洋國進寶春牛圖
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Material Information

Title:
洋國進寶春牛圖
Series Title:
Objects of instruction : treasures of SOAS
Added title page title:
Yangguo jinbao chunniu tu
Added title page title:
Spring Ox calendar entitled 'Foreign countries presenting treasures'
Added title page title:
Foreign countries presenting treasures
Place of Publication:
上海
Shanghai
Publisher:
[s.n.]
Publication Date:
Language:
Chinese
Physical Description:
1 sheet, H32.7 x W48.8 cm
Materials:
Paper, Water color inks ( medium )
Measurements:
H32.7 x W48.8 cm
Technique:
Woodblock print on paper

Notes

Scope and Content:
‘Spring ox’ pictures, originally created as talismans to ensure good harvests, were integrated into calendars issued for the New Year. The calendar here is unusual in that it depicts the spring ox being whipped and led across a bridge. This Suzhou-style Shanghai print shows a coastal town with Chinese government offices and European factories. The temple of the Dragon King on the left refers to the importance of the deity that controlled the oceans. The print shows influence of European colouring and perspectival techniques. 1843 was a pivotal year in Chinese history: defeated by the British during the first Opium War (1839-42), the Qing government was forced to open ports to foreign trade and to allow the British to resume the opium trade. (Text by John T. Carpenter and Yoshiko Yasumura, from the exhibition catalogue: Objects of instruction : treasures of the School of Oriental and African Studies, Anna Contadini, Editor. London : SOAS, University of London, 2007.)
General Note:
This print shows a 19th century Chinese coastal town with the Chinese government offices and European factories. The temple of the Dragon King occupies a prominent position in this scene, referring to the importance of this deity that was said to control the oceans of the world. Unlike most calendars of this genre, this one depicts the spring ox being whipped and led across a bridge, and it also includes additional auspicious dates as well as the eight trigrams inscribed on pagodas. According to Yin Huang the print shows influence of European colouring and use of perspective. The year 1843 is a pivotal point in Chinese history because China was defeated by the British during the Opium War. The resulting Treaty of Nanjing opened Chinese ports to foreign trade. While China believed that riches would flow in from the trade. The title of the print would actually prove to be ironical since what happened in the end was a devastating import of opium against a continuing drain of silver.
General Note:
Published reference in: Preliminary list of Chinese woodblock prints in the SOAS Library
General Note:
Creative Commons (CC)-Lizenzen: Namensnennung-NichtKommerziell unter gleichen Bedingungen 4.0 international (CC BY-NC). Dieses Bild ist als in hoher Auflösung zur Verfügung. Kontaktieren Sie den Digital Library Project Office an der SOAS, University of London.
General Note:
Cette ressource numérique est dans le domaine public. S'il vous plaît, utiliser en accord avec la licence Creative Commons: Attribution-Pas d'Utilisation Commerciale conditions (CC BY-NC). Fichiers numériques de haute résolution sont disponibles sur la SOAS, Université de Londres - le Bureau du projet de bibliothèque numérique.
General Note:
Inked in four colours (black, grey, brown and light brown)
Funding:
The 'Objects of instruction : the treasures of SOAS' exhibition was funded through a generous gift from the Foyle Foundation and with the support of the Arts & Humanities Research Council.
Exhibitions:
Cited in: Objects of instruction : treasures of the School of Oriental and African Studies, Anna Contadini, Editor. London : SOAS, University of London, 2007. Listed as item number: 30

Record Information

Source Institution:
SOAS, University of London
Rights Management:
This item is in the public domain. Please use in accord with Creative Commons license: Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC). High resolution digital master available from SOAS, University of London - the Digital Library Project Office.
Resource Identifier:
CWP 44 ( soas chinese woodblocks )