Planting Chrysanthemums - Lu Zhi
This is a piece called Planting Chrysanthemums by Lu Zhi (1496–1576). Lu Zhi was a painter mainly known for his landscape pieces and for his poetry during the Ming Dynasty which took place from 1388 to 1644. Lu Zhi was the pupil of Wen Zhengming, who was a prominent Ming Dynasty painter and a scholar. He supported his family by selling his paintings and in 1557 retired to a reclusive place in the mountains to breed rare flowers, write poetry, and paint.
Planting Chrysanthemums is a painting as well as a poem done on a 42 by 10 inch scroll. The poem translated says:
“I hear you have opened up a “Dao path” near the ocean, (end of line 1)
Where clouds of leaves and frost-covered flowers vie in wondrous splendor. (end of line 2)
I too have built a new residence at Zhixing Mountain, (end of line 3)
May I share some of your autumn colors on my eastern hedge. (end of line 4)”
This scroll was part of a trade with Lu Zhi’s friend, Tao Qian in exchange for chrysanthemum clippings. The Dao path refers to a concept found in Chinese philosophy to signify the true nature of the world, but it translates to path, route, or principle. The first two lines of Planting Chrysanthemum’s refers to Tao Qian’s poem, Peach Blossom Spring, in this poem a fisherman finds a hidden utopia. The last two lines refer to himself finding his own utopia like the fisherman did, in Lu Zhi’s utopia however, he wants to be growing chrysanthemums.
Looking at this particular piece it reminds me of some of Wen Zhengming pieces of art. Lu Zhi’s pieces remind me of Wen Zhengming’s pieces because their subject matter was similar, which was usually landscapes, and their pieces where usually on scrolls in just black and white. The thing I found interesting was how Lu Zhi did a great landscape piece as well as an interesting poem in the same piece of art. The other reason I picked this piece was it reminds me of some of the pieces of art my grandmother used to hang throughout her house.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ming/ho_1986.266.3.htm
http://arts.cultural-china.com/en/63Arts4334.html
December 5, 2009 at 12:18 am
You left a lot of information that really gave the history of the piece and how it was created, as well as a nice reaction to it. I enjoy the pieces that came out of the Mind Dynasty and the oriental style scrolls. I also liked how you explained about the hidden utopia poem and it’s connection to the scroll. Good job, it is really cool when we can relate works of art to family or things that remind us of family.
December 5, 2009 at 8:10 am
The piece you’ve selected is absolutely gorgeous, I love this style of art. It comes across as simple and detailed at the same time, it can have a lot going on without looking cluttered or overstated. I’m particularly impressed with how delicate the drawing looks. Fantastic job on the background information and explanation of the poem. I think everyone reaches a point in their life when they can relate to a personal utopia, we all eventually find something simple that gives a great joy. Interesting how some aspects of humanity never change, this poem was written over 400 years ago and yet we can still relate to it today. You were lucky to grow up with this type of art around you, its very beautiful. Awesome job on the post.