Skip to content

An image of Inkstone by SHEN Shiyou
Alternate image of Inkstone by SHEN Shiyou Alternate image of Inkstone by SHEN Shiyou

SHEN Shiyou

(China 1857–1917)

Title
Inkstone
Other titles:
Inkstone with inscriptions by WANG Zhen and WU Changshuo
Place of origin
China
Year
late 19th century-early 20th century
Media category
Ceramic
Materials used
carved inkstone
Dimensions

33.3 x 20.3cm

Credit
Purchased 1989
Accession number
59.1989
Location
Lower Asian gallery
Further information

This unusually large, fine, black inkstone has the added interest of the inscriptions on it and the provenance they imply. It is incised with an image of a kneeling Buddhist monk, which, the inscription suggests, is a self-portrait by the noted Buddhist and artist Wang Zhen (1867-1938), and a poem [upper left] by him which reads:

'In my previous life I was a monk.
Suddenly I came down to this human world,
The fragrant incense is not smoking, but already flowers appear in my vision,
where I can find the essence of Chan [Buddhism].'

It is signed 'white dragon hermit' and dated 1912. The same inkstone also has two poems inscribed by Wu Changshuo (1844-1927), the principle one, on the face of the stone and adjacent to Wang's [upper right] is richly enigmatic:

'Jin Shoumen [Jin Nong] once said
I am in my heart a monk eating congxi [rice gruel]
Now I am going to use this title to give to you.
How about that?'

Another inscription by Wu, on the side of the stone, states that it was carved by Shen Shiyou (1857-1917), a noted collector and inkstone carver who often worked with him.

The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.161.

Bibliography (4)

Jackie Menzies (Australia) (Author), Art of the Brush - Chinese & Japanese painting calligraphy, Sydney, 1995, 11.

'Chinese Painting', pg. 42-52., Asian Collection Handbook, Art Gallery of New South Wales 1990, 1990, 47 (illus.).

'Modern Chinese Paintings in the Art Gallery of New South Wales: The Shanghai School and its Impact' by Edmund Capon, pg. 104-109., Orientations Sep 2000, Sep 2000, 107 (illus.). fig.5

'The Scholar's Studio', The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales 2003, 2003, 161 (colour illus.).

Exhibition history (1)

Art of the brush, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 23 Sep 1995–12 Nov 1995.