Searching for My Parents
This painting illustrates Huang Xiangjian's perilous journey through Yunnan and Guizhou Provinces in one of the most celebrated acts of filial piety in late imperial Chinese history. In 1643 Huang's father was appointed county magistrate in Yunnan, and for nearly a decade thereafter, Huang heard nothing from his parents. Not knowing whether they had survived the ravages of warfare following the fall of the Ming dynasty in 1644, he set out in 1652 from his home in Suzhou and traveled over 1,400 miles in search of his parents. In his vivid published account, Huang describes the many hardships he endured before being reunited with his parents in rural Yunnan. He eventually escorted them back home, completing his round-trip journey in 558 days.
Painted three years after his return, this handscroll documents the most arduous portion of the journey, including treacherous mountain trails and the military garrisons where he faced interrogation. Impoverished, injured, and sobbing, he often had to convince armed troops that he was not a spy but was merely trying to obtain passage in search of his parents. In his inscription, he expresses the hope that the painting will "exorcise the nightmares" that still haunted him.
Painted three years after his return, this handscroll documents the most arduous portion of the journey, including treacherous mountain trails and the military garrisons where he faced interrogation. Impoverished, injured, and sobbing, he often had to convince armed troops that he was not a spy but was merely trying to obtain passage in search of his parents. In his inscription, he expresses the hope that the painting will "exorcise the nightmares" that still haunted him.
Artwork Details
- 明/清 黃向堅 萬里尋親圖 卷
- Title: Searching for My Parents
- Artist: Huang Xiangjian (Chinese, 1609–1673)
- Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
- Date: dated 1656
- Culture: China
- Medium: Handscroll; ink and color on silk
- Dimensions: Image: 14 3/8 in. × 18 ft. 2 in. (36.5 × 553.7 cm)
Overall with mounting: 14 3/4 in. × 27 ft. 1 in. (37.5 × 825.5 cm) - Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Gift of Julia and John Curtis, 2015
- Object Number: 2015.784.4
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Huang Xiangjian
late 1660s–early 1670s
Returned to lender
Huang Xiangjian
17th century
Wang Hui
datable to 1698
Wang Yuanqi
ca. 1710
Central Tibet
ca. 1700
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.