Lot Essay
Today P'yongyang is the capital of North Korea. The city has a long history. The Chinese trading colony of Lo-lang flourished near the site of P'yongyang from 108 B.C. until 313 A.D. The capital of the Koguryo Kingdom, which occupied the northern half of the Korean peninsula, was moved from Kungnae to P'yongyang in 427. P'yongyang was one of the three secondary capitals of Korea during the Koryo Dynasty (918-1392).
Located on the bank of the Taedong River, the walled city of P'yongyang continued to be noted for its scenic beauty during the Yi Dynasty (1392-1910). 'The Eight Views of P'yongyang' were celebrated in poetry and painting, following a tradition that began with Chinese paintings of 'The Eight Views of Hsiao and Hsiang' in the 11th century.
The present screen depicts an important festival taking place on the Taedong River beside the city. This festival is probably Tan-o, which occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month (using the old lunar calendar). Tan-o is one of 'The Four Happy Occasions', the four major annual festivals of Korea. During Tan-o, Koreans honor the spirits and ask their assistance in achieving harmony, happiness, and long life.
It was considered especially important to propitiate powerful local spirits such as the Dragon Spirit of the Taedong River.
The most important personage in the present screen is the civil official depicted in the first panel (counting from the right); his boat is the largest and most elaborate of all. He is seated under a canopy, surrounded by ladies and attendants, backed by a screen-painting of flowers. His boat is encircled by smaller boats full of guards standing at attention with tasseled spears held erect. Beyond the guard' boats are small boats filled with merrymakers, both ladies and men.
The boats in panel two (from the right) carry various civil and military officials, as well as entertainers, including a band performing music. Townspeople on the island in the river bow and watch the festivities.
The second most important personage on this screen is the military official shown in panel four (from the right). He is seated under a canopy in a large boat, surrounded by attendants and backed by a screen painting of flowers. He wears a suit of ceremonial armor consisting of a red tunic and a gold-mounted black-lacquer helmet.
Located on the bank of the Taedong River, the walled city of P'yongyang continued to be noted for its scenic beauty during the Yi Dynasty (1392-1910). 'The Eight Views of P'yongyang' were celebrated in poetry and painting, following a tradition that began with Chinese paintings of 'The Eight Views of Hsiao and Hsiang' in the 11th century.
The present screen depicts an important festival taking place on the Taedong River beside the city. This festival is probably Tan-o, which occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month (using the old lunar calendar). Tan-o is one of 'The Four Happy Occasions', the four major annual festivals of Korea. During Tan-o, Koreans honor the spirits and ask their assistance in achieving harmony, happiness, and long life.
It was considered especially important to propitiate powerful local spirits such as the Dragon Spirit of the Taedong River.
The most important personage in the present screen is the civil official depicted in the first panel (counting from the right); his boat is the largest and most elaborate of all. He is seated under a canopy, surrounded by ladies and attendants, backed by a screen-painting of flowers. His boat is encircled by smaller boats full of guards standing at attention with tasseled spears held erect. Beyond the guard' boats are small boats filled with merrymakers, both ladies and men.
The boats in panel two (from the right) carry various civil and military officials, as well as entertainers, including a band performing music. Townspeople on the island in the river bow and watch the festivities.
The second most important personage on this screen is the military official shown in panel four (from the right). He is seated under a canopy in a large boat, surrounded by attendants and backed by a screen painting of flowers. He wears a suit of ceremonial armor consisting of a red tunic and a gold-mounted black-lacquer helmet.