Category: Ancient Chinese Philosophy Art

Go Fishing in the Mountains
Chinese Philosophy Wall Scroll

					36½" (92.8cm)
		19¼" (48.8cm)

Go Fishing in the Mountains

Close up view of the artwork mounted to this silk brocade wall scroll

Maybe it seems silly to go fishing in the mountains, but we all need a place to get away and think.

In this painting the man does not expect to catch fish, but rather is there to think and contemplate his life, or find solutions to any problems he might have, and just get away from the real world for a while.

This painting is inspired by the story of a gifted philosopher and scholarly man named Yan Zi Ling who was called to service by Emperor Liu Che during the Han Dynasty. Yan Zi Ling did not want to take a position of authority in the government, fearing that holding such power, he would become corrupt.

Even though he was a wise, talented, and honorable man, he knew that service in the imperial court could corrupt even the most ethical person. He felt so strongly about preserving his own integrity and dignity that he decided that it would be better to live in exile than to become another corrupt official.

For several years, Emperor Liu Che sent men out to search the countryside and find Yan Zi Ling. But the emperor's men couldn't find him. Of course, the emperor's men had no idea that Yan Zi Ling now lives in his own special place in the mountains where he could get away from the trouble of the world.

We all need a place to get away from it all and this man has found his place.
Perhaps this painting will inspire you to find yours?

The Materials...

Painted with watercolor and special Chinese ink on handmade xuan paper (rice paper) with gold flecks/flakes. The paper itself is handmade in a process that takes more than a year to complete.

We've been doing some experiments with mounting some of these philosophy art paintings to wall scrolls. I don't know if this will become a regular item or not. This one is mounted with an antique-style two-tone silk cloth combination. This is very much the style you would see in China hundreds of years ago - a very classic style. See: How we make our wall scrolls.

About This Collection of Chinese Philosophy Art

This painting is from the San Yang Collection, a great series of paintings that depict various folklore, stories, and philosophies of Chinese culture.

I have translated the stories of these paintings into English with the personal help of the artist.

The artist and I meet in her home for Chinese tea
and discussions of Western and Easter Philosophy

This work was done in Beijing, China by Zhang Xiuzhen whose pen name is "San Yang".

She is a rather famous artist in northern China and has been painting since 1958.
Her work has been seen in many international exhibitions around the world over the last decade.

This is known as "free-hand style" painting.
This style of painting is done quickly with broad and powerful strokes. But often with a half-dry brush. This is a very specific technique that this artist has mastered, and many try to copy.