This landscape handscroll is over eighteen feet long. It is painted in monochromean artwork developed or executed in black and white or in varying tones of only one color. ink. As one opens and reads the painting from right to left, sixteen fishermen boating on a river appear one by one. Only four of them attempt to fish at all. The rest are busy sleeping, drifting, or simply enjoying the scenery on their boats. All but one of these fishermen wear robes and hats that identify them as recluse scholar-officials. The one at the end of the scroll even brings his attendant boy onto the boat. Each angler focuses on his own thoughts and affairs, paying no attention to his neighbors. The artist accompanies each figure with a short poem, describing his philosophical thinking or pleasure of being a fisherman.
The artist Wu Zhen(woo juhn) (1280â1354) is known as one of the Four Masters of the Yuan(yoo-en) dynastya series of rulers from a single family. (1279â1368). Although well educated, he never attempted to become a government official. Scholar hermits as fishermen boating on a river is one of Wuâs favorite painting themes. He used the fishermanâs isolated life from society as a compatible metaphor for his own disdain for an official career. Wu Zhenâs choice was not unique in his time. The Yuan dynasty was founded by the Mongols through the military occupation of China. Many Chinese scholar-officials refused to serve the conquerors. Instead, they retreated into private life, away from the mainstream of society. As retirement and reclusion were favored by the Chinese officials, paintings on the subject of fishermen became a popular trend at the time.
Besides being a great painter, Wu was also a fine calligrapher. In this painting, Wu Zhen(woo juhn) integrated the âthree perfectionsââpoetry, calligraphythe art of producing decorative handwriting with a pen or a brush., and painting. He inscribed a poem next to each scholar fisherman. He also added a long remark at the end of the scroll ten years after completing the painting. Both writings were done in cursive script (a writing style that emerged due to the need of speed writing) in which Wu excelled. Cursive script allowed the artist to freely express himself through brush and ink. The combination of poem, calligraphy, and painting makes the scroll a very enjoyable piece of artwork.
Translation of selected poems:
No. 15
This boatman in his little skiff has no name at all;
In bottle gourds he takes his wine, lives a life of joy.
Fragrant paddy rice,
Luscious water-mallow soup;
He rows the moonlight piercing clouds, going as he will.
No. 14
Wind and light at Five Peaks surpass all else around;
Ducks and geese out on the river are his closet kin.
Clouds beat the shore,
Billows stir and toss;
Mist so deep on Green Grass Lake, one cannot be seen.
No. 13
Heâs caught a red-scaled fish, drags it from the water;
Its brocadehighly decorative weft-woven fabric with a raised design. scales of mottled color follow in the hook.
It shakes its crimson tail,
And puffs its reddish gills;
He does not envy Yan Ling sitting on his fishing ledge.
No. 12
No cause to drop oneâs line in the center of the pool;
Fish are big, the boat light, his strength not enough.
Anxious heâll capsize,
Concerned to keep afloat,
He goes light in everything and stays away from depth.
No. 11
Mountains glow in the last, fading glimmer of sunset;
Clouds rise, clouds clear, and shadows turn to light.
As the wind moves its feet,
And waves spring to life,
He hears the sound of night rain on his empty awning.
No. 10
Little skiff for a boat, what strength does he need?
Out upon the river, clouds and rain are intermingled.
If he is diligent enough,
Takes the long waves down,
When tide rises at midnight, he will have no worries.
Translations by Stephen D. Allee
No. 1
The evening wind comes up Lake Dongting,
Stirring a leaf [boat] at the heart of the waters.
Steady the oar, light the reed mantle,
Fishing only for river perch and not for fame.
No. 2
Man in tiny skiff has no name,
Carrying wine in a gourd, fully enjoying life.
Fragrant is the rice, delicious the vegetable broth,
Steer into the moon, pierce clouds according to whims.
Translation from Joan Stanley-Baker, âAccrued Perceptions of Wu Zhen: The Fishermen Theme,â Bulletin of the Oriental Ceramicpots and other articles made from clay hardened by heat. Society of Hong Kong 8 (1991): 36â46.
- Explore the interactive for this image on the Teaching China with the Smithsonian website. Do you think the poems match the figures? How do the poems help you understand the subject of this painting?
- Why did scholar-artists choose to retreat from official society? Who are some famous examples? How did they spend their time? Research the figure of the reclusive literatiwell-educated people who are interested in literature. scholar-artist in Chinese culture.
- Research the âthree perfectionsâ: poetry, painting, and calligraphythe art of producing decorative handwriting with a pen or a brush.. Each of these arts appeal to different senses. Why was it so important for these three arts to be integrated in traditional Chinese culture?