United by Music 合樂圖
Ming dynasty (1368–1644), 15th/16th century
Medium
Handscroll; ink and colors on silk
Dimensions
41.9 × 184.2 cm (16 1/2 × 72 9/16 in.)
Classification
handscroll
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
72380
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This all-female ensemble is an imperial or aristocratic orchestra. Singly or in pairs, the musicians play the large drum, clapper, oboe, vertical flute, transverse flute, hourglass drum, mouth organ, gong-chime, long zither, angular harp, and lute. Such instruments accurately represent those played by the mid- Tang dynasty (eighth century), as known today from surviving artifacts and textural descriptions of the Imperial Conservatory of Music. The audience for this concert strikingly resembles c...