Gu Hongzhong’s “Night Revels of Han Xizai” 顾闳中《韩熙载夜宴图》

作者：顾闳中
Author: Gu Hongzhong
尺寸：335.5×28.7厘米
Size: 335.5 cm×28.7 cm
材质：绢本设色
Material: ink and color on silk
年代：五代（北京故宫博物院藏）
Dynasty: Five Dynasties (Collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing)
《韩熙载夜宴图》是中国十大传世名画之一。它以连环长卷的方式描摹了南唐官员韩熙载家中开宴行乐的场景。线条准确流畅，工细灵动，充满表现力。
“Night Revels of Han Xizai” is one of the top ten traditional Chinese paintings. The painting vividly represents a night party hosted by Han Xizai, an official of the Southern Tang dynasty, through a series of scrolls. The painting features smooth lines, fine brushwork and a vivid presentation.
《韩熙载夜宴图》全长三米，共分五段，每一段画面以屏风相隔。第一段描绘韩熙载与宾客听歌女弹琵琶的情景，第二段描绘韩熙载为舞女击鼓的场景，第三段描绘宴会进行中间的休息场面，第四段描绘韩熙载坐听管乐的场面，第五段描绘韩熙载的众宾客与歌女们谈话的情景。
The painting is approximately 3 meters, and is split into five distinct sections naturally by folding screens. The first section depicts Han Xizai and his guests listening to a pipa solo played by a girl. In the second section, Han Xizai is shown beating a drum for a dancing girl. The third section shows Han Xizai and his guest taking a rest. The fourth section depicts Han Xizai sitting listening to instrumental string music. In the fifth section, Han Xizai’s guests are talking to the singers.
作者把韩熙载生活的情景描绘得淋漓尽致，画面里的所有人物的音容笑貌栩栩如生。在这幅巨作中，画有四十多个神态各异的人物，个个性格突出，神情描绘自然。
The painting presents a vivid display of the night revels hosted by Han Xizai, and a colorful depiction more than 40 figures with different characters and appearances.
绘制背景
Background
韩熙载是五代时北海人，文章书画，名震一时。其父亲因事被诛，韩熙载逃至江南，投奔南唐。
Han Xizai was born in Beihai during the Five Dynasties, and became famous for his articles and paintings. After his father was killed, Han Xizai surrendered and pledged his allegiance to the Southern Tang.
开始时，韩熙载深受南唐中主李璟的宠信，李煜继位后，当时北方的后周威胁着南唐的安全，李煜一方面向北周屈辱求和，一方面又对北方来的官员百般猜疑、陷害，整个南唐统治集团内斗争激化。在这种环境之中，官居高职的韩熙载为了保护自己，故意装扮成生活腐败、醉生梦死的糊涂人，好让李煜不要怀疑他以求自保。
At the very beginning, Han Xizai was favored by Li Jing, Emperor of the South Tang dynasty. When his son, Li Yu, succeeded to the throne, the Later Zhou dynasty located in the north was becoming a threat to the Southern Tang dynasty. While, Emperor Li Yu sued for peace but he also distrusted those officials who came from the north. As a result, the conflict within the ruling group became acute. In such a complex environment, Han Xizai, who was in a high position, pretended to live a dissolute life, so as to dispel Emperor Li Yu’s doubt.
但李煜仍对他不放心，就派画院的“待诏”顾闳中和周文矩到他家里去，暗地窥探韩熙载的活动，命令他们把所看到的一切画下来。大智若愚的韩熙载故意将不问时事、沉湎歌舞、醉生梦死的形态来了一场酣畅淋漓的表演。顾闳中凭借着他那敏捷的洞察力和惊人的记忆力，把韩熙载在家中的夜宴过程默记在心，回去后即刻挥笔作画，李煜看了此画后，暂时放过了韩熙载等人，一幅传世精品却因此而流传下来。
Emperor Li still suspected him. Therefore, he sent two painters Gu Hongzhong and Zhou Wenju to pry into Han Xizai's private life and make a visual record of his behavior. Han Xizai took on the behavior of a loose person, indulging himself in music, dance, drinking, and having revels every night. So Gu Hongzhong painted this picture from memory, according to what he had observed. After seeing the painting, Emperor Li let Han off. Thanks to Emperor Li’s suspicion, a masterpiece of Chinese painting has been handed down to today.
顾闳中简介
Introduction to Gu Hongzhong
顾闳中，五代十国时南唐人物画家，曾任南唐画院待诏，用笔圆劲，间以方笔转折，设色浓丽，擅长描摹人物神情意态，与周文矩齐名，唯一传世作品为《韩熙载夜宴图》。
Gu Hongzhong was a Chinese painter during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of Chinese history. once serving as an official in the painting academy of the Southern Tang dynasty, Gu Hongzhong also excelled at figure painting. His paintings are marked by precise portraits of the figures, fine and continuous brush lines and delicate colors. He was accorded the same high status as his contemporary, the court painter Zhou Wenju. “Night Revels of Han Xizai” is the only work of Gu Hongzhong that has remained to this day.