Art- Chinese

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1. Anonymous, "Minghuang's Journey to Shu." China, Tang dynasty, ca late 8th century. Hanging scroll, ink and colors on paper.

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2. Li Cheng (attributed to), "A Solitary Temple amid Clearing Peaks." China, Five Dynasties Period, ca A.D. 975-1000. Hanging scroll, ink and light colors on silk.

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3. Fan Kuan, "Travelers among Mountains and Streams." China, Northern Song period, ca 1000-1025. Hanging scroll, ink on silk.

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4. Detail of Fan Kuan's "Travelers among Mountains and Streams."

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5. Xu Daoning, "Fishermen." China, Northern Song period, ca 1050. Left half of a handscroll, ink on silk.

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6. Xu Daoning, "Fishermen." China, Northern Song period, ca 1050. Right half of a handscroll, ink on silk.

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7. Guo Xi, "Early Spring." China, Northern Song period, dated 1072. Hanging scroll, ink on silk.

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8. Detail of Guo Xi's "Early Spring."

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9. Li Cheng (attributed), "Travellers in a Wintry Grove." ca. 1000, Northern Song Period, Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk.

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10. Cui Bo, "Magpies and Hare." China, Northern Song period, dated 1061. Hanging scroll, ink and colors on silk.

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11. Wen Tong, "Bamboo." China, Northern Song period, ca 1070. Hanging scroll, ink on silk.

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12. Su Shi, "Old Tree, Rock and Bamboo." China, Northern Song period, ca. 1085. Handscroll, ink on paper

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13. Su Shi, "Cold Food Festival Poems Written at Huangzhou." Datable to 1082, Northern Song Period. Semi-cursive script, handscroll, ink on paper.

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14. Huizong, "Auspicious Cranes." Ca. 1120, Northern Song Period. Handscroll, ink and color on silk. See below for a partial translation of Huizong's accompanying inscription.
"On the evening of the day after the Lantern Festival, the renzhen year of the Zhenghe reign (February 26, 1112), auspicious clouds suddenly formed in masses and descended about the main gate of the palace, illuminating it. Everyone raised their heads to gaze at them. Suddenly a group of cranes appeared flying in the sky. Two came to perch atop the 'owl-tail' ridge-ornaments of the gate, completely at ease and self-composed. The others all wheeled about in the sky, as if responding to some rhythm. Residents of the capital walking about all bowed in reverence, gazing from afar. They sighed at length over the unusual sight. For some time the cranes did not disperse. Then they circled about and flew off, separating at the northwest quarter of the city. Moved by this auspicious sight, I wrote the following poem to

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1. Ma Yuan, "On a Mountain Path in Spring." China, Southern Song period, ca. A.D. 1200. Album leaf, ink and colors on silk. The poem reads, "Touching my sleeves, wilderness flowers are filled with their own dancing, Fleeing the intruder, the departing bird is too startled to sing."

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2. Anonymous, "Evening in Spring Hills." China, Southern Song period, ca 1220. Fan, ink and colors on silk.

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3. Xia Gui, "Twelve Views of Landscape." "The pure and mysterious sounds of the fisherman's flute". China, Southern Song period, ca. 1230. Detail of a handscroll, ink on silk.

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4. Xia Gui, "Twelve Views of Landscape." "Returning ferry to a mist-shrouded village". China, Southern Song period, ca. 1230. Detail of a handscroll, ink on silk.

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5. Ma Lin, "Listening to the Wind in the Pines." 1246, Southern Song Period, Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk.

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6. Ma Lin, "Sunset." 1254, Southern Song Period, Album leaves made into a hanging scroll, ink and color on silk.

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7. Muqi, "Sunset over a Fishing Village," from the series "Eight Views of Xiao-Xiang" (left half). ca. 1250, Southern Song Period. Handscroll mounted as a hanging scroll, ink on paper.

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8. Muqi, "Sunset over a Fishing Village," from the serise "Eight Views of Xiao-Xiang" (right half). ca. 1250, Southern Song Period. Handscroll mounted as a hanging scroll, ink on paper.

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9. Qian Xuan, "Wang Xizhi Gazing at Geese" (left half). Ca. 1280-1300, Yuan dynasty. Handscroll, ink and colors on paper.

Poem:

A grove of tall bamboo, such bracing freshness; A pavilion for leisure and belly bared, what was it like? For the writing of the Daodejing to give to a Daoist, He left for us the image of one who loves geese.

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10. Qian Xuan, "Wang Xizhi Gazing at Geese" (right half).

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11. Zhao Mengfu, "Twin Pines, Level Distance" (left half). Ca. 1315-1320, Yuan dynasty. Handscroll, ink on paper.

