The Garden for Solitary Enjoyment

Xiang Yuanbian 項元汴 [1525-1590], Jiaxing, China by descent to his grandson, Xiang Yukui 1

by 1880-1904Weng Tonghe 翁同龢 [1830-1904], Beijing, China, by descent to his family 3

1978-The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Overall: 32 x 1290.2 公分 (12 5/8 x 507 15/16 英吋)

Accompanying text of an essay together with seven poems of Ssu-ma Kuang and one poem of Su Shih written by Wen Cheng-ming in 1558._x000D_
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2 colophons and 82 seals: 4 seals of Wen Cheng-ming (1470-1559); 59 seals of Hsiang Yüan-pien (1525-1590); 1 colophon, dated 1644, and 7 seals of Hsiang Yü-k'uei (16th-17th c.); 1 colophon, dated 1880, and 2 seals of Weng T'ung-ho (1830-1904); 2 seals of Ch'eng Chen-i (19th c.); 1 seal of Han Ch'ung (19th c.); 4 seals of Weng Wang-go (20th c.); 3 seals unidentified._x000D_
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Colophon by Hsiang Yü-kuei:_x000D_
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The painting of The Garden for Self-enjoyment on the right by Shih-chou, Mr. Ch'iu [Ch'iu Ying] is in the style of Li Lung-mien. Its mood is peaceful, as if meeting the ancient gentlemen face to face among the brushes and silk; it lifts one above the sordid bustle of life. Formerly, my late father handed me this scroll which had only the painting without the written essay. I considered asking a good calligrapher to write the essay to add to it but was afraid that the quality of the writing would not match the painting. Several years later, I saw at a friend's house this essay and poems (of Ssu-ma Kuang] written by Heng-shan [Wen Cheng-ming], once owned by my grandfather; so I spared no expense to obtain it. I rejoiced at this and said: "The divine swords are finally united. How things are pre-destined!" Now my friend Chang Kung-chao's technique for mounting [painting and calligraphy] is excellent. Therefore by daring to take them out and join them together, I can preserve this beautiful story of singular reunion._x000D_
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Hsiang Yü-k'uei recorded at Hai-yeh-t'ang [hall] two days before New Year's Eve in the chia-sheng year of the Ch'ung-chen era [1644]. trans. LYSL/HK/WKH

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