The long scroll of “The Legend of Women” is one of the earliest known Chinese painting scrolls and one of the most famous Chinese calligraphy and painting works in the world. It is said to be a work of Jin Gu Kaizhi, but modern scholars generally believe that this painting scroll is a replica from the 5th to 8th centuries. This painting is based on the article “Women’s History Proverbs” written by the Jin poet Zhang Hua in 292 AD. “Women’s History Proverbs” is used to warn the women in the imperial harem to respect women’s virtues. This painting depicts Zhang Hua’s poetry.

The Historical Circulation of “The Legend of Women”
Background: During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the great painter Gu Kaizhi created this painting based on Zhang Hua’s literary work “Women’s History Proverbs” from the Western Jin Dynasty. The Women’s History Proverbs aims to provide moral education and behavioral norms to the concubines in the harem through the stories of virtuous women in history, reflecting the Confucian ethical concepts and ideals of female morality.

Artistic features: Gu Kaizhi’s superb painting skills, especially his artistic concept of “depicting the spirit through form”, make the characters in the picture vivid and vivid, demonstrating superb line application and composition skills. The “Women’s History Proverbs” is not only a painting, but also a visual expression of social moral concepts and aesthetic ideas at that time.

Tang Dynasty Copy: The existing collection of the British Museum is considered to be a copy of the Tang Dynasty. During this period, due to Emperor Taizong’s admiration for culture and art, he organized a large number of manpower to replicate ancient calligraphy and painting. Therefore, this copy is highly likely to have originated from a high-quality replication operation organized by the official organization, preserving the original style.

Overseas circulation: In 1900, the Eight Nation Alliance invaded China, and British officer Johnson discovered this painting in the Summer Palace and brought it back to England. Subsequently, it was acquired by the British Museum at a relatively low price (25 pounds) and became one of its important collections.

Damage and controversy: In the mid-20th century, due to improper storage and display methods, the British Museum made incorrect cuts and re mounting of the “Women’s History Proverbs”, resulting in the loss of some historical information in the original work, causing widespread controversy and regret.

Appeal for Return and Value Reassessment: With the passage of time, the importance of “The Legend of Women” as a treasure of Chinese art has increasingly been recognized by the international community, and its return issue has occasionally become a focus of discussion. At the same time, it is regarded as important physical evidence for studying ancient Chinese culture, art, the status of women, and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.

Choices and Regrets: During World War II, the British government proposed using the “Women’s Chronicles” or a submarine as a token of gratitude to China, but ultimately the Nationalist government chose the latter. This decision reflected strategic considerations under specific historical conditions at the time, but also became a major regret in the subsequent field of cultural protection.

epilogue
The “Women’s History Proverbs” is not only a treasure of art, but also a bridge connecting ancient and modern Chinese and foreign cultures. Its twists and turns reflect complex historical changes and challenges in cultural heritage protection. Nowadays, although it is far away from its homeland, it is still a witness to the brilliant achievements of Chinese civilization, inspiring people’s profound thinking about history, art, and cultural inheritance.