The Painting Master's Shame: Liang Shicheng and the Xuanhe Catalogue of Paintings

Amy McNair's study challenges the assumption that the Xuanhe Catalogue of Paintings was compiled by the Northern Song emperor Huizong and argues that it was compiled under the direction of Liang Shicheng, a high-ranking eunuch official who sought to raise his social status. The Painting Masters Shame provides insight into the political struggles, promotion of the "scholar amateur" ideal, and rise of eunuch court officials during the period around 1120, which allowed them to enhance their prestige through scholarly activities and politics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 18 July 2023
Publisher: Harvard University Press

Overturning the long-held assumption that the Xuanhe Catalogue of Paintings was the work of the Northern Song emperor Huizong (r. 1100–1126), Amy McNair argues that it was compiled instead under the direction of Liang Shicheng. Liang, a high-ranking eunuch official who sought to raise his social status from that of despised menial to educated elite, had privileged access to the emperor and palace. McNair's study, based on her translation and extensive analysis of the text of the Xuanhe Catalogue of Paintings, offers a definitive argument for the authorship of this major landmark in Chinese painting criticism and clarifies why and how it was compiled.

The Painting Masters Shame describes the remarkable circumstances of the period around 1120, when the catalogue was written. The political struggles over the New Policies, the promotion of the "scholar amateur" ideal in painting criticism and practice, and the rise of eunuch court officials as a powerful class converged to allow those officials the unprecedented opportunity to enhance their prestige through scholarly activities and politics. McNair analyzes the catalogues central polemical narrative—the humiliation of the high-ranking minister mistakenly called by the lowly title "Painting Master"—as the key to understanding Liang Shicheng's methods and motives.

Liang Shicheng, a high-ranking eunuch official during the Northern Song dynasty, played a significant role in the compilation of the Xuanhe Catalogue of Paintings. This catalogue, considered a landmark in Chinese painting criticism, has long been attributed to the emperor Huizong. However, McNair's study challenges this assumption and suggests that Liang Shicheng was the primary compiler of the Xuanhe Catalogue.

Liang Shicheng's motivation for compiling the Xuanhe Catalogue was to elevate his social status and gain recognition as an educated elite. He had privileged access to the emperor and palace, which allowed him to gather information and insights into the art world. The catalogue, which contains detailed descriptions and criticisms of paintings, reflects Liang Shicheng's knowledge and expertise in art.

McNair's study provides a comprehensive analysis of the text of the Xuanhe Catalogue, including its structure, content, and historical context. She argues that the catalogue was compiled under Liang Shicheng's direction and that it reflects his personal views and preferences in art. McNair also examines the political and social factors that influenced the compilation of the catalogue, including the New Policies, the promotion of the "scholar amateur" ideal in painting criticism, and the rise of eunuch court officials as a powerful class.

The humiliation of the high-ranking minister mistakenly called by the lowly title "Painting Master" is the central narrative of the Xuanhe Catalogue. McNair argues that this narrative serves as a key to understanding Liang Shicheng's methods and motives. By highlighting the minister's humiliation, Liang Shicheng sought to demonstrate his knowledge and expertise in art and to assert his authority over the art world.

The Xuanhe Catalogue of Paintings has had a lasting impact on Chinese painting criticism and practice. It has been widely studied and admired for its detailed descriptions and criticisms of paintings, and it has helped to shape the development of art theory and aesthetics in China. McNair's study provides a new perspective on the authorship of the catalogue and sheds light on the complex social and political factors that influenced its compilation.

In conclusion, Amy McNair's study challenges the long-held assumption that the Xuanhe Catalogue of Paintings was the work of the Northern Song emperor Huizong. Instead, she argues that it was compiled under the direction. Liang Shicheng, a high-ranking eunuch official who sought to raise his social status through art criticism and politics, played a significant role in the compilation of the Xuanhe Catalogue. The catalogue reflects Liang Shicheng's personal views and preferences in art, as well as the political and social factors that influenced its compilation. McNair's study provides a definitive argument for the authorship of the Xuanhe Catalogue and sheds light on the complex social and political factors that shaped the art world during the Northern Song dynasty.

Weight: 508g
Dimension: 157 x 237 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674293748