My house's electrical wiring dates back to the Tang Dynasty.

I checked the time on my phone.

Time has returned to normal.

It shows 4 a.m.

It was pitch black all around, with only the chirping of insects and birds.

By the way, could you tell me how much these two paintings and calligraphies cost?

It's impossible to ask a professional.

Li Mingbo wasn't afraid of being fooled, but rather afraid of being exposed.

It's impossible to find them now.

Let's ask Doubao first.

While Doubao may not be entirely reliable, it at least offers some suggestions.

Ask about the price first.

Li Mingbo organized his thoughts and typed: "If Zhan Ziqian's 'Chang'an Carriages and Figures' and Gu Kaizhi's 'Autumn River and Clear Peaks' were both original works, how much would they sell for in 2025?"

"Okay, now I need to answer the user's question: How much would Zhan Ziqian's 'Chang'an Carriages and Figures' and Gu Kaizhi's 'Autumn River and Clear Peaks' sell for in 2025? First, I need to analyze the historical background, current condition, and market conditions of similar artworks for these two paintings." Doubao then began to provide the answer based on the historical background, current condition, and market conditions of similar artworks.

I. Background and Current Status of the Work

Zhan Ziqian (Sui Dynasty):

Zhan Ziqian was the most renowned painter of the Sui Dynasty, hailed as the "Ancestor of Tang Painting" by Zhang Yanyuan in his "Record of Famous Paintings Through the Ages." He excelled in blue-green landscapes and figure paintings. The "Xuanhe Painting Catalogue" records 47 of his works, including "Chang'an Carriages and Horses with Figures" and "Spring Outing." "Chang'an Carriages and Horses with Figures" is the first long scroll depicting urban life, predating the Northern Song Dynasty's "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" by 500 years. According to the Northern Song Dynasty's "Xuanhe Painting Catalogue," it was looted and destroyed by the Jin army during the Jingkang Incident, and most of the others are later copies or records that have been lost.

Gu Kaizhi (Eastern Jin Dynasty):

Gu Kaizhi is the foremost of the "Four Masters of the Six Dynasties" and is revered as the "Sage of Painting." He influenced later generations with his figure paintings (such as "Nymph of the Luo River" and "Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies") and his theories ("Theory of Conveying the Spirit"). However, more than 1600 years have passed since the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and paper/silk paintings are difficult to preserve intact. Currently, no genuine works by Gu Kaizhi exist. Most so-called "genuine works" are Tang and Song Dynasty copies (such as the Tang Dynasty copy of "Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies" in the British Museum).

Li Mingbo began to read it carefully.

Li Mingbo had heard Empress Zhangsun introduce the painter Zhan Ziqian during the Tang Dynasty, but he did not know that "Chang'an Carriages and Figures" was the first long scroll depicting urban customs, predating the famous "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" by 500 years.

They've become the originators, this is outrageous!

"Along the River During the Qingming Festival" has become one of the ten most famous paintings handed down through the ages, a true national treasure. Isn't the original version even more amazing?

According to the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics, unearthed cultural relics or first-class cultural relics in state-owned collections are prohibited from being bought or sold.

How can I sell it?

II. The theoretical value of assuming the existence of "authentic works"

If the two paintings are indeed original works from the Sui and Eastern Jin dynasties (not copies), their value will break through the pricing logic of the existing art market, based on the following core evidence:

1. Scarcity and historical significance

2. Upper limit of reference auction records

3. The possibility of national collection

Doubao drew his conclusions from three aspects.

III. "False Propositions" in Reality

It must be clarified that the authentic versions of Zhan Ziqian's "Chang'an Carriages and Figures" and Gu Kaizhi's "Autumn River and Clear Peaks" have never been confirmed to exist. Although they are recorded in historical documents (such as the "Xuanhe Painting Catalogue" and the "Shiqu Baoji"), no physical examples have been found. If authentic works were to appear, it would undoubtedly cause a stir in the academic world, rather than simply be a market phenomenon.

Li Mingbo was excited when he saw the phrase "will surely cause a shock in the academic community".

It caused quite a stir, so the price must be high.

I'm just an ordinary person, don't talk to me about art, Li Mingbo just wants to know how much money it costs.

