淸代 河圖 제작과 治水記錄畵

Abstract

The water construction completed during the Kangxi and Qianlong reigns have played an important role in establishing a new pictorial narrative conveyed through the mediums of both river-maps and paintings. Among the most notable landmark events in the history of river construction is the opening of the Zhonghe River, as it represents the success of the Qing government in preventing flooding caused by the emergence of water of Grand Canal and Yellow River in the area between the Suqian and Huaian. Thereafter, Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong inspected the Huai river area whenever they did the Southern inspection tours. To celebrate the successful completion of the Grand Canal and river areas, numerous river maps were presented to Emperor Kangxi, especially following the second and fourth inspection tours to Southern areas. In commemoration of this event, Emperor Kangxi requested the production of the monumental handscrolls, the Kangxi Southern Inspection Tour, of which the fourth scroll depicted the emperor’s inspection of river construction in Huaian area. Following the Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Qianglong also completed six southern inspection tours, and recorded the river constructions in Huaian area in the fourth scroll as well. During the mid to late Qing dynasty, this newly emerged theme of painting became very popular, and since then, numerous copies of the handscroll painting depicting 'water control' and 'river routes' have been produced. River maps and the paintings of the water constructions controlling them are very special visual records, uniquely created as a result of the developed river transportation and water system in China. This paper will fully explore the historical narrative and visual mechanism shared by the two different genres of visuality.