The Sketching of Rare Birds by Emperor Huizong is a handscroll in ink on paper, created in the early 12th century. The work presents a sequence of bird studies, each rendered with careful brushwork and accompanied by calligraphic inscriptions. The scroll is attributed to Zhao Ji, who ruled as Emperor Huizong of the Song dynasty, a period noted for its imperial patronage of the arts and the emperor’s own artistic accomplishments. The scroll features a series of rare birds, each depicted perched on branches or among foliage, with a focus on the delicate forms and distinctive plumage of each species.

The compositions are spare, with ample negative space, emphasizing the birds’ shapes and the expressive quality of the brushstrokes. Ink tones range from deep black to lighter washes, creating subtle variations in texture and volume. Red seals and inscriptions punctuate the scroll, marking ownership and commentary. This work is representative of the Song dynasty tradition of bird-and-flower painting, a genre that flourished under imperial support.

Emperor Huizong was known for his refined taste and direct involvement in the arts, and his paintings are highly valued for their technical skill and naturalistic observation. It is now in the Long Museum in Shanghai and is regarded as an important example of early 12th-century Chinese painting.