Page 448 - Art In The Age Of Exploration (Great Section on Chinese Art Ming Dynasty)

Although Meng Chang in the end turned away
form his "flowery willows/' the courtesans so
denoted continued to strive after the high posi-
tion often symbolized by red robes and after the
salaries connoted by the color green. "Reds and
greens" often referred as well to both cosmetics
and painting, so the range of possible bones of
contention in the harem was wide indeed.
The inscription on the present painting is not
dated, but another version of the composition,
differing only in details such as the textile pat-
terns, is dated to 1523 (Shanghai 1922). The
recently deceased Zhengde emperor (1491-1521)
had been even more avid than Meng Chang in
collecting concubines. His generally dissolute life
and inattention to the business of ruling almost
cost him his throne in 1510, when a prince of the
realm rebelled. Tang's painting may have been
inspired by the Zhengde emperor's profligacy, or
by another rebellion that nearly brought disaster
to his own life. Tang had been invited in 1514 to
the court of Zhu Chenhao, a Ming imperial prince
enfeoffed as Prince of Ning. Just as Meng Chang's
father came to the throne by revolting against his
king, so too did the Prince of Ning rebel in 1519
against the Zhengde emperor, only to be defeated
in a short campaign led by the philosopher-soldier
Wang Yangming (1472-1529).
Though not wise enough to refuse the prince's
invitation, as many of his artist-friends had done,
Tang at least had sense enough to leave this dan-
gerous patron long before he mounted his unsuc-
cessful rebellion. In the last sentence of his
inscription Tang may be indicating his regret that,
unlike Meng Chang, he had not allowed good
advice to turn him from bad company at critical
junctures in his life (see cat. 298). H.R.

298

Tang Yin
1470-1523

CLEARING AFTER SNOW
ON A MOUNTAIN PASS

early i6th century
Chinese
hanging scroll; ink and light color on silk
5
69.9 x 37.3 (27^/2 x i4 /s)
inscription with signature of the artist
National Palace Museum, Taipei Born the son of a Suzhou restaurateur, Tang Yin well in the metropolitan examination in Beijing.
was a prodigy whose quick intellect and brilliant There, however, Tang and a friend were accused
When snow clears from blocked passes artistic talent earned him the respect of Shen and convicted of having obtained prior knowledge
travelers crowd densely, Zhou (see cat. 311-315) and Wu Kuan (see cat. of the questions. In 1499, after a short term in
Lightly loaded are the mules, 286) and the lifelong friendship of Zhu Yunming prison, from which he was released on the inter-
heavily laden the oxen; (see cat. 285) and Wen Zhengming (see cat. 286, vention of friends, Tang returned home in dis-
In front of Tadpole Inn 317). Tang easily passed the lowest-level civil ser- grace, forever debarred from official position and
the mountains hoard iron, vice examination and in 1498 took first place in status.
Beneath Frog Hill the provincial examination held in Nanjing (failed Although Tang had begun painting at least by
wine pours out like oil. several times by his friend Wen), creating almost the age of sixteen, it was not until about 1500 that
Painted by Tang Yin of Jinchang. universal expectations that he would do equally his changed expectations led him to paint for his

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