Currently not on view
Peng Zu Looking into a Well (Peng Zu guan jing tu 觀井圖),
1577 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Anonymous
Chinese
Ming dynasty, 1368–1644
y1958-166
Information
Title
Peng Zu Looking into a Well (Peng Zu guan jing tu 觀井圖)
Dates
1577 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Maker
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink rubbing on paper
Dimensions
image: 113.8 x 62.7 cm. (44 13/16 x 24 11/16 in.)
132 x 67.7 cm. (51 15/16 x 26 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of George Rowley
Object Number
y1958-166
Place Made
Asia, China
Inscription
至哉古人，遠害全身。戰競愼若履冰。朽索之取，納隍是慮。 天子則之，鴻休
[永]據，存而惧亡，係于苞桑，諸侯則之，其國必昌。若舟弗濟，夕惕而厲。大夫則之，
其家孔熾。直哉惟清，執虚如盈。士子則之，其道元亨。 不爭在醜，無愧屋漏。庶人
则之，其食孔阜。吾省予行， 吾慎予守。切1比老彭，式介眉壽。
宋陳靖銘
皇明萬曆丁丑秋刻
Notes:
1. “戰競愼若履冰” derives from《詩經‧小雅‧小旻》：「戰戰兢兢, 如臨深淵, 如履薄冰。」比喻身處險境, 戒慎恐懼之至。
2. 1 qie 切 is here probably a mistake for qie 窃.
3. The body of this text is recorded in Gujin Tushu Jicheng (1700-1725), vol. 54
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hans/Page:Gujin_Tushu_Jicheng,_Volume_054_(1700-1725).djvu/81
《彭祖觀井圖銘》〈并序〉
陳靖
淳化中，余將命之狄丘，道出彭門，有客得彭祖《觀井圖》，以為貺中有臺榭、人物、山水森森然，蓋狀其佳象幽致，表繪事之工。余無取所慕者，唯彭氏面井而覆之以輪，背樹而纜之以繩，憑仗斂躬，跼蹐而迎視兢兢若將墜也。嗚呼！古人臨事而懼之有若是，檢身遠害之有若是，後之君子得無效歟？余[probably a miswriting of 敘]
實好古者歷考其跡於傳記，雖敻而難信。且夫子云「竊比於我老彭」* ，亦其驗也
故作銘於座右曰：
至哉古人，遠害全身。戰戰兢兢，恆若履冰。朽索之馭， 納隍是慮。天子則之，鴻圖永據。存而懼亡，繫於苞桑。 諸侯則之，其國必昌。若舟弗濟，夕惕而厲。大夫則之， 其家孔熾。直哉惟清，執虛如盈。士子則之，其道元亨。 不爭在醜，無愧屋漏。庶人則之，其食孔阜。吾省予行， 吾慎予守。竊比老彭，式介眉壽。
[*Note: The quote 「竊比於我老彭」from Confucius comes from the Analects (Lun yu 論語, 述而第七):
述而不作，信而好古，竊比於我老彭。
The Master said, “I transmit but do not innovate; I am truthful in what I say and devoted to antiquity. I venture to compare myself to our Old Peng” – trans. by D.C. Lau, The Analects, 2nd ed. (Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 1992), p. 57 (unclear who Peng was)].
Description
The legendary Peng Zu 彭祖, who is said to have lived in antiquity for over 800 years, is shown leaning carefully over a wellhead to peer inside. He has taken extra care not to fall in by tying a rope around his waist that is tethered to a tree behind him. An attendant also stands behind him and may be there as added insurance for his safety. At upper left is an inscription composed by Chen Jing 陳靖 (act. late 10th century) that praises Peng Zu’s carefulness in doing things as an exemplary model for later rulers, scholars, and people. The pictorial stone from which this rubbing was taken is presently in the Guozijian 國子監 (Imperial Academy) in Beijing.
Culture
Period
Type
