Portraits of Periodical Offering

File:Ambassador from Persia (波斯國), visiting the court of the Tang Dynasty. The Gathering of Kings (王会图) circa 650 CE.jpg

Ambassador from Persia (波斯國), visiting the court of the Tang dynasty. The Gathering of Kings (王会图), circa 650 CE

The Portraits of Periodical Offering (Template:Zh) were tributary documentative paintings (with illustration on each of the portrait) produced by various Chinese dynasties and later as well in other East Asian dynasties, such as Japan and Vietnam. These paintings were official historical documents by the imperial courts. The term "" roughly translates to "duty offering pictorial". Throughout Chinese history, tributary states and tribes were required to send ambassadors to the imperial court periodically and pay tribute with valuable gifts (; gòngpǐn).

Drawings and paintings with short descriptions were used to record the expression of these ambassadors and to a lesser extent to show the cultural aspects of these ethnic groups. These historical descriptions beside the portrait became the equivalent of documents of diplomatic relations with each country. The drawings were reproduced in woodblock printing after the 9th century and distributed among the bureaucracy in albums. The Portraits of Periodical Offering of Imperial Qing by Xie Sui (), completed in 1751, gives verbal descriptions of outlying tribes as far as the island of Britain in Western Europe.

Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang (526–539 CE)

The Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang () was painted by the future Emperor Yuan of Liang, Xiao Yi (ruled 552–555 CE) of the Liang dynasty while he was a Governor of the province of Jingzhou as a young man between 526 and 539 CE, a post he held again between 547 and 552 CE, and had the opportunity to meet many foreigners. It is the earliest surviving of these specially significant paintings. They reflect foreign embassies that took place, particularly regarding the three Hephthalite (Hua) ambassadors, in 516–520 CE. The original of the work was lost, but three copies or derived works are known.

Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang (526–539 CE) (Song dynasty copy of the 11th century CE)

A surviving edition of this work is a copy from the Song dynasty in the 11th century, the Song copy of the Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang (), and is currently preserved at the National Museum of China. The original work consisted of at least twenty five portraits of ambassadors from their various countries. The copy from the Song dynasty has twelve portraits and descriptions of thirteen envoys; the envoy from Dangchang has no portrait. The work included individual descriptions, which follow closely the dynastic chronicle Liangshu (Volume 54).

The envoys from right to left were: the Hephthalites (), Persia (), Korea (), Kucha (), Japan (), Malaysia (), Qiang (), Yarkand (), Kabadiyan (), Kumedh (), Balkh (), and finally Merv ().

The remaining countries, now lost, are thought to have been: Gaojuli (Goguryeo), Yutian (Hotan in Xinjiang), Xinluo (Silla), Kepantuo (Tashkurgan in present-day Xinjiang), Wuxing fan (in Shanxi), Gaochang (Turpan), Tianmen Man (somewhere between Henan, Hubei, and Guizhou), Dan 蜑 Barbarians of Jianping (between Hubei and Sichuan), and Man 蠻 Barbarians of Linjiang (East Sichuan). There may also have been: Zhongtianzhu , Bei tianzhu (India), and Shiziguo (Sri Lanka), for a total of twenty-five countries.

Individual portraits

Some of the main portraits are:

• Hephthalite (Script error: No such module "Lang". Hua) ambassador
  Hephthalite ( Hua) ambassador
• Persian ambassador (Script error: No such module "Lang". Bosi)
  Persian ambassador ( Bosi)
• Korean ambassador (Script error: No such module "Lang". Baiji, Baekje)
  Korean ambassador ( Baiji, Baekje)
• Kucha ambassador (Script error: No such module "Lang". Qiuci)
  Kucha ambassador ( Qiuci)
• Kumedh ambassador (Script error: No such module "Lang". Humidan)
  Kumedh ambassador ( Humidan)
• Kabadiyan ambassador (Script error: No such module "Lang". Kebotan)
  Kabadiyan ambassador ( Kebotan)
• Langkasuka ambassador (Script error: No such module "Lang". Lang-ga-siu) to the Southern Liang court 516-520 CE
  Langkasuka ambassador ( Lang-ga-siu) to the Southern Liang court 516-520 CE
• Qiang ambassador (Script error: No such module "Lang". Dengzhi)
  Qiang ambassador ( Dengzhi)

Tang dynasty The Gathering of Kings (circa 650 CE)

A Tang period painting consisting in a version of the Liang portraits of Periodical Offerings, entitled The Gathering of Kings (, Wanghuitu). It was probably made by Yan Liben.

