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meant to leave on the viewer? The prefaces to the painting attendance to his left, and Wang Zhi is at his right. This
left by Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong certainly emphasise its arrangement of figures asserts Yang Shiqi’s prominence. At the
political flavour. Yang Shiqi begins with this statement: time, Yang Shiqi was an official of rank 1b (cong yipin 從一品),
Gentlemen of ancient times when at leisure would not pass a Yang Rong was the same, while Wang Zhi was ranked 4a
day when they forget all under the heaven and the state. (zheng sipin 正四品). In the painting’s ‘sub-focus’ to the left,
Yang Pu 楊溥 (1372–1446) is located at the centre; he was
古之君子，其閒居未嘗一日而忘天下國家也。
ranked 2a (zheng erpin 正二品), and to his right is Wang Ying
Yang Rong concludes with a similar sentiment: 王英 (1376–1449), also ranked 2a; to the left is Qian Xili 錢習禮
Although in receiving the emperor’s grace one must know (1373–1461), an official ranked 5b (cong wupin 從五品). The
recompense, even in enjoyment one must beware of idleness third section of the scroll depicts three scholar officials
and excess. Even though I am old, I still wish to follow behind walking. They are respectively Zhou Shu 周述 (d. 1439), Li
various gentlemen and be encouraged. Shimian 李時勉 (1374–1450) and Chen Xun 陳循 (1385–
雖然感上恩而圖報，稱因宴樂而戒怠荒，予雖老，尚願從諸公之 1462), all ranked 5b. The very central figure among the three
後而加勉焉。 sections is Yang Shiqi.
At this point in their careers Yang Shiqi shared the same
From one opening to one conclusion, the colophons official rank and title as Yang Rong. Because Yang Shiqi was
express political sentiments. Similar sentiments are tutor for both the Hongxi 洪熙 emperor (r. 1425) and the
evidenced in every poem recorded in the scroll. Xuande 宣德 emperor (r. 1426–35), and for many years
Judging from the images, it seems that the dress of the accompanied these two rulers while they were on duty in
people in the woodblock version of the Elegant Gathering in the Nanjing, he was in extremely close proximity to the ruler.
Apricot Garden is more closely related to Yang Rong’s From 1424 to 1444 Yang Shiqi was in effect the chief
description, as with the proverbial ‘clothes and hat are smart ministerial figure within the Grand Secretariat, so that his
and imposing, their grey hairs are shining’ (Yiguan weiran, political life would have been at its apex in 1437, the date of
huafa jiaoying 衣冠偉然，華髮交映). On this point, I agree the gathering where he was the pre-eminent figure. At this

with Wu Sung-feng’s view.Attire is often linked to time the Zhengtong 正統 emperor (r. 1436–49) was only 11
bureaucratic systems and represents the social relationships years old; the entire realm was under the control of Empress
and status of the wearer. The painting is separated into three Dowager Zhang 張 (d. 1442), widow of the Xuande emperor,
sections, the middle section being the central part of the working with a cohort of senior officials led by Yang Shiqi.
image and the left section acting as a secondary focus. Yang Was this an impromptu gathering, or a pre-planned
Shiqi, Yang Rong and Wang Zhi 王直 (1379–1462) appear in party? Yang Rong’s description seems to reflect spontaneity.
the first central section; Yang Shiqi is in the very central ‘Various gentlemen of the official council’ (guange zhugong
position, the host of the gathering Yang Rong is in 館閣諸公) arranged to meet at his home, whereupon he then

Politics or Entertainment? Examining Jiangxi Scholar Officials and Zhejiang Painters through the Lens of the Elegant Gathering in the Apricot Garden | 101