Analysis of portraits from the “Jingying bingji” from the points of view of studying of weaponry and costumes

Abstract

The article deals with the Qing military and court costume of 18th century as well as the weapons and accessories of the Qing warriors on the base of the iconographic source – painting scroll “Jingying bingji” – which is represented to the scholar circulation in the first time. Portraits of Qing ministers and generals distinguished themselves during the pacification of Taiwan in 1787–1788 are studied in connection with the Imperial regulations in respect of the cloths, weapons and accessories of civil and military officials, their insignia and signs of rank are checked in accordance with the Imperial orders concerning awards. It allowed to determine the high level of the historical accuracy of images of distinguished ministers and generals as well as found some inaccuracies in respect of the insignia and signs of rank on the portraits. Further researches of Qing iconography of 18th century in parallel with Imperial regulations and documents would allow to make big progress in studies of Qing military and court costume, and introduction of biographies of the portrayed persons to the scholar circulation would provide the valuable information not only in respect of the circumstances of their awards, but in respect of the historical events which allowed the portrayed persons to make their deeds. It would allow to create the more detailed scenery of the historical events in the China in 18th century and add a lot to our knowledge about that period.