Orchid and Bamboo, Hanging Scroll
Zheng Xie
Qing Dynasty
- MEDIUM:Ink on paper
- FORMATS:Hanging scroll
- DIMENSIONS:Height 118.5 cm; Width 53.5 cm
Introduction
Zheng Banqiao excelled in painting orchids, bamboo, and rocks, famously describing them as “orchids that never wither through the seasons, bamboo that remains evergreen throughout its many joints, Eternal rocks unyielding through the ages, timeless souls steadfast across centuries.” In this painting, the bamboo stands tall and graceful, arranged in varying heights and tones—some lush, some withered—with leaves that cluster and scatter in measured rhythm, embodying an open and free spirit. Among the crevices of rugged stones grow several wild orchids, their leaves rendered with brushstrokes reminiscent of cursive script—long, sweeping, and energetic—neither crowded nor sparse. The orchid flowers flutter like butterflies and exude a delicate fragrance.
At the upper right corner, a poem reads:
“Unlike the peach and plum in bloom,
Nor competing with the peony’s bud.
A heart pure and sincere,
Unrivaled through the ages.
A sincere heart to serve the wise ruler,
A pure heart to offer good friends.”
This praises the orchid and bamboo’s noble character—modest yet dignified, refusing to vie for flashy beauty like peach blossoms or peonies.
This work was once collected by Qian Jingtang, a modern-era connoisseur renowned as the “Top Collector of Jiangnan.”
