Illustration of the Clear Jing River and the Muddy Wei River

Qing dynasty (1644�1911), Qianlong period (1736�95), dated and engraved 1790

Illustration and text by Dong Gao (1740�1818; jinshi of 1763), with poetic inscriptions by the Qianlong emperor (1711�99; r. 1736�95)

Sheets of rubbings mounted as a handscroll, ink rubbed on paper; 29.0 x 351.0 cm; text section preceding illustration: 29.0 x 107 cm; illustration with added blue, pale brownish orange, and green washes: 29.0 x 69.0 cm; text section following illustration: 29.0 x 175.0 cm

Date of rubbing not given, probably late Qing dynasty (1644�1911), 19th century

Inventory number: Biaozhou 350

Historically, the Jing and Wei rivers in Shaanxi Province alternated between being clear and silted, and at the site of their confluence, near Xi'an, the two streams of water would appear unmixed for a stretch after meeting.

Dong Gao's illustration is preceded by a poetic inscription by the Qianlong emperor, whose rhyme was inspired by the reply to a memorial drafted by Qin Cheng'en, the provincial governor of Shaanxi.� In addition, there is a text composed by Dong explaining how he had actually inspected the confluence of the Jing and Wei rivers and found that the water flowing in the Jing was indeed clear whereas that in the Wei was turbid.� Dong's striking picture combines the attributes of a map and a painting, with the four cardinal directions indicated at the center of each edge, north being at the top.