Seeing the final conclusion:

Assuming both paintings are genuine and allowed to be traded on the market (ignoring legal restrictions), their price would far exceed any existing art record, conservatively estimated at between 10 billion and 50 billion RMB (referencing the international auction logic of similar rare artifacts, such as Leonardo da Vinci's "Salvator Mundi" fetching $4.5 million). However, a more realistic scenario is that such artifacts would be urgently acquired by the state and become museum treasures, rather than circulated as commodities.

In short, the premise of the problem (the existence of genuine works) does not hold true in reality, so its "market price" is more of a theoretical deduction, and its practical significance lies in emphasizing the extreme scarcity of early calligraphy and painting.

When Li Mingbo saw the initial figure of 10-50 billion, he was quite pleased with himself. However, when he saw the later statement that "such cultural relics will be urgently acquired by the state and become museum treasures, rather than being traded as commodities," he was met with a cold shower.

If it's not about the circulation of goods, how can I get money if it's not circulated?

The law cannot be ignored.

What should I do?

Should it really be handed over to the state?

Should it be handed over to a museum?

If it can truly be permanently preserved in a museum so that more people can see it, Li Mingbo would be willing to accept a lower price.

but.

The saying "I own one of everything in the Forbidden City" is a meme, but it's true that items donated to museums appear at auctions.

Li Mingbo didn't want to benefit any one person.

We must come up with a good solution.

My imprisonment is a small matter; the Empress's illness and my beautiful concubine's lotus flower are waiting for me over there.

It seems we can't count on Doubao.

"Right, let's try those three memorials." Li Mingbo thought of the three memorials from Ouyang Xun, Yu Shinan, and Chu Suiliang.

Li Mingbo typed on Douban: "If the protagonist brought the memorials of Ouyang Xun, Yu Shinan, and Chu Suiliang from the Tang Dynasty in the sixth year of the Zhenguan era to 2025 for auction, what would the price be? Is it legal?"

"Deep thought has been taken (9 seconds)" Then Doubao began to reason.

"Now I need to address the user's question: 'If the protagonist brought the memorials of Ouyang Xun, Yu Shinan, and Chu Suiliang from the Tang Dynasty in the sixth year of the Zhenguan era to 2025 for auction, what would the price be? Is it legal?' First, I need to recall the previous conversation. The user had previously asked about the prices of paintings by Zhan Ziqian and Gu Kaizhi, and the assistant answered with considerations such as scarcity, historical significance, and legal restrictions. Now, this question involves Tang Dynasty memorials, which needs to be divided into two parts: price assessment and legal permissibility."

Next, Doubao will discuss two questions: 1. Is it legal? 2. Theoretical price assessment (assuming an extreme scenario where it is "legally permissible").

Significance of the era: The sixth year of Zhenguan was the early period of the "Reign of Zhenguan" (the 9th year of Li Shimin's reign). The contents of the memorial may have involved the political system, military decision-making, and cultural development of the early Tang Dynasty (such as the improvement of the imperial examination system and the preparation for Xuanzang's journey to the West). It fills the document gap of the "Reign of Zhenguan" and its historical value far exceeds that of ordinary works of art.

Scarcity: The probability of Tang Dynasty paper documents (especially memorials from famous figures) surviving to this day is extremely low (paper is perishable and damaged by war). There are no confirmed authentic memorials from famous Tang Dynasty figures in the world (the earliest extant paper documents are the Dunhuang manuscripts, mostly from the mid-to-late Tang Dynasty). If this memorial is authentic, it will be a "unique piece among unique pieces".

Finally came to the conclusion:

Legal aspects: Auctioning is strictly prohibited. Taking it privately and attempting to trade it is illegal and will be subject to legal sanctions.

In terms of price: if legal restrictions are ignored, the theoretical price is conservatively estimated at RMB 10 billion to 50 billion (or even higher), but in reality, it will be acquired by the state and will not enter the auction market.

Was this the sixth year of the Zhenguan era, and the ninth year of Li Shimin's reign?

Is this bean bun accurate?

When Li Mingbo saw the message "Unauthorized possession and attempted trading are illegal and will be subject to legal sanctions," he angrily cursed, "Damn it, what a waste of time!"

Li Mingbo was so angry he almost smashed his phone.