A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains

Wang Ximeng (Chinese: 王希孟; pinyin: Wang Ximeng; WadeGiles: Wang Hsi-meng) (10961119) was a Chinese painter during the Song Dynasty, in the early twelfth century. A prodigy, Wang was one of the most renowned court painters of the Northern Song period, and was taught personally by Emperor Huizong of Song himself. He died at the age of 23.

《千里江山图卷》是难得的流传至今的北宋青绿山水大长卷,被誉为“中国十大传世名画”之一。此卷表现了绵亘起伏的群山和烟波浩淼的江湖,配置渔村野市,水榭亭台,茅庵草舍,水磨长桥,并穿插捕鱼、驶船、行路、赶脚、游玩等人物活动。全面继承了隋唐以来青绿山水的表现手法。此卷后面附有宋代蔡京、元代溥光的后跋,在清代曾经梁清标和清宫旧藏,著录于《石渠宝笈初编》等。

有关《千里江山图卷》的话题和研究,一直没有间断过。目前普遍认知,《千里江山图卷》完成于徽宗政和三年之前,作者王希孟,时年仅十八岁,他曾是翰林图画院的学生,后召入禁中文书库,奉事徽宗左右,因宋徽宗觉得其天赋非凡,便亲授其法。花了半年时间绘成这件鸿篇巨制。最近,《千里江山图卷》在北京故宫博物院展览,再次成为文化界和公众的一大热点。

Wang's only surviving work is an 11.9 metres (39 ft) long scroll titled A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains (千里江山). The painting, finished by Wang when he was only 18 in 1113, was one of the largest in Chinese history, and has been described as one of the greatest works of Chinese art. The painting is in the permanent collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing.

艺术史上,存在作者名不见经传,却因孤本名作而傲视艺术史的特例。在北宋就有两例,一例是张择端和《清明上河图》,另一例则是王希孟和《千里江山图卷》。王希孟的有关历史记述也极其简短。生平亦无从考证, 十八岁时在徽宗画院为生徒,后召入禁中文书库,得徽宗亲授,其后不到半年就以《千里江山图》进献,《千里江山图》是他唯一的传世作品。

北宋王希孟《千里江山图》卷(绢本青绿设色,纵51.5厘米、横1191.5厘米,北京故宫博物院藏),是在中国古代美术史上鼎鼎大名公认的传世名作,与北宋时期宋徽宗的倡导“画学”、扶持文艺发展的主流政策有关。《千里江山图》,不只是所呈现出的11.9米长的画卷,也是宋徽宗的艺术品位,更是宋代美学。

"Chinese landscape paintings are read, meaning they are viewed, from right to left". But recently scholars state that this painting should be viewed as the whole panorama. Perhaps, he used the technique of "Chinese occlusion" and the use of green and blue colors of Tang for creating of huge landscapes. The large piece of silk painting should be laid on the old, time-worn wall. Looking through it at dawn or in the evening an artist could see landscapes that later he would depict in his own painting.

画中远近山水,气势开阔,村舍集市、渔船客舟、桥梁水车和林木飞禽,笔墨工致,位置得宜;全卷青绿重设色,表现了山河秀丽。
Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

有关《千里江山图卷》的话题和研究,一直没有间断过。目前普遍认知,《千里江山图卷》完成于徽宗政和三年之前,作者王希孟,时年仅十八岁,他曾是翰林图画院的学生,后召入禁中文书库,奉事徽宗左右,因宋徽宗觉得其天赋非凡,便亲授其法。花了半年时间绘成这件鸿篇巨制。最近,《千里江山图卷》在北京故宫博物院展览,再次成为文化界和公众的一大热点。

Complete painting (as originally meant to be viewed) of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. 

 

A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

《千里江山图》元代李溥光跋:予自志学之岁,获睹此卷,迄今已近百过。其功夫巧密处,心目尚有不能周遍者,所谓一回拈出一回新也。又其设色鲜明,布置宏远,使王晋卿、赵千里见之,亦当短气。在古今丹青小景中,自可独步千载,殆众星之孤月耳。具眼知音之士,必以予言为不妄云。──大德七年冬十二月才生魄昭文馆大学士雪庵溥光谨题。

卷后接纸有元代高僧书法家李溥光大德七年(1303)的一则题跋。

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

王希孟花费了半年时间完成近12米的长卷──《千里江山图》,采用如此巨大的尺幅,得到了宋徽宗的嘉许和称赞,该画当成奖品赏赐给了蔡京。蔡京为此画写了一段题跋。

《千里江山图卷》后之蔡京尾跋,此画作于“政和三年”(1113),距今九百零四年:

政和三年闰四月八日赐。希孟年十八岁,昔在画学为生徒,召入禁中“文书库”,数以画献,未甚工。上知其性可教,遂诲谕之,亲授其法,不逾半岁,乃以此图进。上嘉之,因以赐臣京,谓天下士在作之而已。

 

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

1786年,乾隆皇帝在画上题诗一首。
 
Complete painting (as originally meant to be viewed)

 
A section of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains section. Color on silk. Palace Museum, Beijing.

In details:

 

Reference/Sources:

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