Annotation: "Migrating Geese, first depicted in the third section of the scroll, symbolize separation, new beginnings and marital fidelity. As Geese..." (Annotation)

Annotation: "Migrating Geese, first depicted in the third section of the scroll, symbolize separation, new beginnings and marital fidelity. As Geese..."

Eighteen Songs Scroll (1c85cd23-ca44-47ba-a545-d7a540f2106a)

Migrating Geese, first depicted in the third section of the scroll, symbolize separation, new beginnings and marital fidelity. As Geese tend to fly in pairs and mate for life, their use in traditional Chinese art has come to symbolize union or marriage (when they are depicted together) or; estrangement and separation (when seen migrating or alone). In poetry, Geese have been known to symbolize "bearing of message of love from afar" of people separated by great distances, typically that of North to South

Birds, and their relationship to humans, are important metaphorical aspects of traditional Chinese art whether religious or secular. Indeed, over hundreds of years different birds have come to symbolize different meanings and even how they are portrayed, whether in action, colour or number, is significant.

We know that Cai Wenji was carried by nomads north to the frontier. We can see the Geese are migrating alongside the princess, therefore speculating the time is Spring or near Summer. This may symbolize the dark days ahead for the princess, as she is betrothed to a Nomadic prince and will bear him two children.

Geese appear twice more in the scrolls. Once, when Cai longs for home and is gazing across the steppe prior to delivering her second child. Again, the Geese are depicted as migrating and accentuates her longing for her home.

The final ocassion on which we see Geese, Cai sits alone attended only by one of her servants as nomads in the background hunt the migrating animals. This may represent the low point of her time in exile, as even the migrating Geese are are hunted down by her nomadic captors. 

In addition to their symbolism of longing, separation and marital fidelity, the migration of Geese serves as a reference for the passage of time throughout the scrolls, giving us the audience a visual reference of the years passing by.