Chang, Ta-ch'ien. Three Perils Mountain, 1941. hanging scroll, ink and light color on paper, Painting: 96.5 x 33 cm (38 x 13 in.); Overall with knobs: 212 x 59 cm (83 7/16 x 23 1/4 in.). Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 2007.197. Copyrighted.

Three Perils Mountain

1941

Zhang Daqian

Zhang Daqian (Chinese, 1899–1983)

Chinese Art

Three Perils Mountain, 1941. Zhang Daqian (Chinese, 1899–1983). Hanging scroll, ink and light color on paper; painting: 96.5 x 33 cm (38 x 13 in.); overall with knobs: 212 x 59 cm (83 7/16 x 23 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2007.197 On the far shore, three scholars and their attendant approach a Buddhist stupa relic mound.

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Chang, Ta-ch'ien
Classification: Painting
Formatted Medium: hanging scroll, ink and light color on paper
Medium: hanging, scroll, ink, light, color, paper
Dimensions: Painting: 96.5 x 33 cm (38 x 13 in.); Overall with knobs: 212 x 59 cm (83 7/16 x 23 1/4 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist Translation: 張爰私印 Translation: In his "Commentary to [the Classic of History]," Kong Anguo [2nd century BC] [writes], "Sanwei [Three Perils] is a mountain on the western marches; [the Emperor] Shun 'drove the Sanmiao [tribes] into Three Perils [district].'" It is the [place to which the] "Yugong" [chapter of the "Classic of History" refers]: "The Three Perils [district] was made habitable." In the "Treatise [on Geography" in the] History of the Sui Dynasty, there is a Three Perils Mountain under the entry for Dunhuang county. Nowadays, it is commonly called Shengyu Mountain, and is located thirty li southeast of the town [of Dunhuang]. It has three peaks which stick up vertically and seem to be in imminent peril of falling; thus the name. The sixth lunar month of the xinsi year; escaping the summer heat [I have come to] the Mogao Caves, where I face the Three Perils every day and night, so I've painted this. Yuan. Remark: Zhang Daqian's inscription shows that he studied the history of the Mogao Caves and the Dunhuang area. The importance of the Three Perils Mountain in ancient history compelled him to paint its vivid form.
Departments: Chinese Art
Accession Number: 2007.197
Credit Line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Exhibitions: <em>An Exhibition of Chinese Paintings by Chang Dai-Chien</em>. Frank Caro Gallery, New York, NY (May 19-June 30, 1984)., <em>Challenging the Past: The Paintings of Chang Dai-chien. </em>Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington, DC (November 24, 1991-April 5, 1992); The Asia Society, New York, NY (April 29-July 19, 1992); Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO (August 28-October 25, 1992).
Rights Statement: Copyrighted