Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute

[5] Liu Shang (c. 770 CE), wrote a poem about Wenji called Hujia Shiba Pai (胡笳十八拍; "Eighteen Songs on a Nomad Flute").

[6] Liu Shang's poem, accompanied by 18 scenes painted on a handscroll, was commissioned by Emperor Gaozong of Song (宋高宗).

The earliest complete copy, apparently from the fourteenth century and formerly in the C. C. Wang collection,[7] resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which published it in 1974 in the book, Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute.

[10] For example, there are obvious parallels between Cai Wenji's story and that of Gaozong's mother, the Empress Dowager Wei (韋太后),[clarification needed] who was captured along with the rest of the imperial clan and held hostage in the north.

[11] Despite its allegorical development derived from Cai Wenji's story, her image today reverberates primarily with the feeling of sorrow.

Abduction of Cai Wenji . Xiongnu armed with bows and their mounts have two different forms of horse armour. 14th century painting replica of 8th century original. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art , New York . [ 1 ]
Cai Wenji 's departure from China . Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art , New York . [ 2 ]
Anonymous painting of Cai Wenji and her Xiongnu husband (Zuoxianwang) dated from the Southern Song dynasty (文姬归汉图). They are riding their horses, each holding one of their sons. The expression on Wenji's face appears fulfilled, peaceful, and content, while the husband is turning his head back in farewell.