A Study of the Caballero Images in The Return of Lady Cai Wenji

ABSTRACT: The Return of Lady Cai Wenji attributed to Zhang Yu during Jin Dynasty is a masterpiece. In many previous studies and discussions on the painting, the bow-backed pose of the Xiongnu escorts, in sharp contrast with Lady Wenji sitting upright, has led to an assumption that the Hans are honored through the painting while the Jurchens debased. This paper tries to argue differently from the perspective of formal analysis that the bow backed riding pose is just a habitual posture among the Huns, and the Hans’upright position is more or less related to their unproficiency in horse-racing and archery, which, basically, is the outcome of applying Realist techniques.Essentially, the theme of the painting might be metaphorical/allegorical, butthe form/style itself is neutral in sense.

Key words: The Return of Lady Cai Wenji; horse-riding images; Realist

techniques; Jin Dynasty