The background of the portrait is filled with text from the Qianzi wen (Thousand character classic), a primer of one thousand different characters used as an instruction tool for learning to read. The text was compiled at the order of emperor Wu (r.502-547) using characters selected from the writings of the calligrapher Wang Xizhi (307-365). It remained in use until the early twentieth century.
Sullivan, Michael, Modern Chinese Art: The Khoan and Michael Sullivan Collection, revised edn (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 2009), no. 39 on p. 248, illus. p. 249
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