The exact age of the decoration paintings in the Lingyou Hall of the City God Temple in Hancheng city,Shaanxi province remains ambiguous,while some scholars believe they were drawn during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty.During the overhaul of the City God Temple from 2010 to 2012,the discovery of new stone inscriptions provides documentary evidences for the dating of the decoration paintings in the Lingyou Hall.Through comparative analysis with other decoration paintings with the motif"Children Playing with Flowers"in several historical buildings in Hancheng city,it is determined that the Lingyou Hall decoration paintings are extremely close in style and age to those of the Zhengjiao Memorial Archway and the Sun Zhenren Temple.During the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty,the well known"Dingwu famine"caused a sudden drop in the population of Hancheng.The city had a population of 200,000 in the early Qing Dynasty,which plunged to merely over 70,000 in the 4th year of Guangxu's reign.The drought caused a two-thirds decline in population.During that period,people's longing for food,clothing and offspring led to the prevalence of decoration paintings in the theme of"Children Playing with Flowers"in local historical buildings from that time.In conclusion,the decoration paintings in the Lingyou Hall of the City God Temple were drawn in the 18th year of Guangxu's reign,Qing Dynasty.
City God Temple in HanchengLingyou HallGuangxuPainting of Children Playing with Flowers
万方数据
维普
