Agriculture, Politics, and Knowledge: The Dissemination and Evolution of the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving from the Southern Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty

Authors

• Kaiyi Zhu, Zhejiang UniversityFollow
• Ting Chen, Zhejiang University of TechnologyFollow

Abstract

Gengzhitu 耕織圖 (Pictures of Tilling and Weaving) functions as a cultural artifact representative of agrarian civilization and dynastic governance, fulfilling dual roles as a vessel for agricultural knowledge and a motivational tool for farming practices. Over the course of its transmission from the Southern Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, a fascinating relationship emerged between the practical knowledge imparted by the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving and its role as a motivational tool for agricultural practices, creating a dynamic interaction akin to a seesaw effect. The fluctuation between the “form” and the “knowledge” of the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving provides valuable insights into the characteristics of scientific knowledge dissemination in traditional societies. This paper investigates the propagation and transformation of the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving, with a particular emphasis on the changes in its acknowledged intellectual merit and political importance throughout various historical epochs. The objective is to deepen comprehension of the interplay between the “form” and the “knowledge” in the conveyance of traditional agronomic knowledge as illustrated by the pictures.

Recommended Citation

Zhu, Kaiyi and Chen, Ting (2026) "Agriculture, Politics, and Knowledge: The Dissemination and Evolution of the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving from the Southern Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty," Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities Asia: Vol. 16: No. 1, Article 1.
Available at: https://archium.ateneo.edu/paha/vol16/iss1/1