Dragon+Boat+Regatta


 * Dragon Boat Regatta: a 14th century scroll painting by Wang Zhenpeng**

To see an enlarged image go to the [|DIA Collection]

Title: Dragon Boat Regatta Artist(s): Wang Zhenpeng Date: 1310-1325 Period: Yuan Dynasty (period of Mongol rule) Country of Origin: China Cultural/Ethnic Affiliation: Han Chinese Medium: Ink on silk, hand scroll format Dimensions: 12¼ x 88¼ in Museum/Collection: Detroit Institute of Arts Accession Number: 64.75 Current Location and Manner of Display: Detroit Institute of Arts Provenance: unknown
 * Artwork Identification**

This entry highlights a hand scroll painted by the court artist Wang Zhenpeng. Wang was a Chinese landscape painter, and this image focuses on the Duanwu festival celebrated in China during the late spring. The festival is a traditional holiday occurring during the third day of the third month of the Chinese calendar. The painting is ink on silk and has two sets of calligraphy on it. Part of the scroll is substantially darker than the other part is.
 * Introduction**

The //Dragon Boat Regatta// is ink on silk. The dimensions are about one foot tall by approximately seven and a half feet wide. The color scheme is similar to what we have seen in silk painting during this time. It contains blue and green shades of ink, and this also gives a sense of the color gray. There are red stamps on the work that vary in shape and size. The left end of the work is white, and this could have occurred from restoration or from not being exposed to light. The far right end of the silk is substantially darker, which could be too much exposure to light or the improper handling and care of the art work. There are some small scrapes and tears along the top and bottom of the work, but nothing too substantial without further inspection.
 * Descriptive Analysis**

There is also some calligraphy writing at the end of the scroll. The first set of calligraphy is in //lishu// (clerical) style and was written by the painter. The second set of calligraphy is in //kaishu// (standard) style and was likely written by the Yuan emperor, who was the owner of this scroll.

This painting is done by the artist Wang Zhenpeng. Titled 'The Dragon Boat Regatta', the painting was done to depict the opening of the Golden Bright Pond, which happened every year on the ‘third day of the third month’. The pond was said to be opened so that the ‘citizens could share its pleasure with the monarch’. The artist illustrates the painting as being done by coincidence during the Festival of a Thousand Springs, which was a royal birthday celebration of the future emperor. The painting was made as a gift to the heir-apparent. On the painting is inscribed the following poem: //On the third day of the third month* the Golden//  //Bright Pond was bustling with games of the//   //Giant dragon-boats//   //Amidst the thundering applause and cacophony of//   //drumbeats and music.//   //The aura of joy was radiant as the sun and brightened//   //the flags and banners.//   //Although the prizes could not be worth much, the//   //river-boys from the Wu District//   //were heedless in the height of their ecstasy.//   //They remind us of all the foolish competitors of the world//   //Who strive forward by inches and backward by feet.//   //But what actually counts is the idea of shared//   //pleasures with the entire populace.//   //For that reason alone I dare to compose this piece of//   //‘soundless poetry’.//   //The Heir-apparent leads a simple life and indulges//   //himself in no excesses.//   //In the garden of the arts and the forest of books//   //alone, he enjoys himself with spiritual and//   //visual pleasures.//   //Today, on the occasion of his royal birthday, I//   //respectfully record this for the posterity—//   //As a ‘golden example for the coming thousands of//   //years’.// This painting was also said to have caught the eye of the imperial highness, Ta-chang-kung-chu, who, after more than twelve years later, asked the artist to make another version of the painting of the same composition. The artist however feared that he would not be able to present the royal highness with a painting that was worthy of her scrutiny because his eyesight was not as good as it used to be. This scroll could also be a depiction of the Duanwu Festival which is a traditional and statutory Chinese holiday. Other sources say that this festival occurs the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar and is sometimes referred to as the “Double Fifth”. There are many theories of how this holiday came about, but the explanation that is the most accepted is the death of poet Qu Yuan in 278 BC. The story says that Qu was a royal descendant of the Chu house and served in the high offices during the Zhou dynasty. When the king made the decision to become an ally of the powerful state of Qin, Qu opposed the alliance and then was banished. Later Qu committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth month. People say that lovers and admirers of Qu threw food into the river so that the fish wouldn’t eat his body. The local people raced out in boats to save the poet’s body, and this is where the tradition of boat racing started.
 * Formal/Contextual Analysis**

It is not exactly known when Wang Zhenpeng was born or his year of death, but it is known that he was an active artist from the years 1280-1329. There is believed to be six versions of this painting in various collections around the world, one of which is held at the Detroit Institute of the Arts (DIA).

