Along the River during the Qingming Festival (Chinese Symphonic Picture Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, Going Upriver on the Qingming Festival, Peace Reigns over the River) is the title of several paintings, the original version generally attributed to the Song Dynasty artist Zhang Zeduan (张泽端, Zhāng Zéduān, 1085-1145). The 5.28 m long and 24.8 cm wide painting captures the daily life of people from the Song period at the capital Bianjing, today's Kaifeng.
The entire piece was painted in hand scroll format, revealing the lifestyle of all levels of the society and the differences of economic activities between rural areas and the cities. It offers glimpses of period clothing and architecture and is famous for its accurate images of boats, bridges, shops and scenery. Because of its fame, it has been called "China's Mona Lisa".
About 20 to 30 versions on this topic by artists of subsequent dynasties were made. Each version follows the overall composition of the original faithfully; however the details often vary widely. The Song Dynasty original and the Qing version, in Beijing and Taipei Palace Museums respectively, are regarded as national treasures.
The entire piece was painted in hand scroll format, revealing the lifestyle of all levels of the society and the differences of economic activities between rural areas and the cities. It offers glimpses of period clothing and architecture and is famous for its accurate images of boats, bridges, shops and scenery. Because of its fame, it has been called "China's Mona Lisa".
About 20 to 30 versions on this topic by artists of subsequent dynasties were made. Each version follows the overall composition of the original faithfully; however the details often vary widely. The Song Dynasty original and the Qing version, in Beijing and Taipei Palace Museums respectively, are regarded as national treasures.