What was the Golden Belt awarded to Xia Gui?

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Pure and Remote View of Streams and Mountains, detail of hand scroll in ink and paper by Xia Gui, early 13th century (Southern Song); in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan. — Xia Gui *Pure and Remote View of Streams and Mountains*, detail of hand scroll in ink and paper by Xia Gui, early 13th century (Southern Song); in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan.

The Golden Belt was the highest honor that could be awarded to a court painter during the Southern Song dynasty. Xia Gui, a master of landscape painting who served in the Imperial Academy, received this prestigious award in recognition of his artistic achievements.12