Illustration from "Story of the Western Chamber"

This scroll shows two renowned artists—the painter Qiu Ying and the calligrapher Wang Chong—responding to one of the most popular dramatic works in Chinese literature: Story of the Western Chamber. Visual representations of its scenes and subplots were very popular in the Ming dynasty, especially on porcelains. Here Qiu Ying, in a painting, illustrates a scene from the final act—Returning Home with Glory. 

The love story features a young scholar, Zhang Heng, and a young woman, Cui Yingying, who overcome successive obstacles before being able to marry. Qiu Ying and Wang Chong reveal the ultimate happy ending to the couple’s quest for true love. The young scholar had traveled to the capital and earned an excellent grade in the civil examination. However, the lady’s family had believed he was pursuing another woman from a family of higher status. When he finally arrives back home, wearing the glory of his scholarly achievement, he professes to Yingying that his heart is unchanged. The tale concludes with their joyful reunion.