ticketsMember | Make a donation
English

Emperor Xuanzong's Flight to Shu

mid-12th century
Not on view
In 745, after thirty-three years of able rule, the Tang emperor Xuanzong (r. 712–56) fell in love with the concubine Yang Guifei and became indifferent to his duties. When Yang’s favorite general, An Lushan, rebelled in 755, she was blamed. Forced to flee from the capital at Xi’an to the safety of Shu (Sichuan Province), the emperor was confronted by mutinous troops demanding the execution of his lover. Reluctantly assenting, Xuanzong looked on in horror and shame and abdicated soon after. This painting depicts the somber imperial entourage after the execution. While the accoutrements of the figures are Tang, the painting's landscape style of intricately described volumetric forms and mist-suffused atmosphere suggests a mid-twelfth century date.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 南宋 佚名 明皇幸蜀圖 軸
  • Title: Emperor Xuanzong's Flight to Shu
  • Artist: Unidentified artist Chinese, active mid-12th century
  • Period: Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)
  • Date: mid-12th century
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk
  • Dimensions: Image: 44 3/4 × 32 5/8 in. (113.7 × 82.9 cm)
    Overall with mounting: 95 1/2 × 54 in. (242.6 × 137.2 cm)
    Overall with knobs: 57 1/2 × 95 1/2 in. (146.1 × 242.6 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1941
  • Object Number: 41.138
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

Audio

Cover Image for 7336. Emperor Xuanzong's Flight to Shu, Part 1

7336. Emperor Xuanzong's Flight to Shu, Part 1

0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

    Listen to more about this artwork

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Portrait of a Member of the Family (?) of Emperor Tongzhi (1862–74)
Unidentified artist
19th century
Mountains in the Snow, Unidentified artist, Handscroll; Ink and color on silk, China
Mountains in the Snow
Unidentified artist
Liu Songnian
Illustrated Story of Yoshitsune, Unidentified artist, Monochrome woodblock print; ink on paper, Japan
Illustrated Story of Yoshitsune
Unidentified artist
One Hundred Poems of Moritake Illustrated with Comments, Unidentified artist, Two volumes; monochrome woodblock print; ink on paper, Japan
One Hundred Poems of Moritake Illustrated with Comments
Unidentified artist
Illustrated book
Unidentified artist

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 20

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.