LI JIANG SHAN SHUI HUA CE: COLOR PAINTINGS OF THE LI RIVER AND IT'S FANTASY MOUN

LI JIANG SHANG ALBUM.

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[Guilin 1986]. Silk brocade covers, with dragon and phoenix pattern, ca. 16.5 x 25.5 cm., opens to 16.5 x 31.5 cm., six double-page color paintings, title & signature pages, eight color paintings,clean, bright. A UNIQUE AND OBSCURE ITEM A lovely album, hand-painted in Moshi [Sumi-black Chinese ink] with vegetal pastel hues of green, emerald and ochre colors. Stunning landscapes of the Li-Jiang [Li River], along the way from Guilin down to Yangshao, the phenomenally beautiful limestone [Karst] mountain landscape. It has been said, that the Li River is the most scenic place in China and is the epitome of China's best landscape. It has inspired Chinese artists and poets for over 2200 years. The Li River flows through Guilin and is Guangxi's most stunning experience. * The colophon or last page gives a slightly different title reflecting a poetic name of the album as an afterthought: LI JIANG SHUI DAI BIYU ZHAI: THE JASPER SMOOTH RIVER WATER, intimating the smooth emerald green of the "jasper" colored waters of the Li River. * The work begins with a stunning title page in black Moshi with three cinnabar seals, the one to the extreme right states "Bashi Nian Dai" meaning the artist painted this in his "80's," indicating his age-related period. The artist's large square cinnabar seal just under the inscription to far left, and an other round red seal just after the title. * The first scene shows temple at Pagoda Hill and a small bamboo raft with four sightseers being guided down river. The lovely steep mountains dominate the background, with touches of green and emerald green high-lighting. * The second painting shows three small rafts floating down river with their sails catching the mild breeze. The ever-present steep limestone mountains evaporate into the background mist. * The third shows jagged mountains in the background, vanishing into the fog as five small rafts continue down stream. Two figures climb the stairs rising from the Li river, one carries a bamboo pole over his shoulder, a small temple is seen with red poles supporting a tiled roof, blending into the flora in hues of green. * Number four shows several boats docked while four others ferry guests to the shore, their sails rolled down and secured. A small village to the right is nestled among the tall bamboos, a flock of birds fly up the gorge seeing protection in the steep limestone mountains. * Five is a closer view of the small village nestled into the right-hand side of the river, with several boats moored. The village buildings are high-lighted with hues of orange and pastel ochre. * Six shows a dramatic view of two prominent steep and tall mountains in the background, the foreground shows four small houses with tile roofs, accented with ochre. Two small junks ply the river the flock of birds head into the fog of the river. * Seven is the last page of the album, showing the artist's title, name and date colophon, with the same three cinnabar seals found on the title page in the same positions. * Each painting has the title painted in Moshi and then sealed with a small square cinnabar seal at the top. Scenes show the aged Banyan of Longmen, Zhujiang quay, Nine Oxen Ridge, Nine Dragons Praying Ridge, Lonely Lady Rock, Taoyuan, Charm of Yangdi, White Tiger Hill, Chicken Cage Hill, Lanshi, Fish Tail Peak, Lion Watching the Nine Horse, Luoai, Pubutang, Yangmeiping, Dragon Head Hill and Yangshuo Country village. * HISTORY OF THE LI RIVER AND GUILIN: The Ling Canal [Ling Qu] was built in the Guilin area by the Qin Emperor from 219-214 BC, to transport supplies to his armies. Students of history will remember the Qin Emperor as the one who built the Great Wall [Changcheng] and the tomb of the Terracotta Warriors [Bingmayong] in Xian. The Ling Qu is considered to be one of the three great feats of Chinese engineering [among the Great Wall and the Du River irrigation system in Sichuan]. The Ling Canal links the Xiang River [Xiang He] which flows into the Yangzi River [Cha. Seller Inventory # 29018301

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Title: LI JIANG SHAN SHUI HUA CE: COLOR PAINTINGS ...