Album of Poems on “Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers” (article) | Khan Academy (2023)

Album of Poems on “Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers” (匪懈堂瀟湘八景詩帖) exemplifies the unity of the three arts—painting, poetry, and calligraphy—in the early

Joseon period

. The album was originally compiled as a handscroll by

Prince Anpyeong

in 1442, before it was later bound as an album. To create the original handscroll, Prince Anpyeong commissioned a painting of the “Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers” (瀟湘八景圖) and nineteen poems on this theme by some of the finest writers of the era. The prince also personally calligraphed a number of famous poems on this theme, including “Poem on the Eight Views” (八景詩) by

Emperor Ningzong

of the Song Dynasty, along with works by

Goryeo

writers

Yi Inro

and

Jin Hwa

. Unfortunately, the painting and part of the poem by Emperor Ningzong are now missing, but the rest of the original works remain intact.

Prince Anpyeong’s creation of this album in 1442 recalls a project that took place in 1185, when Goryeo’s

King Myeongjong

ordered civil officials to compose poems on “Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers,” before commissioning artist

Yi Gwangpil

to make a painting based on the poems. Prince Anpyeong likely knew about King Myeongjong’s earlier project to promote poetry and painting, and thus created his own album as the first such effort since the foundation of the Joseon Dynasty.

One of the nineteen writers who composed poems for this album was a monk named

Manu

; most of the others were important civil officials who supported the rule of

King Sejong

, prioritizing the cultivation of knowledge and ethics over military strength. For example, eleven of the poets were scholars of King Sejong’s

Hall of Worthies

:

Hence, the production of this album demonstrates Prince Anpyeong’s sincere longing for an ideal world, the same desire that inspired him to visualize the

Peach Blossom Land

five years later in Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land. The prince once had a vivid dream about the Peach Blossom Land that he could never forget, such that he built his vacation home on the northwest foot of Mt. Bugak and named it “Mugye Jeongsa” (武溪精舍), meaning “an abode by the stream of the Peach Blossom Land.” It is also said that he planted hundreds of peach trees around the house. Such details illuminate Prince Anpyeong’s desperate yearning to enact the ideal land in reality, a quest that turned out to be short-lived.

Born as

Yi Yong

in 1418, becoming the third prince of King Sejong, Prince Anpyeong distinguished himself by displaying the most natural artistic talent of anyone in the Joseon royal court. Thus, he received the courtesy name Jeongji (淸之) and the pennames Bihaedang (匪懈堂), Nanggan Geosa (琅玕居士), and Maejukheon (梅竹軒). In particular, his father King Sejong conferred the penname Bihaedang—a term from the

Book of Songs

From childhood, Prince Anpyeong loved to study and practice the arts, quickly establishing himself as a renowned painter, poet, and calligrapher. He was especially revered among the people for his wisdom and open-mindedness. In addition to Mugye Jeongsa, he also built

Damdamjeong

in

Namho

. He freely indulged his love of literature by compiling an impressive book collection and hosting poetry events featuring the most esteemed writers and scholars.

Prince Anpyeong was also renowned as the best calligrapher of his time, developing a characteristic style based on the calligraphy of China’s

Zhao Mengfu

. Although Zhao Mengfu’s calligraphy had been known in Korea since the late Goryeo period, its popularity soared through the influence of Prince Anpyeong, who used it to cultivate his own unique style combining elegance and vivacity. While he was naturally talented in the arts, the prince became successful thanks in large part to his persistence and work ethic. Growing up in the royal court, he was able to see many superb calligraphy works, helping him to refine his own tastes and inspiring him to collect calligraphy and paintings on his own.

According to “On Painting” (畵記) fromCollected Works of Shin Sukju (保閑齋集) by

Shin Sukju

, Prince Anpyeong had a total of 222 works of calligraphy and painting in his collection. The majority of these works were by famous Chinese calligraphers and painters, along with some by An Gyeon. By cultivating this collection and sharing it with Joseon scholars and writers, Prince Anpyeong significantly contributed to the development of Joseon calligraphy and painting at the time.

In 1453, however, when Prince Anpyeong was thirty-six years old, his peaceful and self-sufficient life—befitting his name—came to a tragic end. That year, the prince’s elder brother

Prince Suyang

led a successful coup and ascended to the throne as

King Sejo

. Deemed a political threat to his brother, Prince Anpyeong was exiled to Ganghwa Island, before being executed by poison. The same fate was shared by Kim Jongseo, Seong Sammun, and Bak Paengnyeon, all of whom had written poems for this album and Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land.

Read the essay and learn more onThe National Museum of Korea’s website.

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