From right to left, the countries are Lu (魯國) which is a reference to the Eastern Wei, Rouran (), Persia (), Baekje (), Kumedh (), Baiti (), Merv (), Central India (), Sri Lanka (), Northern India (), Tashkurgan (), Wuxing City of the Chouchi (武興國), Kucha (龜茲國), Japan (), Goguryeo (), Khotan (), Silla (), Dangchang (), Langkasuka (), Dengzhi (), Yarkand (), Kabadiyan (), Barbarians of Jianping (), Nudan (). See the complete Wanghuitu. Template:Wide image

Individual portraits

Some of the main portraits are:

• Man from Khotan (于闐國 Yutian) visiting the Chinese Tang dynasty court, in Wanghuitu circa 650 CE
  Man from Khotan (于闐國 Yutian) visiting the Chinese Tang dynasty court, in Wanghuitu circa 650 CE
• Ambassador from Kucha (龜茲國 Qiuci-guo) at the Chinese Tang dynasty court. Wanghuitu (王会图), circa 650 CE
  Ambassador from Kucha (龜茲國 Qiuci-guo) at the Chinese Tang dynasty court. Wanghuitu (王会图), circa 650 CE
• Envoys of the three kingdoms of Korea (Silla, Baekje, Goguryeo)
  Envoys of the three kingdoms of Korea (Silla, Baekje, Goguryeo)
• Ambassador from Balkh (白題國 Baitiguo) Wanghuitu (王会图), circa 650 CE
  Ambassador from Balkh (白題國 Baitiguo) Wanghuitu (王会图), circa 650 CE
• Ambassador from Tashkurgan (謁盤陀 Qiepantuo) Wanghuitu (王会图), circa 650 CE
  Ambassador from Tashkurgan (謁盤陀 Qiepantuo) Wanghuitu (王会图), circa 650 CE
• Ambassador from Merv (靺國 Moguo) Wanghuitu (王会图), circa 650 CE
  Ambassador from Merv (靺國 Moguo) Wanghuitu (王会图), circa 650 CE
• Ambassador from Sri Lanka (獅子國 Shiziguo), Wanghuitu (王会图), circa 650 CE
  Ambassador from Sri Lanka (獅子國 Shiziguo), Wanghuitu (王会图), circa 650 CE
• Ambassador from Central India (中天竺 Zhong Tianzhu) to the court of the Tang dynasty. 王会图 circa 650 CE
  Ambassador from Central India (中天竺 Zhong Tianzhu) to the court of the Tang dynasty. 王会图 circa 650 CE

Southern Tang Entrance of the Foreign Visitors (10th century CE)

Emperor Yuan of Liang, Xiao Yi (552-555 CE) made another painting entitled "Entrance of the Foreign Visitors" (), now lost. A copy named "Entrance of the Foreign Visitors of Emperor Yuan of Liang" () was made by the painter Gu Deqian () of the Southern Tang dynasty (937–976 CE), native of Jiangsu.

From right to left, the countries are Lu (魯國) which is a reference to the Eastern Wei, Rouran (芮芮國), Tuyuhun (), Central India (), Western Wei (),Template:Efn Champa (), Sri Lanka (), Northern India (), Tashkurgan (), Wuxing City of the Chouchi (), Dangchang (), Langkasuka (), Dengzhi (), Persia (), Baekje (), Kucha (), Japan (), Yarkand (), Kabadiyan (), Kumedh (), Baiti (), Barbarians of Linjiang (), Goguryeo (), Gaochang (), Barbarians of Tianmen (天門蠻), Barbarians of Jianping (), Hephthalites (), Khotan (), Silla (), Kantoli (), Funan ().

