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Two Garden Rocks, from the album Flowers, Rocks, Bamboo, and Landscapes

Artist/Maker (Chinese, 1683–1749)
Date1733
MediumAlbum leaf, ink monochrome painting on paper
DimensionsImage: 10 × 12 3/4 in. (25.4 × 32.4 cm)
Mount: 10 1/16 × 15 3/4 in. (25.6 × 40 cm)
Credit LineGift of Carol S. Brooks in honor of her father, George J. Schlenker, and R. T. Miller Jr. Fund
PortfolioFlowers, Rocks, Bamboo, and Landscapes
Object number1997.29.1G
Status
Not on view
More Information
INSCRIPTION: TWO GARDEN ROCKS
高宮保公出賞瀚海羽奇石,余賦圖。
為仿薏留影,今並紀诎書后:
大荒元气留太古,混沌未破倏忽苦。
莽蒼瀚海鬱凮砂,大地精英日蟠聚。
造化神秘巧莫施,策人而石生瑤圃。
千奇万怪吐光芒,斑斕猷帶鴻濛雨。
海上仙翁古柏倪,乘雲招我東溟垂。
紫霞裾下出石芝,金莖玉膚譎見奇。
念子癖好特致之,明月珮解光陸離。
白雲啟時奉真皓,蹴蹋天橋人曾寫。
石光騰怪阻行雲,下船拾之歸海嶠。
更有一石尤奇絕,雪山千疊含靈竅。
此石久留鎮山精,時時風雨聞呼嘯。
我有二奇一贈君,物外相看別有神。
君但持歸安硯北,蕩胸時復生層雲。
鳳翰謹識

Mister Bao in the Gao residence displayed a miraculous rock called Hànhǎiyǔ (Desert-feather). A painting [ of the rock ] is attached. [ I ] sketched out [the rock] to keep it in my memory. [ I ] humbly wrote down some text on the side:

In ancient times, the world was still a chaotic mess. [ Gradually,] the infinite ocean became the sand blown by wind, and the greatest spirits gathered together. The nature of life was remarkably mysterious. [ Someone ] asked the rock to create a heaven. The rock then emitted rays of light so colorful that they resembled turbulent rain. By the old cypress tree on the ocean, an immortal elder waved to me and let me join him to the East Sea. Underneath the purple clouds accompanying the immortal, there grows the plant of the rock. Even ghosts will find the gold-made stem and the jade-made base magical. [ The immortal said to me:] “Regarding your fondness [ for rocks ], [ I ] give the rock to you as a gift. Moonlight was bizarrely beautiful. Clouds emerged in pure whiteness. This rock was by the water and someone painted it. The light from the rock prevents the clouds from moving, so [ I ] got off the boat, picked up the rock, and returned to the mountain and the sea. There is a more miraculous rock. The thousand-layered snow mountain contains the seed of magic [ that grows into the rock ]. As the rock stays in the mountain, it carries its spirit. Whenever the wind blows and the rain pours, the rock roars. I have two of the miraculous rocks, and I present one of them to you as a gift. Appreciating it without [ the influences of ] worldly affairs, [ you ] will find it especially amazing. I hope that [ the rock ] serves you well as you write, and the clouds from the mountain clear your mind.”
Solemnly recorded by Fènghàn
Exhibition History
A Century of Asian Art at Oberlin: Chinese Paintings
  • Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin, OH (June 6, 2017 - December 10, 2017 )
Collections
  • Asian