Emperor Xianzong Taming Birds, Ming dynasty. Ink and color on silk, 67 cm in height, 52.8 cm in width. © National Museum of China

This is a painting depicting Emperor Zhu Jianshen of the Ming Dynasty playing with birds. The scene is set under two ancient trees in the imperial garden. Emperor Zhu Jianshen, wearing a casual hat and robe, is seen playing with a birdcage containing a small bird under the arms of a eunuch. Another eunuch stands behind him. This painting was created by a court painter of the time.

Emperor Xianzong of Ming was known for his pursuit of novelty and love of art. In this painting, "Emperor Xianzong Taming Birds," the emperor wears a short-brimmed hat with a top bead, a style evolved from the Yuan dynasty, reflecting the influence of "Hu clothing" (non-Han Chinese clothing). However, Emperor Xianzong's ancestor, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty, had explicitly forbidden non-Han clothing, language, and surnames. It seems that Emperor Xianzong had clearly disregarded the rules established by his ancestors. This also reveals his penchant for novelty.

During the reign of Emperor Xianzong of Ming, his political career was relatively mediocre, but he enjoyed unconventional lifestyles. Aside from a few years of popular unrest due to Wang Zhi's usurpation of power, the reign was generally considered a period of peace and prosperity. Emperor Xianzong advocated "governing by non-interference" and personally created paintings such as "A Harmonious Gathering" and "Auspicious Omens of the New Year." The former expressed his philosophy of "uniting three people into one, achieving a state of single-mindedness, forgetting right and wrong, and fostering a harmonious atmosphere," while the latter expressed the idea of "a warm spring breeze returning, a bright future dawning, auspicious omens appearing in this painting today, may everything go smoothly year after year." "A Harmonious Gathering," "Auspicious Omens of the New Year," and "Amitabha Buddha" by the Qing Dynasty court painter Ding Guanpeng were collectively known as the "Three Auspicious Treasures" and were very popular.