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Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove (Zhulin qixian 竹林七賢), 18th century

Handscroll; ink on paper
2014-121
Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove (Zhulin qixian 竹林七賢)

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Interpretation

The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove were a mythic group of scholars, musicians, and writers who lived in the third century, during a time of political turmoil. Endangered by their views or by their criticism of the government, many chose to escape by engaging in Daoist-inspired activities or adopting eccentric lifestyles. They became the subject of lore—associated with retreat from public life—and their lives of retirement in nature became an important theme in art and a model for later intellectuals living in times of political upheaval.

In this scroll, the Seven Sages and their attendants are engaged in various scholarly activities: writing calligraphy on a cliff, creating music, playing chess, chanting poetry, and painting. The imperial seals on the scroll indicate that the painting was in the Qing imperial collection from the time of the Qianlong emperor.

Information

Title
Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove (Zhulin qixian 竹林七賢)
Object Number
2014-121
Description

Seven sages and their attendants are seen in a bamboo grove with pine trees.  The sages are engaged in various scholarly activities: writing calligraphy on a cliff, music, chess, chanting poetry, and painting.  Young male attendants are engaged in preparing tea, bringing wine, carrying scrolls, and other activities.  The outer titleslip identifies the subject of this painting to be the Seven Sages (or Seven Worthies) of the Bamboo Grove.  From the imperial seals on the scroll, the painting was in the Qing imperial collection from the time of the Qianlong emperor and is recorded in the Shiqu baoji (2nd ed.) imperial painting catalogue.  Therein, the description of the painting, set of eight Qianlong imperial seals, and the artist's seal and signature all correspond to the present scroll.  In addition the present painting bears a later seals of the Jiaqing emperor (r. 1796-1820) and the last emperor, Xuantong (r. 1909-1911), who may have taken it along with many other art works when he left the palace [to be confirmed in the research by Yang Renkai on artifacts removed by the last emperor].  

According to the Shiqu baoji (2nd ed.?) imperial painting catalogue:
嚴宏滋竹林七賢圖 一卷
本幅）宣紙本。縱一尺五分。橫二尺一寸三分。
 白描畫竹林七賢。竹柏森秀。松樾交蔭。七人
 者或坐或立。碁聲琴韻。題壁哦詩。各適其趣。
 童子擕卷挈榼烹茶者五六輩。欵，嚴宏滋。鈐
 印一。臣嚴宏滋。
（鑒藏寳璽）八璽全。
Draft translation:
Yan Hongzi, Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove painting; one handscroll.
(Painting) On Xuan paper.  Length 1 chi, 5 fen. Width 2 chi, 1 cun, 3 fen. 
Fine-line (baimiao) painting of "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove." The bamboo and cedars are dense and elegant.  The shade of the pines are sheltered and cool.  There are seven figures, some sitting, others standing.  Each [engages in activities] according to their interests, [and there is] the sound of chess, the qin-instrument music, writing calligraphy on a cliff.
Young attendants carry scrolls and ke 榼 [wine vessel or box?], and brew five or six cups of tea.  Signed "Yan Hongzi" and stamped with
one seal "Chen Yan Hongzi."
(Collection seals) Complete "set of eight" [Qianlong imperial] seals.

Maker
Yan Hongzi 嚴宏滋
Medium
Handscroll; ink on paper
Dates
18th century
Dimensions
image: 33.3 × 67.6 cm (13 1/8 × 26 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Professor Yü Ying-shih and Monica Yu in memory of Professor Hsieh-chung Yu
Culture
Chinese
Period
Qianlong reign period
Qing dynasty
Place made
Asia, China
Signatures
Signed right: Yan Hongzi
Marks/Labels/Seals
Artist's seal: Chen Yan Hongzi" 臣嚴宏滋, square relief at right below inscription

Qing Dynasty Imperial Seals (from the Qianlong, 1736–1795; Jiaqing, 1796–1820; and Xuantong, 1909–1912, reign periods):
"Qianlong yulan zhi bao" 乾隆禦覽之寳, oval relief (right, top)*
"Shiqu baoji" 石渠寳笈, tall rect. relief (right, 2nd from top)*
"Shiqu dingjian" 石渠定鑑 , round relief (right, 2nd from bottom)*
"Baoji chongbian" 寳笈重編, sq. intaglio (right, bottom)*
"Jiaqing yulan zhi bao" 嘉慶禦覽之寳, oval relief (middle, top)
"Qianlong jianshang" 乾隆鑑賞, round intaglio (2nd from left, top)*
"Xuantong yulan zhi bao" 宣統禦覽之寳, square relief (2nd from left, lower)
"Sanxitang jingjian xi" 三希堂精鑑璽, tall rect. relief (left, top)*
"Yizisun" 宜子孫, sq. relief (left, 2nd from top)*
"Qianqinggong jiancang bao" 乾清堂鑑藏寳, tall rect. relief (left, bottom)*

*Qianlong imperial seal belonging the "set of eight" 八璽全 as recorded in the Shiqu baoji石渠寳笈 imperial painting catalogue.
Type
Materials

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