//*It should be noted that there is some discrepancy over the actual timing of the festival during the year; while some sources say that it took place on the third day of the third month, other sources refer to the timing as taking place on the fifth day of the fifth month.//

This is a beautiful piece of artwork done with great care and a lot of thought put into it. Silk scrolls take a lot of time and effort to create and this particular scroll has much detail, so one can only imagine the work put into Dragon Boat Regatta. Many pieces of art have symbolic meanings behind them but Dragon Boat Regatta’s meaning is made clearer with the translation of the poem on the silk scroll. The poem talks about the “river- boys” who by showing a lot of excitement over winning “prizes” from the games on the river “strive forward by inches and backward by feet”. Then the poem talks about how the “Heir-apparent’s" life is “simple” and how he doesn’t over-indulge. I think that the symbolism of this piece of art is saying to anyone who looks at it to //lead a good straight-forward life without much excess//. It is no wonder that the imperial highness Ta-chang-kung-chu asked the artist to make another one.
 * Personal Interpretations**.

Lee, S. E., & Ho, W. (1968). Chinese art under the mongols: the yuan dynasty (1279-1368). Cleveland, OH: Cleaveland Museum of Art.
 * References**

Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. "Wang Zhenpeng (painter)." Wikipedia. Web. 15 Oct. 2010. . "Duanwu Festival, Dragon Boat Festival." ChinatownConnection.Com. Web. 15 Oct. 2010. .
 * Online Sources**

http://www.dia.org/the_collection/overview/viewobject.asp?objectid=64512
 * Image Sources**


 * Art Lesson 1**
 * Title:** Duanwu Festival: Tradition Based Landscapes
 * Level and Grade(s):** Elementary, Grade 4
 * Time:** Four class periods of fifty minutes each.

This lesson meets the following [|National Standards for Arts Education]: VA.K-4.1 Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes (Proficient: 1 & 3) VA.K-4.2 Using knowledge of structures and functions (Proficient: 1 & 3) VA.K-4.3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas (Proficient: 2) VA.K-4.4 Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures (Proficient: 2)
 * Standards:**

This lesson meets the following [|National Educational Technology Standards for Students:] 1. Creativity and innovation (a) 3. ** Research and Information Fluency ** (b & c) 5. Digital Citizenship (a & b)

Duanwu Festival: The Duanwu Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, and is based on the death of poet Qu Yuan. Festival: An event which centers on some unique aspect of that community or culture. Festivals provide entertainment, and are a time of celebration. Tradition: A practice, custom, or story that is remembered and passed down from families or cultures. Landscape: A picture depicting an area of scenery or land.
 * Significant Key Concepts:**

//Activity 1: Duanwu Festival and Traditions//, Day 1 Introduce the lesson by showing the students an image of //Dragon Boat Regatta//. Ask the students the following questions: What do you see? What do you think the image represents? Can you make connections between what you see and your own life? Follow up these questions by asking the students to define, in their own words, the word landscape.
 * Teaching and Learning Activities:**

Next, ask the students what the word festival means, and make a list of the correct responses on the board; ask the students what the word tradition means, and make a list of the correct responses on the board. Then show the students one or two of the following videos about the Duanwu Festival from YouTube and supplement the video with the Dragon Boat Festival content from the picture book //Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes//. While the students are watching the videos and listen to the teacher’s explanation of Duanwu Festival have them look for different traditions that occur during the festival.


 * Remember to screen the videos before class, and check YouTube for any new videos that may have been posted. These videos were accessed and found on March 13, 2009.


 * If you are not able to access YouTube through your school, when you are at home you can convert the YouTube videos to a MOV or AVI file by accessing []. Paste the website you need to convert into the bar at the top of the page and select what format you need it converted to and push start.

YouTube Duanwu Festival Videos: [] This video shows different images and gives factual information about the Duanwu Festival. [] This is a cartoon video that shows the legend behind the Duanwu Festival. [] This video shows actual dragon boat races and gives factual information. [] This video shows an actual dragon boat race.

