Embroidery of the Times: A Comparative Study on the Iconography of Han Dynasty Picture Stones with the Same Subject Matter--Taking Jing Ke Assassinates the Qin King as an Example

Jingdan Zhang

doi:10.54254/2753-7064/2025.28833

Communications in Humanities ResearchOpen access

Embroidery of the Times: A Comparative Study on the Iconography of Han Dynasty Picture Stones with the Same Subject Matter--Taking Jing Ke Assassinates the Qin King as an Example

Research Article

Open Access

Embroidery of the Times: A Comparative Study on the Iconography of Han Dynasty Picture Stones with the Same Subject Matter--Taking Jing Ke Assassinates the Qin King as an Example

Jingdan Zhang ^1*

¹ The University of Hong Kong

^*Corresponding author: annyzhang0378@163.com

Published on 28 October 2025

CHR Vol.94

ISSN (Print): 2753-7072

ISSN (Online): 2753-7064

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-495-3

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-496-0

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Abstract

This paper focuses on the iconographic study of the Jing Ke Assassinates the Qin King pictorial stone from the Wu Ancestral Hall in Jiaxiang, Shandong Province, and summarises the artistic expression and basic connotation of the Jing Ke Assassinates the Qin King thematic pictorial stone. Further, the paper gives an overview of the distribution and characteristics of the Jing Ke Assassinates the Qin King pictographs in different regions of China. Combined with iconographic comparisons of the Jing Ke Assassinates the Qin King pictographs from different regions in the Han Dynasty, the paper points out that although the themes of the images are the same in all regions, there are differences in the composition and details of the depictions. It is pointed out that although the theme of the images is the same in different regions, there are differences in the specific composition and detail depiction, reflecting the cultural characteristics and technical level of different regions. By exploring the meanings behind this motif, the paper also reveals the multiple symbolic meanings and evolution of the image of Jing Ke Assassinates the Qin King in Han society. Finally, the paper concludes that the ideological function of Jing Ke Assassinates the Qin King images in Han society and its value as a new perspective for Han history research.

Keywords:

Han pictorial stones, Jing Ke Assassinates the Qin King, iconographic research, Art History of the Han Dynast.

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References

[1]. Editorial Committee of the Complete Collection of Chinese Picture Stones. The Complete Collection of Chinese Picture Stones (Book 1): Picture Stones of Shandong Han [M]. Jinan: Shandong Fine Arts Publishing House, Zhengzhou: Henan Fine Arts Publishing House, 2000: 49, 56, 62.

[2]. Xing Yitian. Geset, list inscription, literature and portrait interpretation [C]//Painting for the heart: portrait stones, portrait bricks and murals. Zhonghua shuibu, 2011: 107.

[3]. Zheng Hongli. Regional Characteristics and Social Significance of Historical Story Subjects of Han Dynasty Picture Stones in Northern Shaanxi [J]. Wen Bo, 2012(4): 43.

[4]. Xin Lixiang. A Comprehensive Study of Han Dynasty Picture Stones [M]. Beijing: Cultural Relics Press, 2000: 128.

[5]. Fan Ye. Hou Han Shu [M]. Beijing: Zhonghua shu bure , 1965: 1503.

References

[2]. Xing Yitian. Geset, list inscription, literature and portrait interpretation [C]//Painting for the heart: portrait stones, portrait bricks and murals. Zhonghua shuibu, 2011: 107.

[3]. Zheng Hongli. Regional Characteristics and Social Significance of Historical Story Subjects of Han Dynasty Picture Stones in Northern Shaanxi [J]. Wen Bo, 2012(4): 43.

[4]. Xin Lixiang. A Comprehensive Study of Han Dynasty Picture Stones [M]. Beijing: Cultural Relics Press, 2000: 128.

[5]. Fan Ye. Hou Han Shu [M]. Beijing: Zhonghua shu bure , 1965: 1503.

Cite this article

Zhang,J. (2025). Embroidery of the Times: A Comparative Study on the Iconography of Han Dynasty Picture Stones with the Same Subject Matter--Taking Jing Ke Assassinates the Qin King as an Example. Communications in Humanities Research,94,15-20.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Art, Design and Social Sciences

ISBN: 978-1-80590-495-3(Print) / 978-1-80590-496-0(Online)

Editor: Yanhua QinBeijing Normal University

Conference website: https://2025.icadss.org/

Conference date: 20 October 2025

Series: Communications in Humanities Research

Volume number: Vol.94

ISSN: 2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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