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Lot Essay
The inscription in clerical script may be translated as:
The great creative force is accumulated in the remote mountains and rivers. It roams about on earth as an immortal with shaggy eyebrows and hoary hair.
The inscription in draft script may be translated as:
A spring sprig of the foremost among a hundred flowers.
The 'great creative force' is a reference to the Dao, and is the sustaining source of all meaning, transcending all concepts. It is accessible through the enlightenment of the mystic, when individual self-consciousness gives way to cosmic consciousness. The sage, the worldly manifestation of the Dao roaming the earth, is depicted as seated in meditation in a scholar's garden, with blossoming prunus and rock sculptures. The deer is a symbol of immortality, and appears at ease with the mythical beast, a reflection of the harmony disseminated by the sage. The prunus, 'foremost among a hundred flowers', is a symbol of perseverance and fortitude, because it bursts into glorious blossom in the depths of winter.
The confident handling of the beautifully textured material and different tones of color on varying planes, and the sculptural quality of the carving are features traditionally associated with the Suzhou school.
The great creative force is accumulated in the remote mountains and rivers. It roams about on earth as an immortal with shaggy eyebrows and hoary hair.
The inscription in draft script may be translated as:
A spring sprig of the foremost among a hundred flowers.
The 'great creative force' is a reference to the Dao, and is the sustaining source of all meaning, transcending all concepts. It is accessible through the enlightenment of the mystic, when individual self-consciousness gives way to cosmic consciousness. The sage, the worldly manifestation of the Dao roaming the earth, is depicted as seated in meditation in a scholar's garden, with blossoming prunus and rock sculptures. The deer is a symbol of immortality, and appears at ease with the mythical beast, a reflection of the harmony disseminated by the sage. The prunus, 'foremost among a hundred flowers', is a symbol of perseverance and fortitude, because it bursts into glorious blossom in the depths of winter.
The confident handling of the beautifully textured material and different tones of color on varying planes, and the sculptural quality of the carving are features traditionally associated with the Suzhou school.