After viewing the videos and reading the story, discuss with your students the different traditions they saw. Do they see any traditions that are also depicted in the //Dragon Boat Regatta//?

Then have students think about some festivals or holidays that their own family or culture observe. Make a list of the students’ festivals and holidays and associated traditions on a large piece of paper. Explain to the class that they will be picking a festival or holiday and its associated traditions celebrated by their family or culture and using it to create their own landscapes.

Give each student a worksheet (see below). Have each student interview their family members about their chosen festival/holiday and its associated traditions. Explain to the students that they need to try and fill in as much information as possible on the worksheet. Let the students know that if they can't fill in everything its ok because they will be doing extra research during the next class period. Make sure to have the students bring the worksheet back for the next class.

//Activity 2: Festival/Holiday Web Hunt,// Day 2 Start the class with a brief discussion of what the Duanwu Festival was about. Ask students to name any of the Duanwu Festival traditions that they remember from the last class.

Remind the students that they need to pick one festival or holiday that their family or culture takes part in. Students should have their worksheets that they starting filling out from the family interviews.

Next, the students will venture to the computer lab. Explain that they are doing a web hunt for any extra information that pertains to their festival or holiday and its associated traditions. Show students how to use a search engine and key words to find the information they need. The information they find should be written in the corresponding category on the worksheet. Any extra information they find should also be written on the worksheet.

Students will spend the rest of the class completing the worksheet. Student’s who are done early should get their worksheet approved by the teacher. Once it is approved and turned in to the teacher, the students should be given paper to begin drawing out ideas for their landscape based on their chosen festival or holiday.

//Activity 3: Festival/Holiday Paintings//, Day 3 & 4 Re-show the image of //Dragon Boat Regatta// and the traditions that it depicts. Encourage the students to examine the artist’s use of detail and how he used the entire paper for his landscape.

Pass back the worksheets.

Explain to the students that they will be creating landscapes inspired by their own festivals or holidays. They should use the information they found during the web hunt and in the interview to create a design for their landscapes.

Students should be given one piece of white 12” x 18” paper to draw their design on. Make sure to include detail in the drawing, and a background that supports their tradition.

In the next class, students will spend the entire class painting their landscapes. After setting up for painting, students will use acrylic paint (tempera if acrylic is not available). Students should be paying close attention to detail, and use a smaller sized brush if available.

When their painting is completed, students should put it on the drying rack, and turn in their worksheet.

//Worksheet// Landscape of a Festival and Its Traditions

Name:

Using the Internet, type in key words that relate to your festival/holiday into a search engine. Provide information by writing what you find for each of the following categories that relates to your festival/holiday. If one of the categories does not relate to your tradition then leave it blank.

Name of your festival or holiday:

Explain your festival/holiday and associated traditions:

What colors best represent your festival/holiday and associated traditions?

What foods best represent your festival/holiday and associated traditions?

What animals best represent your festival/holiday and associated traditions?

What activities or games are part of your festival/holiday tradition?

What day, month, and season does your festival/holiday take place?

Where does this festival/holiday take place?

Include any other important information about your festival/holiday.


 * Assessment:**
 * Criteria || Above Average || Average || Below Average ||
 * Festival Landscape Worksheet (10 points) || Worksheet is complete, with all related areas filled in with good answers. || Worksheet is mostly complete, and has most of the related areas filled in. || Worksheet is not complete, and many related areas are not filled in. ||
 * Class participation and discussion (10 points) || Student actively participates in class discussions and makes a positive contribution to the classroom-learning of festival and traditions. || Student somewhat participates in class discussions and makes some positive contributions to the classroom-learning of festival and traditions. || Student does not participate in class discussions and makes no or a negative contribution to the classroom-learning of festival and traditions. ||
 * Festival Landscape Painting (30 points) || Effectively uses appropriate elements based on chosen festival/holiday and associated traditions to create a successful composition. The painting exhibits quality craftsmanship. || Mostly uses appropriate elements based on chosen festival/holiday and associated traditions to create an overall strong composition. The painting exhibits good craftsmanship. || Uses few or no appropriate tradition elements based on chosen festival/holiday and associated traditions to create a composition. The painting exhibits poor craftsmanship. ||