A reexamination of the Ming dynasty’s Wanli reign through the lens of its material culture.  

Performing Inaction is a fresh portrayal of the Wanli reign through the commissions of the Wanli emperor, the fourteenth emperor of the Ming dynasty, and his mother, Empress Dowager Cisheng. Utilizing a trove of textual and visual evidence, Ka-yi Ho challenges longstanding narratives depicting Wanli as a neglectful ruler responsible for the demise of the Ming dynasty. Through a comprehensive examination of Wanli’s and Cisheng’s commissions—including paintings, books, mausoleums, and Buddhist sponsorships—Ho shows how their meticulous curation according to the prevailing customs of the Ming court revealed the ambitions and moral aspirations of the misunderstood Wanli and his highly esteemed mother. Unveiling vibrant yet rarely examined artistic activities within the Wanli court, this book also endeavors to integrate the discourse of Wanli court art with the dynamic visual culture of late Ming China.