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Conferring Nobility

Photo: Elizabeth Mann

Conferring Nobility

ca. 1891

Shen Zhenlin

Chinese, active mid-late 19th century

The procession is led by eight horses, called wenma ??, with elaborately decorated saddles. They were one of the standard gifts given to the bride’s family by the bridegroom, among the Manchu nobles. The retinue, marching in pairs, held ritual fans, dragon flags, canopies, banners, and other symbolic gifts for the bride. Other officials and servants followed, some carrying lanterns with a Chinese character xi ? on it, indicating this was a wedding ceremony. They accompanied a sedan with a golden cover and blue curtains, transported by sixteen bearers. At the end of the procession, eight officials—indicated by the peacock feather on their hats—riding on horseback ensured that the ceremony was properly executed.

Ink and color on silk
Overall: 15 9/16 x 285 3/16" (39.6 x 724.4cm)
Image: (1) painting proper: 33.3 cm (h) x 232.2 cm (w);
(2) Colophon paper: 32.8 cm (h) x 129.1 cm (w)
Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection
33.1839
Provenance: Baker's, Seattle
Photo: Elizabeth Mann
location
Not currently on view

Resources

Published ReferencesToda, Teisuke and Hiromitsu Ogawa. Comprehensive Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Paintings: Second Series. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press, 1998. See p. I-362, I-260.

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