石渠寶笈初編(御書房),下冊,頁1054&*故宮書畫錄(卷八),第四冊,頁43&*故宮書畫圖錄,第十八冊,頁435-440&* 七夕又稱為「乞巧節」、「女兒節」,最重要的習俗是婦女的乞巧活動。到七夕晚上,婦女用彩線穿七孔針,在庭院中設香案供桌,擺上瓜果、鮮花、酒、針線等,向織女乞巧,在宋代還會擺上一種手捏的小泥人兒「磨喝樂」作為供奉神靈。這幅畫的便是婦女乞巧的活動,有穿針、祭拜的情景。仇英(約西元一四九四-一五五二年),江蘇太倉人。字實父,號十洲。精工山水人物畫,明代四大畫家之一。&* Double Seventh Day refers to the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. Also known as “Weaving Day” or “Women’s Day,” one of the most important activity was spinning thread. The annual meeting of the Cow herd and Spinning Damsel constellations took place on this day, now celebrated as Lover’s Day. In the past, ladies would use colored thread and 7 needles on that evening. In a garden, they would set up incense with offerings of fruit, flowers, wine, and needle and thread to pray to the Spinning Damsel. In the Sung (960-1279), a figurine was also displayed. This work shows the skillful weaving activities of ladies along with needle and thread as well as offerings. This work is attributed to Ch’iu Ying, a Ming master known for his meticulous style. &*1.馬孟晶,〈明人乞巧(舊傳仇英)〉,收入劉芳如、張華芝主編,《群芳譜 — 女性的形象與才藝》(臺北:國立故宮博物院,2003年初版一刷),頁138-139。