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National Anthropological Archives
Guide to MS 7162 Book of Chinese watercolor paintings illustrating modes of punishment
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NAA.MS7162
- Creators:
-
Morse, Charles H.
- Dates:
-
before 1825
- Languages:
-
The title of the album is inChinese. Explanatory notes are inEnglish.
- Physical Description:
-
1 Volumecloth-bound album containing 12 watercolor paintings on pith paper9.5 x 13.5 inches (bound volume), 8 x 11.5 inches (paintings)1 Folder2 sets of 16 pages of notes
- Repository:
- Container:
- 7162 / 7421 / 7508 / 75911
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
A cloth-bound album containing twelve (12) watercolor paintings on pith paper. The paintings depict various modes of corporal punishment. The Chinese title, Xing ren zhuang ren, or "Punishment with Strong Sword Blades" is apparently figurative, for the twelve drawings in this collection depict punishments other than those by the sword. Included with the album are two sets of explanatory notes written by the donor and/or a United States National Museum curator or clerk. The two sets of notes have slight differences.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Historical Note
Historical Note
Chinese export watercolors were painted in the port cities of China for sale to western customers in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Many of the watercolors were done in sets such as trades, domestic interiors and gardens, boats, birds, mandarins, and punishments.
Administration
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The album was donated to the United States National Museum by Charles H. Morse of the U. S. Pension Office in 1876. A note indicates that it was "procured from China in 1825." The album and accompanying notes were transferred from the object collections of the Department of Anthropology to the National Anthropological Archives by Chang-su Houchins in February 1985.
Processing Information
English titles for the album and most paintings were provided by the donor. A label with an English title was added to the album cover by USNM. The archivist assigned titles in square brackets [] to untitled paintings.
Digital Content
More …Using the Collection
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Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
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Preferred Citation
MS 7162 Book of Chinese watercolor paintings illustrating modes of punishment, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
More Information
Local Numbers
Local Numbers
USNM Accession Number: 4505
USNM Catalog Number: 21249
Variant Titles
Variant Titles
Punishment with strong sword blades
Xing ren zhuang ren
Keywords
Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
---|---|---|---|
Chinese | Cultural Context | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Watercolors | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
East Asia | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Corporal punishment | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Albums | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
China trade watercolor painting | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
China | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Works of art | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
National Anthropological Archives
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