Guqin in Chinese Paintings

Vertical scroll Silk scroll Colored Length: 207.9cm Width: 109.9cm Preserved in Shanghai Museum

In the painting, an old plum tree hovered upright, like a flying dragon. Plum flowers blossom on the twisted trunk of the old tree. Besides it, scholars and literatus are playing Guqin elegantly. Their facial expressions and gestures are depicted with fluent lines and vigorous pen-craft.

Qing Dynasty (1916-1911) Yuan Ji Dui Niu Tan Qin Tu

Vertical scroll Paper scroll Inked Length: 132.5cm Width: 53.4cm Preserved in the Palace Museum

"Playing Guqin to an ox" is originally a sarcastic saying, criticizing those who talk to whomever they meet without selecting the right audience. In this painting, however, Yuan Ji expresses the pity that it is hard to find a bosom friend. The main character is playing Guqin facing the audience, while looking right beyond the painting. The ox shows the back of it to us, leaning its head upright and listening attentively. The whole atmosphere of the painting is elegant, soft and distressed.