Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 1, Han Kan, Tang dynasty

Leaf 1
Horse and Groom
Han Kan, Tang dynasty

Ink & Color on Silk.

The work is unsigned. To the upper left an inscription reads 'Genuine work by Han Kan'. Inscribed by the Imperial Hand in the ting-hai year (CE 110) This is followed by one imperial seal: Hsuan-ho. In the upper right there is the gourd-shaped imperial seal. While unsigned, the brushwork of the calligraphy appears to be that of the Sung Emperor Hui-tsung.

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 2, Huang Quan, Huang Chuan

Leaf 2
Birds and Fowl among Snow Bamboo
Huang Quan, Five dynasties

Ink & Color on Silk.

The title of the painting as well as its author are ascribed by the Ching dynasty collector Liang Ching-piao.

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 3, Huang Chu-Tsai, Five dynasties

Leaf 3
Pigeons among Bamboo and Rock
Huang Chu-Tsai, Five dynasties

Ink & Color on Silk.

Both title and author were ascribed by the Ching collector Liang Ching-piao.

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 4, Liu Sung-nien, Sung dynasty

Leaf 4
Immortal Offering Flowers
Liu Sung-nien, Sung dynasty

Ink & Color on Silk.

The signature Liu Sung-nien can be found behind the right heel of the foremost monk.

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 5, Ma Yuan, Sung dynasty

Leaf 5
Mountain Stroll in Spring
Ma Yuan, Sung dynasty

Ink & Color on Silk.

The signature, Ma Yuan, can be found in the lower left corner. An inscription in the upper right reads:

Brushed by the long sleeves, the wild flowers dance.
The eremetic birds, avoiding mankind, do not chirp.

The calligraphy appears to be that of the Sung emperor Ning-tsung (1195-1225).

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 6, Ma Yuan, Sung dynasty

Leaf 6
Mountain Journey in Morning Snow
Ma Yuan, Sung dynasty

Ink & Color on Silk.

The signature, Ma Yuan, is in the lower right corner.

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 7, Ma Lin, Sung dynasty

Leaf 7
Rainy Mists in Fragrant Spring
Ma Lin, Sung dynasty

Ink & Color on Silk.

The title is inscribed in the upper left corner, the calligraphy resembling that of the Emperor Ning-tsung (1195-1224), but is followed by the seal of the Empress Yang bearing the "Kun-kua" sign of the 64 hexagrams. The artist's signature, Ma Lin, appears in the lower right.

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 8, Ma Lin, Sung dynasty

Leaf 8
Wintry Birds in Evening Snow
Ma Lin, Sung dynasty

Ink & Color on Silk.

In the upper left-hand is a couplet written by the Emperor Ning-tsung (1195-1224):

Sparse branches hide their colours
Gather wings cannot stop the chill.

This is followed by an oblong seal bearing the hexagram "Kun-kua"

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 9, Wu Ping, Sung dynasty

Leaf 9
Insects and Grasses of Chia-ho
Wu Ping, Sung dynasty

Ink & Color on Silk.

The work is unsigned. The title and authorship are ascribed by the Ching collector Liang Ching-piao.

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 10, Anonymous, Sung dynasty

Leaf 10
Awaiting the Ferry
Anonymous, Sung dynasty

Ink & Color on Silk.

The theme as well as the painting style would indicate a provenance somewhere toward the end of the Northern Sung dynasty.

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 11, Anonymous, Sung dynasty

Leaf 11
Three Laughers and Tiger Stream
Anonymous, Sung dynasty

Ink & Color on Silk.

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 12, Chao Meng-fu, Yuan dynasty

Leaf 12
Horse and Groom
Chao Meng-fu, Yuan dynasty

Ink & Color on Paper.

The signature in the upper left corner reads "Tzu-ang" and is followed by a seal, Chao-shih Tzu-ang.

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 13, Ku An, Yuan dynasty

Leaf 13
Ink Bamboo
Ku An, Yuan dynasty

Ink & Color on Paper.

Self-inscription in the upper right reads "wan-chieh (late sections)". The signature is to the left and reads, "Ting-chih painted this for Master Kung." This is followed by two seals, Ku Ting-chih yin, and Yu-ne lao-jen. In the lower right an inscription by Liu Tien-yi in semi cursive script reads:

Rained-soaked leaves blurry in the mist,
are even more remarkable in sunlight,
Who knows of his lofty integrity even in his wintry years?
The old fisherman does not understand the ink in the picture
But wants to lower his long fishing pole in some emerald gorge.

Singed: The Famous Liu Tien-yi inscribed.

2 seals: Liu Hsing-chu, Po-chuang feng-yu.

In the top center portion an inscription by Ma Chih in semi-cursive script reads:

After the ancient winds and frosts
In the clear shadow raindrops remain.
Seen in a desolate garden
It arouses the intoning of poetic verses.
This is the ink bamboo painted by Ku Tung-an in the collection of Mr. Wang Ta-shan of Liang-hsi. Hence I inscribed this. Ma chih of I-hsing.

1 seal: chung chin-ku.

The inscription by Wang Ta in smaller semi-cursive regular script reads:

The ancient joints are firm as iron.
With mutual regard their meaning
deepens.
The leaves crisscross after frost,
The heart is chilled by the year's end..

My friend Chen Kung-tu is an upright man of few words who values moral virtue and righteousness and who studied the Classic of Poetry with me. I came to expect Kung-tu to achieve glory and win fame for his hometown. Unexpectedly my official tenure is now up and I must return to the Capital. Therefore respectfully I present this painting to him, with the hope that he complete his cultivation of moral virtues and secure his aspirations. (tall and lofty) like this bamboo at year's end.

signed: Nai-hsuan chu-shih Wang Ta records this on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month in the year ping-tzu in the Hung-wu reign era (1396).

1 seal: Wang Ta-shan shih.

Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 14, Anonymous, Yuan dynasty

Leaf 14
Bamboo and Rock
Anonymous, Yuan dynasty

Ink & Color on Silk.

An oblong relief seal reading, Sung-hsueh-chai, is imprinted in the lower left corner, and has caused some to take this to be a work by Chao Meng-fu. However, the brushwork here is gentle and moist, differing somewhat from the manner of Chao.

Album 12
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 1
Leaf 1
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 2
Leaf 2
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 3
Leaf 3
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 4
Leaf 4
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 5
Leaf 5
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 6
Leaf 6
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 7
Leaf 7
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 8
Leaf 8
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 9
Leaf 9
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 10
Leaf 10
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 11
Leaf 11
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 12
Leaf 12
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 13
Leaf 13
Paintings, Albums, Anthology of Masterpieces, Leaf 14
Leaf 14