Looking Back

The Dimensions of “Without Us”

A Final Review by Howard Rogers (1940-2025)

Zhao Ji [Chao Chi], 伝鷲佶
(1082-1135) attributed;
reigned as the Huizong 徽宗 emperor
(1100-1125)

“White Eagle” 白鷹圖

Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk
120.0 x 53.0 cm. (47 1/4 x 20 3/4 in.)

Inscription by Cai Cao (d. after 1147), son of Prime Minister Cai Jing (1046-1126); poem, much damaged and over-written, signed “Cai Cao, Grand Academician of the Xuanhe Palace.”

Published: Kase Toho: “Dreaming of a White Eagle,” Geijutsu Shincho, no. 292, 1974; Kaikodo Journal XXV (Spring 2009), no. 26.

Fachang Muqi [Fa-ch’ang Mu-ch’i] 法常牧谿
(ca.1220-ca.1280)

“Monk with Bow” 持弓僧圖

Hanging scroll; ink on paper
89.8 x 30.2 cm. (35 3/8 x 11 7/8 in.)

Inscription:
太平盡天下
何用又秦弓
任道武(稍)略
古今(超)祖風

智愚賛「虚堂」

Peace prevails in the world.
What is the use of the bow of Qin?
Give yourself to the way, weapons could be more simple.
Ancient and now, go beyond the manners of the founder.
Written by Zhiyu [Xutang] (1185-1269)

Artist’s seals: two illegible

— Outer black-lacquer box; inner plain wooden box.
— Numerous temple documents attributing the painting to Muqi and assessing it.

Yang Wenzong [Yang Wen-tsung] 楊文聰
(1597–1645)

“Spring Landscape” 1616
春山水圖

Fan (framed); ink on paper
17.8 x 56.5 cm. (7 x 22 1/4 in.)

Inscription:
“During spring of the year 1616, Yang Wencong from Jizhou painted this for Wugong, his elder society brother.”

Artist’s seal:
Wencong

Gao Cengyun [Kao Ts’eng-yün] 高層雲
(1634–1690)

“Autumn Landscape”
秋山水圖

Hanging scroll; ink on silk.
158.7 x 50.2 cm. (62 1/2 x 19 3/4 in.)

Chen Xian [Ch’en Hsien] 陳賢
(1613?-1672?)

“Guanyin” 1661
觀音

Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper
112.3 x 40.8 cm. (44 1/4 x 16 1/8 in.)

Inscription:
“Chen Xian”

Artist’s seals:
Xiaoshan jianyin; Songqi

Colophon:
Transcription of a sutra, signed: “Respectfully copied during the tenth lunar month of the year 1661 after chanting for five days at a clear window and burning incense, Songqi, Jian.”
Seals: Shengyu kui; Jian yin

Cai Ze [Ts’ai Tse] 蔡澤
(17th-18th century)

“Summer Rice Paddies” 1697
夏水田圖

Hanging scroll, ink & color on silk
134.0 x 55.1 cm. (52 3/4 x 21 3/4 in.)

Inscribed and dated:
‘Paddies spread endlessly and white herons fly,
Summer woods grow darkly and orioles chirp.’
In the fourth month of the ding chou year,
Painted at Bilangshantang,
For my elder brother (friend) Gong Guangdao’s appreciation
Xueyan Cai Ze.
Seal: Cai Ze.

Xiangyan 香嚴 (early Qing)

“Landscape”
山水圖

Hanging scroll, ink on silk
104.0 x 45.7 cm. (41 x 18 in.)

Painting signed: “Xiangyan”

Artist’s seals: two