Document 13.3: “Going Up the River at the Qingming (Spring) Festival,” City Bridge, ca. 1100

This detail from a similar scroll to the one featured in Document 13.2 shows a busy Kaifeng bridge. Palanquins, pedestrians, and pack animals jostle for position as they cross the bridge, a bridge that is made even more crowded by the small shops and food stalls that line its sides. The river traffic below adds to the sense of bustle and energy. As you examine the scene, pay particular attention to the different activities taking place on the bridge. What kinds of people are included in the scene? What kinds of things are they doing?

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(A detail of a scroll called “Going Up the River at the Qingming (Spring) Festival,” by Zhang Zeduan/Werner Forman Archive/The Bridgeman Art Library)

Questions to Consider

  1. What light does the scene shed on the importance of transportation networks to Chinese cities?
  2. Compare this scene to the civil service exam pictured in Document 13.1. What aspects of Song society are revealed by each scene? How do the scenes both complicate and compliment each other?