Portraits of Periodical Offering of Tang (Song dynasty copy, 11–13th century)

The Portraits of Periodical Offering of Tang by painter Yan Liben, depicting foreign envoys with tribute bearers for the Tang dynasty arriving at Chang'an in 631, during the reign of the Emperor Taizong of Tang. The painting consists of 27 people from various states. The original work was lost, and the only surviving edition was a Song dynasty copy, which is currently preserved at the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

Portraits of Offerings to the Imperial Qing (1759)

In the mid-18th century during the Qing dynasty, the painter Xiesui () again painted a Portraits of Periodical Offering of the Imperial Qing (Huángqīng Zhígòngtú ), completed in 1759, with a second part added in 1765, showing various foreign people known at that time, with texts in Chinese and Manchu. See the complete Huangqing Zhigongtu. Template:Wide image

• French man, 18th century
  French man, 18th century
• Man from Helvetia
  Man from Helvetia
• Man from Hungary
  Man from Hungary
• Man from England
  Man from England
• Vietnamese dignitaries of the late-Lê dynasty (1533–1789)
  Vietnamese dignitaries of the late-Lê dynasty (1533–1789)
• Siamese (Thai) State Official
  Siamese (Thai) State Official

Ten Thousand Nations Coming to Pay Tribute (1761)

File:万国来朝图轴.清.绢本设色.25319x35632.北京故宫博物院藏.jpg

Thousand nations pay tribute (万国来朝图, 1761). Wintertime version. Palace Museum (北京故宫博物院).

Ten Thousand Nations Coming to Pay Tribute (Template:Zh, 1761) is a monumental (299x207cm) Qing dynasty painting depicting foreign delegations visiting the Qianlong Emperor in the Forbidden city in Beijing during the late 1750s.

The painting was intended to show the cosmopolitanism and the centrality of the Qing Empire, since most countries of Asia and Europe are shown paying their respects to the Chinese Emperor. The title literally refers to ten thousand countries ("万国"), but this simply has the meaning of an uncountable multitude.

• Korea delegates (朝鲜国)
  Korea delegates (朝鲜国)
• Khotan (和阗) delegates
  Khotan (和阗) delegates
• France delegates (flag "法兰西")
  France delegates (flag "法兰西")

Related works

• Tribute delegation of Liao dynasty "Script error: No such module "Lang"." to the Southern Song dynasty as depicted in the Periodical Offering Painting (Script error: No such module "Lang".) by Ming dynasty artist Qiu Ying (Script error: No such module "Lang".)
  Tribute delegation of Liao dynasty "" to the Southern Song dynasty as depicted in the Periodical Offering Painting () by Ming dynasty artist Qiu Ying ()
• Japanese depiction of first Ryukyu mission to Edo, 17th century
  Japanese depiction of first Ryukyu mission to Edo, 17th century
• Tributary envoys and foreign dignitaries of Champa, Lan Xang, Siam, Myanmar, Demak, Cambodia, Lan Na, Persia and Ryukyu to the Lê dynasty court (Vietnam) in Thanh Hóa. (16th-century painting)
  Tributary envoys and foreign dignitaries of Champa, Lan Xang, Siam, Myanmar, Demak, Cambodia, Lan Na, Persia and Ryukyu to the Lê dynasty court (Vietnam) in Thanh Hóa. (16th-century painting)
• Popular multicolored New Year print (nianhua 年畫) entitled "Ten Thousand Countries Coming to Court" (Wanguo laichao tu 萬國來朝圖), by Wang Junfu 王君甫, mid to late 17th century.[14]
  Popular multicolored New Year print (nianhua 年畫) entitled "Ten Thousand Countries Coming to Court" (Wanguo laichao tu 萬國來朝圖), by Wang Junfu 王君甫, mid to late 17th century.

See also

• Foreign relations of imperial China
• Tributary system of China
• List of tributary states of China
• Twenty-Four Histories
• Chinese historiography
• Monarchy of China
• Pax Sinica
• Zongli Yamen

External links

• Picture of Liang Chih-kung-t'u
• Chinese Calligraphy And Painting Artist Network: Xiao Yi (Chinese)