Dream Journey to Mt. Tiantai
1814
Qian Du
Qian Du (Chinese, 1763–1844)
Chinese Art
Dream Journey to Mt. Tiantai, 1814. Qian Du (Chinese, 1763–1844). Handscroll, ink on paper; overall: 29.8 x 72 cm (11 3/4 x 28 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Jean-Pierre Dubosc 1975.75 The man and woman in the pavilion likely represent Chen Wenshu and the mysterious presence he encountered on his dream journey to Mt. Tiantai.
- Maker/Artist
- Qian Du
- Classification
- Painting
- Formatted Medium
- handscroll, ink on paper
- Medium
- handscroll, ink, paper
- Dimensions
- Overall: 29.8 x 72 cm (11 3/4 x 28 3/8 in.)
- Inscribed
- Inscription: 夢游天台圖. 余舊藏子畏赤城仙館卷子，僅尺餘而具千巖萬壑之勢。甲戌三月，戲為雲伯臨作行看子。錢叔美并識。[印]壺公 Translation: Artist's inscription, signature, and seal: Dream Journey to Mt. Tiantai. In the past, I had Ziwei’s [Tang Yin] scroll The Daoist Lodge of the Vermilion Citadel in my collection. Though it was little more than a foot in length, the landscape embodied a magnificent view of thousands of cliffs and myriad valleys. In the third month of the year jiaxu [1814], I playfully copied it as a small handscroll as a gift for Yunbo [Chen Wenshu]. Thus inscribed, Qian Shumei. [Seal]: Hugong. Inscription: 今年春為雲伯作夢游天台圖，雲伯裝淇成卷。秋七月，余來吳中桂葉書堂，展玩竟日後，為其書紀舊作於卷後。雲伯詩空靈出杳，恐斯圖不能傳寫萬一。時秋暑熾甚，揮汗為之，腕力復弱，書又劣於畫，夫奈何。叔美并記。[印]叔美 [印, 右下]錢叔美 Translation: Artist's colophon: In the spring of this year, I painted the Dream Journey to Mt. Tiantai for Yunbo [Chen Wenshu]. [Afterward], he had it mounted in a scroll format. In the autumn, the seventh month, I returned to the Guiye Shutang [Library under Cassia Leaves; i.e., Chen Wenshu’s library] in Suzhou. I looked at the scroll throughout the day and added, at the end of the scroll, his poem about the dream journey, which had been composed some time ago. Yunbo’s poem can be characterized as limpid, elusive, and subtle. I am afraid that this painting cannot hope to match its [rich] meanings in any conceivable way. At the time, the autumn heat was excessive, and I wrote the poem while sweating profusely. My wrist also lacked energy, and this made the calligraphy even less desirable than the painting. What can I do? [I], Shumei inscribed this. [seal] Shumei. Artist's seal at lower right edge of painting: Qian Shumei. Inscription: 屏風九疊雲錦張，山氣滃雲雲氣涼。/ 莓苔如席二尺厚，此間翠壁非石梁。/ 珠簾倒挂絕壁下，萬斛鮫珠向空瀉。/ 仙穴元氣沖然通，別有白龍出山罅。/ 龍起欲裂青山青，拍手一喝停雲停。/ 須臾復迸勢更急，水花倒捲搖瓏玲。/ 有美一人美且頎，翠袖獨倚紅闌西。/ 顧我目成若相識，疑是劉阮所遇之仙妃。/ 瓊臺金闕渺何處，胡麻飯熟桃花肥。/ 一翁飲水惟讀書，吐納山綠餐松腴。/ 書中所言不盡識，妙理必有壺公壺。/ 山花襲人紅蔌蔌，醒後翻疑尋夢轂。/ 泠然殘響滿空山，月痕正照秋屏綠。 Translation: A poem composed by Chen Wenshu 陳文述 (1775–1845), transcribed by Qian Du: Nine layers of nature’s screens are overlaid by brocades of clouds./ The mountainous vapors turn to mist, and the mist turns cool./ The moss and fungi are like snow, laid on thick to a depth of two feet./ Here the green walls are composed not just of barren rocks./ A pearly curtain of waterfall hangs from a sheer cliff,/ Spilling ten thousand vases of pearls over the empty space./ The primordial breath rushes through the Immortal’s cavern,/ And a white dragon begins to appear among these cliffs./ The rising dragon splits the green hills and makes them greener./ I clap my hands and utter a shout to still the frozen clouds./ Soon, the dragon reappears and gains in momentum,/ Stirring the whirling waves and rushing streams./ A tall beauty makes her presence felt, her kingfisher sleeves/ Touching the western red balustrade,/ Against which she leans in solitude./ She looks at me, as if she has known me before./ I suspect perhaps she was [one of] the immortal consorts/ Whom Liu [Chen, 劉晨] and Ruan [Zhao, 阮肇] had encountered./ Far, far are her jade terraces and golden pavilion, remote and invisible./ The sesame rice is well cooked, and the peach flowers are in full bloom./ There is an old man drinking water while reading./ As he inhales and exhales, the mountains turn green and the pine nuts ripen./ I am not fully cognizant of what the book says./ For the subtle truth there is of course the pot [Hu] of Hugong./ The scent of wild flowers is everywhere, and their red petals have fallen./ Although awake, I still suspected I was in a dream journey./ A trail of limpid sounds fills the void of mountain ranges./ The pale moon casts a reflection on the autumnal, verdant cliffs. Inscription: 3 additional seals unidentified. Inscription: Titleslip by Mo Beiming 莫北溟 (active early 20th century)
- Departments
- Chinese Art
- Accession Number
- 1975.75
- Credit Line
- Gift of Jean-Pierre Dubosc
- Rights Statement
- CC0
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