PINES IN THE MOUNTAINS

The scroll Dedicated to Tanzhai Landscape by Wang Meng has been recorded six times in publications from the Ming, Qing, and modern periods. These publications include Shuhua Tiba Ji Volume One by Yu Fengqing in the Ming dynasty; Shanhu Wang Volume Ten by Wang Keyu; Scripts of Pei Wenzhai, Volume One Hundred in the Qing dynasty; Shigutang Shuhua Huikao Volume Twenty-one by Bian Yongyu; Dutaoge Shuhua Lu Volume Seven by Pei Jingfu; and Compilation of Thousand Years of Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy by the modern scholar Fu Kaisen. Pei Wenzhai and Fu Kaisen only briefly mentioned the other publications, yet these four publications have different interpretations regarding the scroll. Wang and Yu mentioned the scroll has the title Shen Du Qing Shang. Also, Wang was asked by Wang Meng to inscribe "Bu Ji Sui Yue" at the end of the scroll and the character "sui" is missing, this making the inscription incoherent. There is neither a "sui" character nor the phrase "Shen Du Qing Shang" inscription by Bian. Only Dutaoge Zhulu by Pei Jingfu matches the scroll. Pei, in his publication, described, "paper made in the Song period retains a highly refined quality for ink calligraphy. It was collected by the official Liao Yangquan and Liao obtained the work in Shanghai in winter, wuzi year. The calligraphy and the painting are both highly exceptional, representing the highest level of Wang Meng and deserves to be called a matchless piece."

The scroll includes a poem by Zhang Yu. Zhang Yu died in 1348 when Wang Meng was only forty-one years old. Although the work lacks a specific date, Zhang's poem confirms the work was completed in Wang Meng's mid-career.

As the records of this painting are quite inconsistent, the painting is designated here as attributed to in order to invite people with more knowledge to render further insight.