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‘Eighteen Scholars’ was the name bestowed upon the circle of eminent men whom Li Shimin, later Emperor Taizong, drew to his side in the early Tang dynasty.
In the fourth year of Wude (621 CE), Prince Qin Li Shimin 李世民, ennobled as Grand General of Heavenly Strategy and permitted to appoint his own officers, founded the Literary Hall in the western precincts of the palace and summoned men of distinction. Eighteen scholars entered his service, taking turns to reside there, discoursing on history and statecraft, and receiving honours of the highest order. Contemporaries likened their privilege to ascending the fairy isle of Yingzhou, whence they were styled the ‘Eighteen Scholars of Yingzhou’, or more simply the ‘Eighteen Scholars’.
The Old Book of Tang records that Emperor Taizong commanded portraits of them to be painted with names and origins inscribed, and further ordered Chu Liang 褚亮 to compose encomia, the work being preserved in the imperial library. The New Book of Tang attributes the painting instead to Yan Liben, celebrated in his time as a master whose brush achieved ‘divine transformation’.
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story scene description by <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/about-us/rachel-ma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rachel Ma</a>
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Related Chinese Figural Stories on ancient artworks:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/when-red-fly-whisk-fell-head-over-heels-for-the-scholar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">When Red Fly Whisk Fell Head over Heels for the Scholar</a> 张娘心许
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/a-single-chess-play-that-claims-victory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A single chess play that claims victory</a> 棋决雌雄

Eighteen Scholars of Tang

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The Tale of the Curly-Bearded Fellow (Qiu Ran Ke Zhuan 虬髯客传) by Tang dynasty writer Du Guangting 杜光庭 recounts a vivid episode from the youth of Emperor Taizong, Li Shimin 李世民 (598–649). Set during the final years of the Sui dynasty—when warlords rose across a fractured empire—the story reflects the people’s longing for a leader who could restore peace and unify the realm.
Amidst this turmoil, a bold, rugged figure known as the Curly-Bearded Fellow (虬髯客) befriends Li Jing 李靖 and his wife, both of whom would later help establish the Tang dynasty. Upon hearing of the exceptional talent and charisma of Li Shimin, the Curly-Bearded Fellow expresses admiration and asks for an introduction. At the time, Li Shimin and Liu Wenjing, the magistrate of Jinyang, were secretly planning to overthrow the Sui regime. To avoid arousing suspicion, they often met under the pretext of playing weiqi (Chinese chess) at Liu’s residence.
Facilitated by Li Jing, Li Shimin meets the Curly-Bearded Fellow, and the two engage in a chess match charged with symbolic meaning. The guest boldly places four stones at the corners of the board and declares, ‘I claim all four directions!’—a metaphor for seizing control of the empire. Li Shimin, composed and strategic, places a single stone at the centre, calmly stating, ‘With one move, I secure the empire.’ His approach quickly dominates the board, prompting the Curly-Bearded Fellow to concede, recognising Li Shimin’s superiority and surrendering his own ambitions for the throne.
This scene—where a game of weiqi becomes a metaphor for political fate—was later adapted in the Ming dynasty by playwright Zhang Fengyi 张凤翼 into the historical drama The Story of the Girl Holding a Red Fly Whisk (Hongfu Ji 红拂记), which also drew on Poems of Origin (Benshi Shi 本事诗) by Meng Qi 孟棨.
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Acknowledgement: The story scene depicted on the porcelain ware displayed in this listing was first deciphered by Dr <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/about-us/dr-yibin-ni/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yibin Ni</a>.
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Other stories scenes from The Story of the Girl Holding a Red Fly Whisk:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/when-red-fly-whisk-fell-head-over-heels-for-the-scholar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">When Red Fly Whisk Fell Head over Heels for the Scholar</a> 张娘心许
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/curly-bearded-fellow-going-overseas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Curly-bearded Fellow Going Overseas</a> 虬髯客掷家图国

A single chess play that claims victory

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