General Guo Ziyi's Banquet

GuoZiYi’s banquet screen

Guo Zi Yi's Banquet Screen is about Guo Zi Yi from Tang Dynasty in China, who is known for his successful life and his hundreds of sons and thousands of grandsons. These banquet screens had been used to celebrate and decorate both court and folk weddings. Guo Zi Yi was a was a general during the Tang Dynasty who ended the An Shi Rebellion, and participated in expeditions against the peoples of Huihe (Uyghurs) and Tubo (Tibetans).

The center of the screen depicts Guo Zi Yi with his numerous wives and sons-in-laws, which emphasizes Guo Zi Yi's status. His palace-like house is depicted with longevity symbols such as clouds, deer, elixir plants, and limestone. There are various meanings embedded in the screen; Long life and perpetual youth, material blessings and success, Five blessings and happiness.

The right side of the screen depicts Guo Zi Yi with his sons and grandsons; playing games with them, surrounded by various forms of houses including Anchae, Haenglangchae, Noogak (garden house). The left side illustrates a pavilion with gardens. Next to a long, old pine tree and a loyal fox-glove tree depicted in a yard, the main character in a banquet tent is seated with luxurious clothes and a happy face. Guests are wearing high-status clothes, surrounded by women musicians, dancers, and prostitutes.  

Here is a story of Guo Zi Yi from an old Korean novel by an anonymous author and period: Guo Zi Yi, who was formally Tang Dynasty's Prince of Fen Yeng, was originally born as a very talented son of middle class civil servants. However, as he lost his parents at his young age, he suffers many hardships and afflictions as an orphan. Then, one day he gains fame after he encounters an old man, who ultimately gave him a knife and three books. He was good at killing enemies and passes the test and gains a status. However, when he finds out about a scheme against him, he leaves and wanders through mountains and rivers. Then, he meets a monster at a temple, and receives a silver suit of armor and gold helmet of Gang Tae Gong. After his success at An Shi Rebellion, he becomes the Prince of Fen Yeng, lives a blessing-filled life until his death. After his death, he was immortalized in Chinese mythology as the God of Wealth and Happiness.

In Korea, the screen tells a great deal about the late Joseon Dynasty's ideal family life, as well as their dream-like house and garden. The luxurious royal palace building is the reminiscence of the underwater palace of the Dragon King, and various aspects of houses and banquet scene in the yard are depicted in birds-eye view.

Interestingly, earlier screens depict children playing Chinese games like horse-riding, kite-flying, lotus games, while later on children instead play Korean traditional games such as chicken fight, hide and sick, seaweed counting(?), circus(?). The <Hundred Sons Screen> in Korea National Musuem does not have a Chinese background any more, but has Korean Military buildings and children with Korean clothing playing Korean games. The parade of young men, wearing Uh-sa-hwa and riding horses, definitely reflects the <Eternal Life Picture>, and soldiers in the 훈련각 are definitely Koreans as well. Like this, Korean folk painters have been good at making the subject looking as ‘our story,’ making them distinctively Korean.

 A rare and beautiful example of General Guo Ziyi's Banquet (images above) will be on display at The Kang Collection Show: 

Revelations Of The Brush: Joseon Scholar Ink Paintings" on display from September 15th to October 2nd.