Four Seasons Celebration Album. Twelve leaves. Painted by a Qing dynasty artist. Silk, colored (18.5x23 cm). Collection of the Taipei Palace Museum-PDF

This "Four Seasons Celebration" album was painted by a Qing dynasty artist. The album consists of twelve panels, depicting seasonal activities in chronological order: Lantern Festival, Flower Festival, Wine on Curved Water, Bathing the Buddha, Planting Pomegranates, Admiring Lotus, Qiqiao Festival, Enjoying Osmanthus Fragrance, Horse Racing, Exploring Plum Blossoms, Adding Thread, and other annual events. The entire album features vivid and detailed brushwork and colors, characteristic of a typical imperial court painting. This album is now housed in the Taipei Palace Museum.

Luminous and Colorful Festival
Depicts the celebration of the Lunar New Year when children play with a lion dance in the courtyard. The lion dance is believed to ward off evil spirits. Two children dance together with one lion, whose head is brightly colored and intricately crafted. One child holds a colorful ball or wears a mask to lead the lion, while the other beats a peace drum, immersed in the lively atmosphere. Three women with their children watch from under the 廊 (covered walkway), and the children hold pomegranates symbolizing many sons and daughters. Another child holds a bat-shaped lantern, representing good fortune and auspiciousness, while the evergreen symbolizes eternal youth, health, and vitality.

Spring Abundant and Flower Festival
Depicts the scene of admiring flowers during the Flower Festival. The Flower Festival is the birthday of all flowers in China, also known as the "Festival of Flower Gods," "Birthday of a Hundred Flowers," "Birthday of Flower Gods," or "Vegetable Picking Festival." It is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated in the Northeast, North China, East China, Central China, and South China. It is usually held on the 2nd, 12th, 15th, or 25th day of the second lunar month.

Jǔ liú qū shuǐ
Depicting the scene of qū shuǐ liú jǔ during the Shàngsì Festival (commonly known as March 3rd). The jǔ refers to a wine cup, typically made of wood and thus capable of floating on water. On the annual March 3rd Shàngsì Festival, people sit by the curved water channel, placing cups upstream and letting them flow downstream. Whichever cup stops in front of someone, that person takes a drink, turning it into a source of joy, hence the term "qū shuǐ liú jǔ."

Huá xiàn yōu tán
Depicting the scene of the people entering the mountain to offer flowers and worship the Buddha during the April Buddha Bathing Festival.

Ruddy Dawn
Depicts the early morning sun rising in May, with pomegranate flowers blooming, vibrant red like fire, creating a harmonious scene. Court ladies in the pavilion admiring the flowers, in a leisurely mood.

Lotus Leads Fragrant Breeze
Depicts the lush green willow shadows of summer, with the scene of admiring lotus flowers in waterside pavilions.

Needle Tower Qiqiao
Depicts the scene of women dressed in new clothes on the courtyard or climbing high towers to pray to the Weaving Star for wisdom during the Qiqiao Festival.

Moon Palace Fragrance Flying
Depicts the scene of osmanthus fragrance floating in August, with moon appreciation and moon worship.

High Platform Test Horse
Depicting the emperor inspecting his troops from the high platform.?

Snow Bank Exploring Plum Blossoms
Depicting the scene of riding a donkey to seek plum blossoms, exploring plum blossoms on the snow bank.

Pearl curtain adds thread
From "Record of Seasons," "Between the Jin and Wei dynasties, the palace used red thread to measure the length of shadows, adding one line after the Winter Solstice." This piece depicts a scene of a woman practicing needlework in winter.

Earth drum and village music
Depicts the scene of elders and children sitting together, striking drums and playing music, harmoniously celebrating the end of the year.