Magnolia was very popular with the literati in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Especially during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, Magnolia was planted in large quantities and attracted extensive attention of the literati. Wen Zhengming’s poem “Magnolia” is “graceful with new makeup, jade and brilliance, and su’e is surrounded by thousands of snow.” Shen Zhou has a poem titled “Magnolia”: “the emerald strips are strong, the wind is long, and the fragrance of silver flowers and Jade Snow is broken.” It’s all about Magnolia.

Magnolia calligraphy and painting works handed down during this period are not a few. In March, when the spring returns to the earth, magnolias are in full bloom everywhere. This issue combs some Magnolia themed works and appreciates magnolias written by famous masters of all dynasties.

Xu Xi (Biography) of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Xu Xi (Biography) of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

112.5X38. 3cm Taipei Palace Museum Collection

Xu Xi (Biography) of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms jade hall wealth map (part)

The painting of the wealth of the jade Hall shows magnolia, Begonia, peony, carnation and so on. The stamens are complex and the branches are intricate. The golden pheasant under the precious stone is depicted in the way of double hook filling color, which is exquisite and beautiful. The gap is stained with stone, and the picture is filled with colorful scenery, which is very interesting. Xu Xi is a famous flower and bird painter in the Southern Tang Dynasty. According to the painting history, he is good at writing branches, leaves, pistils and calyx in ink, and then coloring them and calling them falling ink flowers, which has a unique style.

Ming Shen Zhou sketchbook - Magnolia

Ming Shen Zhou sketchbook - Magnolia 34.8 × 56.5cm Taipei Palace Museum Collection

This book was written by Shen Zhou at the age of 68. It is a sketch of animals and plants. The intention is very refined and the pen and ink are uninhibited. The brushwork of this book is also very cutting. According to Gao Shiqi, this volume was originally collected by Li zhaoheng in Jiaxing. It was once contained in the notes of liuyanzhai and returned to Gao. There are 16 sketch books, including magnolia, butterfly flower, Xuan, grape, oyster room, box, cat, donkey, etc. Shen Zhou is good at poetry, calligraphy and landscape. And part-time ink painting flowers, fruits, feathers and so on.

Ming Shen Zhou painting Zhilan Yushu

Ming Shen Zhou painting Zhilan Yushu 135.1 × 22 “Taipei Palace Museum Collection

Painting of Zhilan Yushu in Ming, Shen and Zhou Dynasties (part)

“Painting a jade tree with orchids” in the painting, Ganoderma lucidum and orchids are on the slope, and then leaning against a large stone. A magnolia, with three or five flowers in each branch, grows behind the stone. It is very beautiful with a pen. It is very different from the interest of the pen in his later years. Many scholars in Wen Zhengming are like this. The title of Wu Kuan on the piece is very close to the font of Lin Yu Er Zha on the title of Wu in the 1898 (1478) year of emperor Xianzong of the Ming Dynasty; In the same year, Shen Zhou painted a scroll of Wu Zhixing, which was elegant and similar. Therefore, this picture was also painted in this year. Shen Zhou was 52 years old at that time.

The crowns of the Ming and Zhou Dynasties

Crowns of the Ming and Zhou Dynasties (part) collection of the National Palace Museum

The painting of flowers is the work of Zhou Zhimian in his later years. The picture outlines the flowers of the four seasons, of which woody flowers are mostly broken branches. The painter transformed the freehand landscape brush and ink of Wu school into the modeling language of flower and bird painting, forming the flower and leaf school. Zhou Zhimian used freehand brushwork to draw or smear flowers, leaves and branches, revealing lightness and elegance at will, reflecting the indifferent and uninhibited mind of literati and painters.

White Magnolia of Ming Dynasty

White Magnolia in clear text figure 27.9 × 133cm Metropolitan Museum of Art

White Magnolia (part)

The painting of White Magnolia shows a white magnolia tree with one branch sticking out. It is full of business and seems to send out faint fragrance in the morning dew. Wen’s painting is not an exquisite pen, but a masterpiece of painting from life.

Ming Lu Zhi Wang Guxiang’s picture of Begonia and Magnolia

Ming Lu Zhi Wang Guxiang Begonia Magnolia figure 67.2 × 34.1 cm Taipei Palace Museum Collection

Wang Guxiang’s picture of Begonia and Magnolia under the rule of Lu in the Ming Dynasty (part)

This is a picture of Magnolia and Begonia painted by Lu Zhi and Wang Guxiang. The two flowers complement each other, a school of Chunhua. Two people hook flowers and leaves to have natural fun.

Flower and bird Atlas of Qingyu - Magnolia

Flower and bird Atlas of Qingyu - Magnolia 33 × 37cm Palace Museum Collection

There are twelve volumes of flowers and birds in the painting. Orchids, peonies, camellias, Xuan flowers, lilies, lotus flowers, autumn chrysanthemums, peach flowers, begonias, magnolias, plum blossoms, Chimonanthus, etc. are painted on each flower. Insects and birds such as bees, butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, tits, Huang Ying, thrushes and sparrows are dotted on each flower, showing a colorful and vibrant scene. Its composition is simple, elegant, bright colors, neat and delicate strokes. This series of works inherits Lang shining’s painting techniques. Whether from the Yin and Yang of branches and leaves to the back or the light and shadow changes of flowers, they are vividly depicted. In this way, flower and bird painters who can skillfully use the light and shadow effect are rare in ancient times. The colors used in the painting of flowers and birds are light and elegant, which shows that his painting has a unique aesthetic feeling of the East.

Wealth and honor of the jade Hall of the Qing Dynasty

Figure 221.5 of the wealth and prestige of the Qinghu Meiyu Hall × 92.3cm Tianjin Museum Collection

Wealth and honor of the jade Hall of the Qing Dynasty (part)

With magnolia, Begonia flowers and peonies as the background, this painting is lined with a pair of golden pheasants, implying the wealth of the jade hall. The brush used for color application is more gorgeous after learning from Lin Liang and LV Ji. Shen Quan is his tall foot and has a reputation of blue because of his painting method.

The map of wealth and honor of Zou Yigui Yutang in the Qing Dynasty

Figure 197 of the wealth of guiyutang in Zou, Qing Dynasty × 96cm Liaoning Provincial Museum Collection

Wealth and honor of Zou Guiyu hall in Qing Dynasty (part)

The picture shows magnolia, Begonia, peony and azalea blooming brightly. Magnolia means Yutang, and peony means wealth, that is, wishing wealth and nobility. Magnolia is white and flawless, Begonia is light purple and shy, peony is colorful, elegant and noble.

Picture of Magnolia and peony in Qing Dynasty

Picture 138.1 of Magnolia and peony in Qing Dynasty × 69.8cm Nanjing Museum Collection

This is a more exquisite painting of flowers from life by Li Futang. The magnolia tree has a great posture of growing hair, and the magnolias are in full bloom with infinite vitality. The peony narrated by the boulder is soft, beautiful, rich and noble, which reflects the painting style of Yangzhou painting school.