石渠寶笈三編(延春閣),第六冊,頁2737 &*故宮書畫錄(卷八),第四冊,頁135 &*故宮書畫圖錄,第十四冊,頁369-370&* 周鯤,字天池,江蘇常熟人,出生藝術世家,善長畫山水、人物、梅花,乾隆(西元一七三六–一七九五年)時被選入宮廷當畫師。本幅畫的是宋朝范成大臘月村田樂府詩中祭灶詞。傳說灶神會在農曆臘月(十二月)廿四日昇天謁見玉皇大帝,稟奏人間這一年來的善惡,所以民間在這一天會擺上豐富的祭品,貼灶馬,用酒糟塗灶門,甜甜灶神的嘴,希望灶神在玉皇大帝面前多說點好話,保佑來年的平安。&* Chou K’un, a native of Kiangsu province, was born into a family of artists and excelled at landscapes, figures, and plum blossoms. He was chosen for service as a court painter under the Ch’ien-lung Emperor. This painting illustrates Fan Ch’eng-ta’s poetry on village life in the 12th lunar month before the New Year. Tradition has it that the Kitchen God ascends to the heavens on the 24th day of that month to visit the Jade Emperor and report on the occupants of every home in the previous year. On this day, people would prepare lavish offerings, an escort, and wine for the Kitchen God’s trip. By appeasing the Kitchen God so that only good things are reported, good luck is thus ensured for one’s family for the coming year.