Five children acquire science

五子登科图
Wuzi dengke tu
Five children acquire science
early 1980s
Jiangxi renmin chubanshe (江西人民出版社)
77x54 cm.
BG E15/514

"Five children" generally refer to the essential elements pursued by successful people in present-day society: car, child, house, money, wife. In this image, it refers to a modernized and scientifically developed society. The "five sons" were first mentioned in the Song shi (History of the Song Dynasty, 宋史) at the five sons of Dou Yujun 窦禹钧 (Yi, Yan, Kan, Yan, and Xi 仪、俨、侃、偁、僖) who successively passed the Imperial Examinations.