China, 18^th-19^th century. Ink and watercolors on silk. Containing ten leaves. With various depictions of the legendary philosopher Confucius (551-479 BC), showing him seated with other scholars on a rock above a group of soldiers with further warriors hiding in the background, seated at a table examining a scroll in a palace terrace; relaxing in a pavilion; together with a qilin; kneeling in prayer; walking through a forest; and engaged in other pursuits. With silk brocade front and back covers.

Inscriptions: Signatures of Qiu Ying and Wen Zhengming. The final leaf dated ‘Jiajing wuxu’ (corresponding to 1538).

Provenance: Sotheby’s New York, 22 September 1997, lot 60. A private collector, acquired from the above, and thence by descent.
Condition: The leaves and front and back covers have come apart. Very good condition overall with only minor wear, little soiling and foxing, and few small losses.

Dimensions: Image size ca. 30.5 x 28.6 cm (each), Cover size 37.2 x 32.2 cm

The ten scenes presented in this album are titled and inscribed as follows:

1. Visitation: When Confucius was ill, King Lu sent a messenger to visit him
2. Presenting the Medicine: King Lu sent a messenger to deliver medicine to Confucius
3. The Dream of Two Pillars: The student Zigong visited Confucius. Confucius told him that he dreamt of sitting between two pillars. A few days later, Confucius died.
4. Hunger Strike in the Chen Empire: The King of Chu invited Confucius to his state. The King of Chen was afraid that Confucius would lend great strength to Chu and did not want to let him leave. Chen sent soldiers to Confucius, who went on hunger strike for seven days.
5. Zixi hinders a bestowal to Confucius: The King of Chu wanted to bestow lands on Confucius. His prime minister Zixi did not believe it was a good decision and thwarted the bestowal.
6. Writing the Six Classics: At the age of 71, Confucius completed the Six Classics.
7. Capturing a Qilin during a Hunt: The King of Lu captured an unknown creature while hunting. Confucius was able to identify it and said it was an auspicious animal. Unfortunately the animal died of its injuries. Confucius died two years later.
8. Red Rainbow from the Sky: One day a red rainbow descended from the sky and turned into yellow jade. Confucius kneeled before it.
9. Grandiose Song by Jieyu from the Chu State: After Confucius’ arrival in the Chu state, Jieyu, an impartial resident of Chu, walked past his door and sang loudly.
10. Zigong Tends to the Grave: After Confucius’ death, his student Zigong took care of his grave for six years.

Confucius (551-479 BC) was a Chinese philosopher, poet, and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who was traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Confucius’ teachings and philosophy formed the basis of East Asian culture and society, and continues to remain influential across China and East Asia as of today. His philosophical teachings, called Confucianism, emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, kindness, and sincerity. Confucianism was part of the Chinese social fabric and way of life. To Confucians, everyday life was the arena of religion. Confucius's principles have commonality with Chinese tradition and belief. With filial piety, he championed strong family loyalty, ancestor veneration, and respect of elders by their children and of husbands by their wives, recommending family as a basis for ideal government. He espoused the well-known principle "Do not do unto others what you do not want done to yourself", the Golden Rule.

Literature comparison: Compare a related album leaf depicting Confucius, also dated to the Qing dynasty, in the collection of the British Museum, 1902,0606,0.56.a-v.

清代仿仇英與文徵明《孔子聖跡圖》冊頁
中國，十八至十九世紀。絹本水墨設色。十頁，分別描繪了聖人孔子的歷史故事，其中有：問疾圖，賜藥圖，夢奠兩楹圖，在陳絕糧圖，子西阻封圖，刪述六經圖，西狩獲麟圖，天降赤紅圖，接興狂歌圖，子貢盧墓圖。冊頁，硬質封面封底，綾錦裝裱。

款識: 仇英，文徵明，嘉靖戊戌 (1538年)

來源：紐約蘇富比，1997年9月22日 lot 60；私人藏家，購於上述拍賣，保存至今。
品相：封面和封底與版心已經脫離，整體狀況極好，只有輕微磨損，少量污漬與小缺損。

尺寸：畫面30.5 x 28.6 厘米，封面 37.2 x 32.2 厘米