Reclining Journey through Xiao and Xiang - Colophon 1
Imagine wanting to travel the misty rivers of China but being too frail to leave your room. That’s the story behind the 'Dream Journey to the Xiaoxiang,' attributed to Song Dynasty master Li Gonglin, who painted it for a monk named Yun Gu so he could explore the landscape in his dreams—a concept called 'Woyou' (lying down travel). What you see here is the colophon, a long tail of aged material where later admirers, including scholars from the Qianlong Emperor's era, wrote poetic tributes in flowing calligraphy. The text flows like a river itself, ending with a delicate, sparse sketch of bamboo on the far right, showing how these scrolls were living documents that grew with every new owner.
- Technique
- Ink calligraphy and brush painting
Location: Tokyo National Museum