The Elegant Song: A Vivid Portrait of Song Civilization

This engaging book explores the elegant way of life of the Song Dynasty. Taking Song paintings as a fresh point of departure and drawing on historical records and earlier scholarship, the author reveals several facets of Song-style elegance. Scenes of daily life come vividly to life: people going about their routines, eating and drinking, burning incense and preparing tea, visiting markets, enjoying spring outings in gardens, and attending court to discuss affairs of state. The book brings the distinctive social character and spirit of the age into view.

The book is divided into six parts. The first explores the daily lives of people in the Song Dynasty; the second covers the refined pastimes and pleasures of Song literati; the third depicts the many sides of Song society; the fourth introduces the public infrastructure of Song cities; the fifth focuses on the prosperity of Song commerce; and the sixth examines questions of etiquette in Song political life. In its use of historical materials, the author draws on hundreds of Song paintings to reconstruct people’s lives. A small number of Song murals, brick carvings, unearthed artifacts, and documentary objects are also included, along with a few Tang, Ming, and Qing paintings for comparison and cross-reference.