Painting in National Palace Museum, Yuan dynasty part1

Welcome to the National Palace Museum's collection of paintings from the Yuan dynasty! These works of art were created by some of China's most talented painters, and they provide us with a unique insight into Chinese culture during this period. You will find Manual of Ink Bamboo by Wu Zhen, Meeting Friends in a Pavilion among Pines by Wang Yuan, Cloud-girdled Peaks by Gao Kegong, Pair of Lohan Paintings, Riverside Pavilion and Mountain Hues by Ni Zan, Inscribing a Portrait of Ni Zan, Wild Duck by a River by Chen Lin, Nymph of the Luo River, Five Horses by Zhao Yong, and Autumn Colors on the Qiao and Hua Mountains by Zhao Mengfu. We hope you enjoy exploring these incredible artifacts!

1. Manual of Ink Bamboo

Wu Zhen, a Chinese artist from Jiaxing, created this album of bamboo drawings in 1350. The album depicts different types of bamboo in various settings, including new shoots, old stalks, and leaves in wind, rain, and even snow.

2. Meeting Friends in a Pavilion among Pines

Wang Yuan was a painter who was born in Qiantang, Zhejiang. He was taught by the master Zhao Mengfu when he was younger. In bird-and-flower painting, he followed the style of Huang Quan from the 10th century.

3. Cloud-girdled Peaks

The ancestors of Gao Kegong came from Western Asia. Gao rose to Minister of Justice in the Yuan dynasty under the Mongols. He also served in office in the Jiangnan area and resided in Hangzhou.

4. Pair of Lohan Paintings

The painting is a pair of scrolls, each with nine lohans. The lohans are shown in various forms, some Indian and others Chinese.

5. Riverside Pavilion and Mountain Hues

This painting, from the year 1372, is inscribed with poetry written by Ni Zan himself. It's a typical example of a "Three Perfections" painting, which combines poetry, calligraphy, and painting in a single work.

6. Inscribing a Portrait of Ni Zan

The main figure in this scroll is Ni Zan (1301-1374), one of the Four Yuan Masters of painting. The landscape behind him is intentionally done in imitation of Ni's style.

7. Wild Duck by a River

Chen Lin was a famous painter from the late Song dynasty. This painting features the brushwork of two Yuan masters. The brushwork for depicting the duck is delicate but not overly refined or with any stiffness.

8. Nymph of the Luo River

This painting is of the goddess of the Luo River riding on clouds and gliding over misty waters. The painting is mostly of the goddess and the scenery is lofty and archaic. The painting is rare and precious.

9. Five Horses

Zhao Yong was the second son of the famous scholar-artist Zhao Mengfu. Like his father, he was skilled in painting and calligraphy. He was especially good at depicting figures and saddled horses.

10. Autumn Colors on the Qiao and Hua Mountains