A Palace
| Support Type: | Silk |
| Paint Type: | Ink |
| Current Location: | NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM IN TAIPEI |
"A Palace" by Zhao Boju is more than a study in imperial architecture; it is an ode to the balance and harmony between human civilization and nature. While the palace, elegantly and finely drawn, is contained in a modest area of the composition, immense mountains and boundless sky take over the scene. Such a composition illustrates one of Song dynasty ideals--that man's largest constructions are part of the greater cosmic scene. The fine courtly Blue-and-Green landscape,Zhao Boju's speciality,is a testament to the fact that neither architecture nor nature take precedence over the other in this careful balanced composition. What struck me as most impressive about the painting,however, is its silence. There is a notable lack of royal spectacle; the painting gives off an impression of stillness and repose. The palace seems more like a retreat than a conquering fortification. The composition subtly suggests that real power is not in manipulating nature to man's will, but in following the rhythm and flow of nature. After all, while the mountains are timeless and eternal, the grandeur of human accomplishments comes from stillness, balance, and humility toward the world that we inhabit.