Under the policy of civil governance， painting became an integral component of the cultural system in the Song dynasty， fostering a strong art-historical consciousness among literati. Historical poems on paintings， which focused on past painters and artistic activities， helped bridge gaps in traditional art history while capturing new shifts in Song history paintings. As a cultural practice of the era， “viewing” served as a critical approach to engaging with art， not only shaping poetic narratives to generate profound historical insights， but also contributing to a convergence in poetic composition. The “pictorial” dimension of history paintings prompted poets to detail key visual elements and capture the deportment of ancients. Conversely， the “pictorial representation of history” introduced a degree of imagination and fictionality. To compensate for limitations in direct historical expression， these poems constructed logical causal chains to reveal the deeper resonance of “that pivotal moment” captured on canvas. Ultimately， as evidenced by relevant works， the “pictorial representation of history” adhered to the traditional historiographical principle of using history as a mirror for governance.