Poem "Returning to Dwell in Gardens and Fields" by Tao Yuanming (365-427)
Poem "Returning to Dwell in Gardens and Fields" by Tao Yuanming (365-427)

©2000, Su Shu-hui

Poem "Returning to Dwell in Gardens and Fields" by Tao Yuanming (365-427)
Poem "Returning to Dwell in Gardens and Fields" by Tao Yuanming (365-427)

Currently not on view

Poem "Returning to Dwell in Gardens and Fields" by Tao Yuanming (365-427),

2000

Su Shuhui 蘇樹輝, born 1951
Chinese
Modern period, 1912–present
2001-16

Information

Title
Poem "Returning to Dwell in Gardens and Fields" by Tao Yuanming (365-427)
Dates

2000

Maker
Su Shuhui 蘇樹輝
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
Dimensions
Calligraphy: 115.6 x 46 cm. (45 1/2 x 18 1/8 in.) Mount: 234.5 x 63.3 cm. (92 5/16 x 24 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Ambrose Shu Fai So
Object Number
2001-16
Place Made

Asia, China

Signatures
signed
Inscription
Text: 種豆南山下， 草盛豆苗稀。 晨興理荒穢， 帶月荷鋤歸。 道狹草且長， 夕露沾我衣。 衣沾不足惜， 但使願無違。 Beneath the southern hills I sow my beans, Their shoots are lost among the rank grass. I rise early to clear away the weeds, Till, hoe on shoulder, I plod home with the moon. The pathes are narrow, the green growths (caomu) tall, And the evening dews moisten my clothes. What matters if I am wet with dew, So long as I enjoy my heart's content! [trans. in Roland C. Fang, Gleanings from Tao Yuan-ming: Prose and Poetry (Hong Kong: Commercial Press, 1980), p. 42] Note: the character for qie has been written for the "tree" in "green growths" (caomu; lit.: grass and trees). This is in an alternative version of the poem. I planted beans below the southern hill The grasses [weeds] flourished, but bean sprouts were few. I got up at dawn to clear away the weeds And come back now with the moon, hoe on shoulder. Tall bushes crowd the narrow path And evening dew soaks my clothes. Wet clothes are no cause for complaint If things will only go as hoped. [trans. by Christina Cheng; the southern hill mentioned is believed to be Mt. Lu.] Inscription text (titleslip): 陶潛歸園田居詩軸 千〔 〕庚辰樹輝 “Tao Yuanming’s ‘Gui yuan tian ju.’ Qian [ ] gengchen [year], Shuhui"
Marks/Labels/Seals
Artist's Seals "Su Shu-hui yin," square intaglio, lower "Su shih Hsin-hsing" 蘇氏新興, square intaglio, upper Note: Hsin-hsing (Xinxing) county in Guangdong province. Fifteen characters in ink on label adhered to edge of rolled scroll
Culture
Chinese
Period
modern Chinese styles and periods
Type
paintings, scroll paintings, hanging scrolls, calligraphy (visual work), calligraphy (writing)
Materials
paper (fiber product), ink
Subject
poems, gardens (open spaces)

–2001 Ambrose Shu Fai So, born 1951 (Hong Kong), by gift to the Princeton University Art Museum, 2001

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