LU Zhanyuan
(China)
Unknown
(China)
- Title
- Folding fan with landscape painting and poem in seal script
- Place of origin
-
China
- Year
- 1921
- Media category
- Painting
- Materials used
- ink and colour on paper
- Dimensions
-
H33.1cm
- Credit
- Gift of Dr. James Hayes 2009
- Accession number
- 315.2009
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
The poem painted by Lu Zhanyuan may be translated as follows: ‘So many people from the mundane world, are not the match of this old gentleman; they do not ride a donkey backwards, but always look back towards the past.’ The poem is followed by an inscription, reading: ‘On the right I have written the poem about Zhang Guolao riding a donkey backwards, at the request of Mr. Huanwen, Director of the Society. Late learner Lu Zhanyuan, in the year of 'xinyou' (1921), May Festival.'
There are three seals, including: ‘Ruyi jixiang (auspicious, as one wishes)’ and ‘Lu Zhanyuan’. Zhang Guolao (7th and 8th century), one of the famous Daoist Eight Immortals in popular culture, is said to have always been riding a donkey backwards.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, August 2009.
