Introduction
Departure Herald and Return Clearing
Departure Herald
- Anonymous, Ming Dynasty
- Handscroll, ink and color on silk
- 92.1 × 2601.3 cm
Return Clearing
- Anonymous, Ming Dynasty
- Handscroll, ink and color on silk
- 92.1 × 3003.6 cm
"Departure Herald" is actually accompanied by another long handscroll painting entitled "Return Clearing". That work depicts the process of the tomb sweeping and inspection tour. Usually considered as a pair, they are collectively known as "Departure Herald and Return Clearing". Encapsulated into both scrolls, the artists depicted the entire event over time and space from the departure, arrival at the destination, and return to the capital. "Departure Herald" represents the emperor riding a horse, taking land route from the capital, while in "Return Clearing", he is shown riding on a boat, taking a water route back to the palace. These two scrolls are not only the two longest handscrolls in the collection of the National Palace Museum, they represent a rare, enormous effort in terms of the number of figures and majesty of the scenery seen among surviving works of Chinese painting.