
This painting was painted in Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), demonstrating the hustle and bustle capital------ Bianjing, daily life of people, and the elegance of the riverside. The painting is 528 cm long and 24.8 cm in height, which is an outstanding painting. Throughout the history, Song dynasty was the first dynasty blending the business building and house, which people started selling goods at night. Therefore, night market came up. It is the first time people can come out at night. Compare to western style of painting, this painting is more focus on the background of the city, the initial interaction and international business.

In the painting, there are 814 people, 60 animals, 28 ships, 30 buildings, 20 vehicles, 8 sedan chairs, and 170 trees, approximately. However, in 814 people, they were farmers, businessman, doctors, teachers, monks, fortune-tellers, carpenters, smugglers, thiefs, blacksmiths, actors, and students, to name but a few, they were doing all different kind of job and wearing different costumes. Based on the clothes they wear, I believed it is spring in the painting. Some were wearing only shorts, and some were wearing cheongsam. Also there had a variety of building: pharmacy, restaurant, hotel, business building, instrument store, second-hand shop, bar, temple, and so on. In addition, different store had different signboard. For example, there are a myriad of store which selling alcohol. Big store which had more capitals were called “正店”, while the small store were called “腳店”.

 In Bianjing, there were a lot of vehicle, which depicted the crowded and magnificent city and the status of citizen. For example, there are people who drive their vehicle and there are people who park them. A block away, there are people who overturn the trashcan beneath the bridge and there are people who vroom past them with an elegant vehicle. At least but not last, the ships and boats played a significant role in the painting. First of all, the rich invited friends and brought some girls to his party, drinking alcohol on the ship. Secondly, the river in the capital was a transportation hub, shipping all goods and food to the north and the south. Third, as we can see in the painting, they also trade overseas, for example, Taiwan, Japan, and Philippines. Because of the river, all the people gathered around the river and started their business: that is why the city getting hustling all day long.

The arch bridge is the focal point in the painting: it fully conveys the whole prosperity of the city in Song dynasty. First, the arch bridge is a milestone in that era. As I had mention, Bianjing was a transportation hub, so though the bridge was the easiest way to cross the river. Therefore, the architect started to build a lot of arches in order to trade. Secondly, with the bridge, people become easier to do their business throughout the country. In the painting, people were not only strolling from one village to another, but also started selling their goods on the bridge. So the arch bridge are not only bring people more closely, but also an important element thriving the Song dynasty. However, there was a disadvantage of arch bridge: gigantic ship couldn’t navigate through it. So there is a vivid part of the painting: the ship almost stuck beneath the bridge. Some people were trying to adjust the mast, and some people were giving the direction to the sailors.

The rural part in the painting, where had a lot of mountains and trees, were able to see the whole prosper city. In comparison with the central of Bianjing, there are more quiet and peaceful.

There were probably 20 women in the painting. Some of them were staying in vehicle that hiding their faces and peaking the city. Some of them were shopping. It is obvious to know that women had a low status and couldn’t show their faces in public in the Song dynasty.

This painting not only depicted the detail of building, bridge, and people, but also the way people dress and the way people trade. In addition, he demonstrated the Chinese culture within the painting. This painting is a masterpiece.
