Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers

Currently not on view

Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers

1594

Zhang Longzhang (Chinese, active 1590s)

The beauty of China’s Hunan Province has long been portrayed in poems and pictures. Eleventh-century literati painter Song Di is credited with formulating an influential series of eight scenes of the region: River and Sky in the Evening Snow, Night Rain on the Xiao and Xiang, Mountain Market with Rising Mist, Returning Sails off a Distant Shore, Evening Bell from a Mist-Shrouded Temple, Wild Geese Descending on a Sandbar, Fishing Village in the Evening Glow, and Autumn Moon over Lake Dongting. Many Japanese painters depicted the Eight Views (known collectively as Hakkei) even though they had not seen the actual scenery, and others were inspired to create views of Japanese regions such as Kanazawa and Omi (now Shiga prefecture).

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers

Date:

1594

Artist:

Zhang Longzhang (Chinese, active 1590s)

Medium:

Ink and color on silk; mounted as a handscroll

Dimensions:

Painting: 11 7/16 inches × 25 feet 10 1/16 inches (29 × 787.5 cm) Mount: 13 9/16 inches × 38 feet 7 1/4 inches (34.5 × 1176.7 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

Purchased with Museum and Subscription funds, 1927

Accession Number:

1927-50-4

Geography:

Made in China, Asia

Context:

Dynasty: Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Period: Wanli Period (1573-1620)

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Currently not on view