Tea Roasting Stove, Hanging Scroll
Zheng Xie
Qing Dynasty
- MEDIUM:Ink on paper
- FORMATS:Hanging scroll
- DIMENSIONS:Height 118.5 cm; Width 53.5 cm
Introduction
This painting is a draft letter by Zheng Banqiao （Zheng Xie）, written during his tenure as county magistrate of Fan County, Shandong, addressed to his superior, “Xian Tai Da Ren.” The work features ink depictions of a tea roasting fire stove and a brazier, with handwritten characters flowing freely between lines, exuding a calm and harmonious atmosphere.
The letter discusses Zheng Banqiao’s views on poetry creation. He states, “The essence of composing poetry lies less in discarding the ancients and more in cleansing oneself.” He then critiques contemporary poets by referencing notable figures such as Liu Xianyou and Han Mulu, the top scholars of the current dynasty, as well as Ruan Ting. Zheng opposes the trend of imitating ancient styles and praises the Kangxi-era top scholar and poet Han Mulu for “cleansing old conventions and uniquely presenting new expressions; his writing appears light but is weighty, seemingly delicate yet enduring.” Zheng Banqiao’s insights shook the mid-Qing poetic world, which favored Tang and Song imitations, and significantly contributed to the study of his independent literary theory.