Zhao Mengfu inscription

From the time I was young I studied the art of "calligraphy's leftovers" (i.e. painting). From time to time I played with a small brush, and it was only with landscape that I could achieve no success. Now, since the Tang the works of such masters of that dynasty as Wang Wei, the Generals Li, and Zheng Qian are rarely seen. With the Five Dynasties Period and the rise of such masters as Jing Hao, Guan Tong, Dong Yuan and Fan Kuan the landscapes of the earlier periods were far eclipsed. As for my own work, although it does not come close to the achievements of the past masters, I dare say it is something different from what is seen by others of today.

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12. Zhao Mengfu, "Twin Pines, Level Distance" (right half).

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13. Wu Zhen, "The Old Fisherman." 1342, Yuan dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink on silk.

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14. Huang Gongwang, "The Nine Pearl-like Verdant Peaks. Ca. 1340, Yuan dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink on silk.

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15. Ni Zan, "The Rongxi Studio." 1372, Yuan dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink on paper.

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16. Wang Meng, "Dwelling in the Blue Bian Mountains." 1366, Hanging scroll, ink on paper.

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1. Li Zai, Mountain Villa and Lofty Recluse. Ca. 1425-1450, Ming Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink on silk. Formerly attributed to Guo Xi of the 11th century.

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2. Bian Wenjin, Three Friends of Winter and Hundred Birds. 1413, Ming Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink and colors on silk.

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3. Shen Zhou, Night Vigil. 1494, Ming Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink and light colors on paper.

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4. Shen Zhou, Turtle Dove in Rain. Ca. 1485-1495, Ming Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink and light colors on paper.

Translation:

Meaninglessly, I listen to the hundred birds,
Chirping, chattering, traversing winter cold and summer heat.
How could they compare to the branch-tip turtle dove?
Each sound knowing how to call the rain.

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5. The Liu Garden, with the Crown Cloud Peak (Lake Tai rock). Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. 1522-1566, Ming Dynasty.

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6. Wen Zhengming, Pine Valley and Flying Cascades. 1531, Ming Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink and colors on paper.

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7. Zhou Chen, Beggars and Street Characters. 1516, Ming Dynasty. Handscroll, ink and colors on paper.

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8. Tang Yin, Tao Gu Presents a Poem. Ca. 1515, Ming Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink and colors on silk.

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1. Wu Wei, Fishermen. Ca. 1500, Ming dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink on paper.

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2. Detail of #1.

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3. Wang Zhao, Rain Dragon. Ca. 1525-1550, Ming dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink on silk.

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4. Detail of #3.

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5. Dong Qichang, The Blue Bian Mountain. Dated 1617, Ming Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink on paper

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6. Detail of Dong Qichang, The Blue Bian Mountain

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7. Bada Shanren, "Narcissus" from the Quanqi Album. 1661, Qing dynasty. Album leaf, ink on paper.

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8. Bada Shanren, Fish, Bird, and Rock. Ca. 1690-1700, Qing Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink on paper.

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9. Shitao (Zhu Ruoji), Ten Thousand Ugly Ink-dots. 1685, Qing Dynasty. Handscroll, ink on paper (last section). [For Shitao’s inscription refer to Cahill’s article].

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10. Shitao (Zhu Ruoji), Ten Thousand Ugly Ink-dots. 1685, Qing Dynasty. Handscroll, ink on paper (middle section).

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11. Shitao (Zhu Ruoji), Waterfall on Mount Lu. Ca. 1692, Qing Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper. [For Shitao’s inscription refer to Cahill’s article].

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12. Detail of Shitao, Waterfall on Mount Lu.

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1. Wang Yuanqi, Autumn Mountains after Huang Gongwang. 1707, Qing Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper.

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2. Detail of Wang Yuanqi, Autumn Mountains after Huang Gongwang.

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3. Xu Yang, Bird’s-Eye View of the Capital Beijing. 1770, Qing Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk.

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4. Bird’s-Eye View of the Forbidden City, with the Three Ceremonial Halls: Taihe (Supreme Harmony), Zhonghe (Middle Harmony), and Baohe (Protecting Harmony). Modern Photograph. Beijing, Hebei Province.

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5. Lang Shining (Giuseppe Castiglione), Haiyan (Ocean’s Bounty) Hall, Yuanmingyuan (Garden of Perfect Brightness). Ca. 1750, Qing Dynasty. Copperplate etching.

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6. Lang Shining (Giuseppe Castiglione), Inaugural Portrait of Emperor Qianlong. 1736, Qing Dynasty. Handscroll, ink and color on silk.

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7. Lang Shining (Giuseppe Castiglione), Eight Prized Steeds. Ca. 1750, Qing Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk.

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8. Lang Shining (Giuseppe Castiglione), White Hawk. 1751, Qing Dynasty. Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk.