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DiaporamaFlowers in Rain through the Four Stages of Meditation
1866
32.0 x 466.0 cm
Four clusters of flowers—orchid, chrysanthemum, narcissus, and peony—hover on this scroll as if emerging from a dense mist. This is one of the earliest extant paintings by Xugu, a scholar of the late Qing dynasty who first pursued a career as a military officer before retreating to life in and around Buddhist monasteries. Xu’s late works are known for nervous, fractured lines, but this piece shows his mastery of the “boneless” technique, in which washes of color are applied without bounding lines. The flowers may symbolize a seasonal progression from summer to spring, but the scholar Cheng Songwan, who gave the painting its title frontispiece, saw a Buddhist significance.
Xugu (? – ?)
Discover Xugu (1823-1896), a prominent Chinese monk-painter of the late Qing dynasty and a key member of the Shanghai School. Known for his dynamic ink wash paintings of landscapes, birds, and squirrels, he blended Chan Buddhist aesthetics with innovative techniques to create uniquely elegant works.
About this artwork
- Title: Flowers in Rain through the Four Stages of Meditation
- Artist: Xugu
- Year: 1866
- Original dimensions: 32.0 x 466.0 cm
- Format: Landscape
- Copyright status: Under copyright
- Color hue: Green Spectrum
- Perceived brightness: brilliant
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