Study Of "Zhuge Liang Reclining" By Xuande Emperor Of The Ming Dynasty

Emperor Zhu Zhanji(Xuanzong) of the Ming Dynasty finished the painting Zhuge Liang in Repose in the third year of his reign and granted it to Chen Xuan, a senior official having served in the imperial court for decades.With in-depth analysis of the figure depicted in the artwork, this paper aims to provide a comparison between the research findings and historical literature, fill the gap of researches concerning relationship between emperors and their ministers, and reveal the truthful background of history.Besides of analysis on the painting, the political context of Zhuge Liang in Repose in the early years of Xuande administration was also reviewed. The biography and political achievements of Zhuge Liang and Chen Xuan are compared, thereby explore the intention of Emperor Zhu Zhanji and the political significance of this work.