c1900 八駿馬全圖 Complete Pictures of the Eight Noble Steeds

Description

Colour Plates, Illustrated, Publishers' Original Binding

With text in both Chinese and English.

In the original wooden boards, with orihon style concertina binding.

Illustrated with ten hand-painted watercolours on silk, with eight of these illustrations showing individual horses and riders, one illustration showing the portraits of each of the eight riders together, and one plate depicting all eight horses together. Collated, complete.

This charming work depicts eight noble steeds from Chinese history, alongside their riders.

The first leaf of text presents the names of riders, horses, and their periods and dynasties in chronological order, from Piebald, the horse of Hsiang Chi and the Chi'in dynasty, to Date Wonder, the steed of Yao Fei, during the Southern Sung dynasty.

Further leaves present illustrations and biographical information on each steed and rider.