Cheng Lin程琳

Where the histories differ

Cheng Lin's presentation of the Wu Hou Lin Chao Tu and the reaction of Empress Dowager Zhangxian

• histories differRegarding Cheng Lin's presentation of the 'Wu Hou Lin Chao Tu', the 'Hou Fei Zhuan' records that Empress Dowager Zhangxian sternly refused, while Cheng Lin's own biography only states that contemporaries despised him for it, without mentioning the Empress Dowager's reaction.

  In the 'Song Shi · Hou Fei Zhuan Shang', it is recorded that when Cheng Lin presented the painting, Empress Dowager Zhangxian explicitly refused and threw it to the ground: 'Cheng Lin also presented the 'Wu Hou Lin Chao Tu', and the Empress Dowager threw the book to the ground, saying: "I will not do this thing that betrays our ancestors."' However, in the biography of Cheng Lin in the 'Song Shi · Ren Zhongzheng, Zhong Shi, Zhou Qi, Cheng Lin, Jiang Zun, Fan Yong, Zi Qi, Tan, Zhao Zhen, Ren Bu, Gao Ruona, Sun Mian' section, it only mentions that his presentation incurred contempt: 'During the time of Empress Dowager Zhangxian, he once presented the 'Wu Hou Lin Chao Tu', and people despised him for this.' It does not mention the Empress Dowager's attitude at all.