As If the Emperor Were Present: Imperial Portrait Worship and Political Life in the Song Dynasty

This book is an accessible introduction to the political and artistic history of the Song dynasty. Drawing on the historical record and anecdotes about Song emperors’ portraits, Huang Bo examines the images and the stories behind them, painting a distinctive picture of political life in the Song era. In lively prose, the book explores a rigorous scholarly subject. Symbolically charged imperial portraits played a remarkable role in diplomatic exchanges and military standoffs during the Song, standing in for the emperor as though he were “personally present.” During the Northern Song’s defeat and dispersal, they also inspired moving stories of people who “vowed to defend the imperial likeness to the death,” showing how the visual display of imperial portraits contributed to the exercise of royal power. By tracing the relocation and reconstruction of portrait halls, as well as the emperors’ portraits “playing the roles” of immortals, worthy predecessors, and sages, the book reveals the power struggles between the throne and the scholar-officials, and between the central government and local authorities, that unfolded behind ritual. It offers a fresh perspective on the study of Song political history. Richly illustrated and printed in color, the book combines scholarly rigor with an engaging reading experience.