文章从周臣《乞食图》入手研究，结合不同时代的乞丐题材的绘画作品，探究明代中晚期画中多样的乞丐形象，从画者视角观察明代中晚期市井中平民大众（乞丐为主）的生活景象。

市井是一个鱼龙混杂的场所，形形色色的人往来不息，是民众生活集中体现、最具烟火气的一个缩影。各阶层民众在此汇合，相互关联，在市井题材风俗画中可以看到乞丐群体与其他群体互动的场景，便于从多角度研究，随之多样化中国画作品中乞丐的人物形象。

中国画人物画在描绘的过程中表现出的形象特征含有画者本身对观察对象的认知和感受。从古代文人笔下记录、描绘的乞丐形象和群体行为之中，可以看到乞丐文化具象化的样貌，乞丐以客体形式被观察、被记录。关注民众中处于弱势地位的乞食者的生活极大影响了绘画的发展。

不论是通过向统治者写实记录乞食流民的苦难来寻求政策改善，还是通过主动记录热气腾腾、丰富多样的市井生活来丰富民众的娱乐生活，画者用作品间接的向社会中的民众作出积极的影响，从主动关注的救赎导向真正的拯救。

Start off with the “Beggars and Street Characters” of Chou Chen and combine paintings of beggars in different times to study the various characters from those paintings and observe the life scene of the common people（especially beggars）in middle and late Ming dynasty from the painters’ point of view.

     Street of market was a messy place in ancient China,all kinds of people went there everyday for a living,which made it become the most special and real epitome of public life.Many classes of people got together in this place and connected with each others.we can easily find out the scenarios of beggar group interacted with other people in those kinds of genre painting.It makes study the images of beggars in many sides more convenient.

Character paintings of Chinese paintings contain the cognition and feeling from the painters in the image feature.We can also see not only the visualization of the beggar culture,but also beggars are observed and recorded as an object by the work of painters.Paying attention to the beggars existing in the street,who are in a vulnerable position,has a huge effect on the evolution of Chinese painting.  

Whether painters look for policy improvement by painting the sufferings of beggars’ life realistically to persuade the monarch,or influence the popular entertainment life by recording the colorful life in street,painters’ work actually indirect affected the people in a positive way, which make the initiative concern finally turned into real salvation.