Roslyn Lee Hammers is an assistant professor of art history at the University of Hong Kong.

Depictions of tilling and weaving were an important means for sponsors, particularly rulers, to demonstrate their interest in the welfare of the people. To my knowledge, there has never been a serious study of the origins of this tradition and the political implications of these images and accompanying texts. In this fascinating study, Hammers does a worthy and extremely valuable job of elucidating the beginnings of the visual and textual traditions. -- Maxwell K. Hearn, Douglas Dillon Curator in Charge, Department of Asian Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Roslyn Lee Hammers is an assistant professor of art history at the University of Hong Kong.

Depictions of tilling and weaving were an important means for sponsors, particularly rulers, to demonstrate their interest in the welfare of the people. To my knowledge, there has never been a serious study of the origins of this tradition and the political implications of these images and accompanying texts. In this fascinating study, Hammers does a worthy and extremely valuable job of elucidating the beginnings of the visual and textual traditions. -- Maxwell K. Hearn, Douglas Dillon Curator in Charge, Department of Asian Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Roslyn Lee Hammers is an assistant professor of art history at the University of Hong Kong.

Depictions of tilling and weaving were an important means for sponsors, particularly rulers, to demonstrate their interest in the welfare of the people. To my knowledge, there has never been a serious study of the origins of this tradition and the political implications of these images and accompanying texts. In this fascinating study, Hammers does a worthy and extremely valuable job of elucidating the beginnings of the visual and textual traditions. -- Maxwell K. Hearn, Douglas Dillon Curator in Charge, Department of Asian Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art