Characteristics of Ming Dai Jin's Zhong Kui's Night Journey painting

Silk, color, 190cm longitudinal, 120.4cm horizontal, signed: "Dai Jin, West Lake". Inscription: "Jingan" seal.

The artist uses a slightly exaggerated technique to emphasize Zhong Kui's round eyes, gnarled beard, and stooping down to urge him to walk, so as to show his imposing style of intimidating the ghosts. The ghosts, on the other hand, look terrified, open their mouths in surprise, and hunch over as they carry the palanquin forward.

The setting of the picture is also closely related to the theme of the night journey. In the picture, the mountains and rocks, like a ghost face; snow-capped, cold air; full moon hazy, deep night; dead trees and grass, weather depression, the atmosphere is eerie, chilling. A broken umbrella, a sword, a few sedan chair ropes, caves, several stacks of springs and other details, are powerful to emphasize the situation of the characters and the environment of the netherworld.

This picture depicts Zhong Kui on a snowy night parade with all the little ghosts. Zhong Kui is a symbol of folklore to suppress ghosts and ward off evil spirits, Zhong Kui statue was initially posted and hung as a festive painting during the New Year. At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the custom of hanging the Zhong Kui statue was gradually moved to the Dragon Boat Festival. The gods and ghosts are a separate subject in traditional Chinese painting. Unlike the vivid realism of figures, birds and beasts, the images of gods and ghosts come from people's imagination, and painters give credible graphics to such non-existent things.

This painting utilizes the "nail-head and rat-tail" depiction method, with strong, staccato lines. All the ghosts are hideous, describing obscenity, while Zhong Kui has a sharp gaze, with a dignified and intimidating attitude. The background is rendered in light ink, highlighting the color of the night, and set off the state of the mountain snow.