The Han Xizai at Night Dinner Painting, by Gu Hongzhong, is the most representative of the Five Dynasties (907-960) period.

Han Xizai was very talented in both politics and art, and he was accomplished in music, singing and dancing, poetry, calligraphy, as well as painting. In fact, his talents were so boundless that the emperor of the Southern Tang wanted to nominate him as prime minister, but Han declined. The emperor was very curious and sent the famous painter Gu Hongzhong to pry into Han's private life. After delivering his report, Gu painted Han Xizai at Night Dinner Painting.

In the picture, there are more than 40 figures -- all lifelike and with different expressions. The painting is five scenes in one: the Pipa performance, dancing people, musical concert, resting place and departing guests. The skillfully created painting employed screens and instruments to connect and separate different sections. In each of the five episodes, Han plays the main actor. The picture depicts Han's psychology: having no trust in the emperor, he had no choice but to indulge himself in entertainment to escape worry.