the term “Han Palace” is used generically to denote the palace of that era.

“Han Palace Spring Dawn” is a long scroll figure painting that vividly recreates the daily life of palace maids in the Han dynasty. Its brushwork is vigorous and its coloring elegantly rendered; lush trees, striking rocks, and splendid palace buildings are interwoven to set forth a scene as resplendent as a celestial paradise, showcasing the artist’s masterful skill in both line and shading. This work not only reflects the artist’s optimistic, life-affirming humanistic spirit but also expresses his admiration for the dazzling, refined courtly life. It is considered Qiu Ying’s crowning achievement and has earned the reputation of being China’s “premier long scroll of heavy-color court ladies.”

If you are interested in Qiu Ying’s works, I also recommend watching this very famous “Bu Nian Tu“.

View More Artworks