Artist: Yuan Yao

Date: Qing (1644-1911), dated 1714

Dimensions: Height 211.0 cm, Width 47.2 cm

Material: Ink and colour on silk

• Object Type：
  • PAINTINGS
• Location：
  • Chinese Painting Gallery
• Tag：
  • palace multi-paneled screen yuan yao qing 1714 ink and colour silk

The Jiucheng Palace was originally built as the Renshou Palace under Emperor Wen (541-604) of the Sui dynasty. In 631, Emperor Taizong (598-649) of the Tang dynasty ordered its renovation as an imperial summer retreat. He renamed the palace Jiucheng (literally ninefold) because its mountainous surroundings were described as "ninefold layers of peaks". Its ruins are located in present-day Linyou county, Baoji city, Shaanxi province. The official Wei Zheng (580-643) described the palace as: "Crowning the peaks, turning the steep gorge and springs into its ponds and moat; bridges span over waters; pavilions and towers reach high up to the sky; the palace is embraced with corridors and encircled by towers on all sides. The eaves look overlapping with each other, creating a staggered view." Yuan Yao's painting, completed in the second month of the 53^rd year (1714) of the Kangxi reign, vividly depicts this grandeur.