"Seventh Month" from the Odes of Bin1200s · Study 1980.187

Context from the museum

According to Confucian thought, the ruler looks after the well-being of his people which involves agricultural activities. Seventh Month from the ancient Odes of Bin in the Shijing (Book of Poetry) describes occupations throughout the year, including plowing, harvesting, hunting, making clothes, and observing rituals. The earliest illustrations of these Odes accompanied by text were commissioned by Southern Song emperor Gaozong (reigned 1127–1162). As the lower Yangzi delta had become the new seat of government, Gaozong had sets of these illustrations produced by court artists to revive the dynasty and convince the Confucian officialelite of his legitimacy to rule.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

The Odes of Bin appears in the classic Shijing (Book of Poetry), an anthology of more than 300 poems, folk songs, and ceremonial hymns that were originally chanted to music.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected image measurement for "Seventh Month" from the Odes of Bin is 687.2 cm wide and 22.5 cm high, equivalent to approximately 270.6 × 8.9 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 30.54:1. The rectangular bounding area is 1.55 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 229.1% of the span before adding a frame. That exceeds the example wall width, so a smaller reference wall would not reproduce the recorded scale. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With "Seventh Month" from the Odes of Bin in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Handscroll; ink and color on silk, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 687.2 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?