A SET OF FOUR LACQUERED PANELS QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

each of rectangular form, inlaid with three columns of inscription written in lishu inspired by Ban Gu's preface to Liang Du Fu (Ode to the Two Capitals, Chang'an and Luoyang), enclosed within a border carved with bats and archaistic scrolling designs

Fu is a literary style which developed during the Han dynasty, possessing qualities of both poetry and prose.  The inscription on the present piece is inspired by Ode to the Two Capitals, a Fu work composed by the Han dynasty historian and writer, Ban Gu (32-92).  The piece discusses the ideals of a Confucianist government.