Ten Thousand Year Pine (Full Scroll) on paper, 34 × 565.1 cm
Imagine an emperor who ruled the Ming Dynasty but found time to paint a dragon disguised as a tree. This massive scroll, stretching over five meters long, features a gnarled, ancient pine tree with branches that twist and reach out like claws, covered in detailed needles. Zhu Zhanji, the Xuande Emperor, created this 'Ten Thousand Year Pine' as a powerful symbol of longevity and resilience—essentially a visual wish for his reign to last forever. The numerous red seals stamped across the surface act like a VIP guest book, showing that later collectors and emperors were absolutely obsessed with this masterpiece, treating it as a treasure of the imperial collection.
- Technique
- Ink on paper
- Material
- Paper
- Dimensions
- 34 x 565.1 cm