Exhibition

Noble Virtues: Nature as Symbol in Chinese Art

September 10, 2022–January 29, 2023
Previously on view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Galleries 210–216
Free with Museum admission
Windblown bamboo, Yang Han  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Yang Han (Chinese, active late 17th century)
1686
Orchids and bamboo, Zheng Xie  Chinese, Handscroll; ink on paper, China
Zheng Xie (Chinese, 1693–1765)
dated 1742
Censer decorated with the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove 
, Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
ca. 1640
Bamboo copied after Wen Tong, Ke Jiusi  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on silk, China
Ke Jiusi (Chinese, 1290–1343)
dated 1343
Brush Holder, Gu Jue  Chinese, Bamboo with hardwood rim and base, China
Gu Jue (active late 17th century)
Bamboo and rocks, Li Kan  Chinese, Pair of hanging scrolls; ink and color on silk, China
Li Kan (Chinese, 1245–1320)
dated 1318
Brush holder decorated with garden scene, Bamboo, China
China
Windblown bamboo, Xia Chang  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Xia Chang (Chinese, 1388–1470)
ca. 1460
Bamboo in wind and rain, Shitao (Zhu Ruoji)  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Shitao (Zhu Ruoji) (Chinese, 1642–1707)
ca. 1694
Ink bamboo, Li Shan  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Li Shan (Chinese, 1686–ca. 1756)
dated 1749
Poems on painting plum blossoms and bamboo, Zhao Mengjian  Chinese, Handscroll; ink on paper, China
Zhao Mengjian (Chinese, 1199–before 1267)
dated 1260
Ink bamboo, Tang Yin  Chinese, Handscroll; ink on paper, China
Tang Yin (Chinese, 1470–1524)
early 16th century
Bamboo in a spring thunderstorm, Tang Yin  Chinese, Folding fan mounted as an album leaf; ink on gold-flecked paper, China
After Tang Yin (Chinese, 1470–1524)
17th century
Bamboo and poem, Zhu Lu  Chinese, Folding fan mounted as an album leaf; ink on gold-flecked paper, China
Zhu Lu (Chinese, 1553–1632)
early 17th century
Covered box decorated with the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove
, Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
ca. 1640
Bamboo, Wu Huayuan, Fan; ink on paper, China
Wu Huayuan (active early 20th century)
dated 1942
Wrist rest decorated with long beans, Jin Xiya  Chinese, Bamboo carved in relief, China
Jin Xiya (Chinese, 1890–1979)
1935
Wrist rest decorated with bamboo, Jin Xiya  Chinese, Bamboo with intaglio carving, China
Jin Xiya (Chinese, 1890–1979)
1929
Carved fan with plum-blossom painting, Jin Xiya  Chinese, Folding fan; ink and color on paper with carved bamboo frame, China
Bamboo carving by Jin Xiya (Chinese, 1890–1979)
Painting and calligraphy by Yuan Tanshu (Chinese, 1899–1981)
carving dated 1924
Vase decorated with blossoming plum, Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
Wintry plum, Ni Jing  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and pale color on paper, China
Ni Jing (Chinese, active late 14th century?)
14th century
Spring Breeze of Myriad Pasts, Zhang You  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on silk, China
Zhang You (Chinese, active mid 15th century)
mid-15th century
Jar decorated with plum blossoms, Stoneware with aubergine and turquoise glaze (Fahua ware), China
China
early 16th century
Covered jar decorated with blossoming plum and cracked ice, Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
late 17th–early 18th century
Lu Fu (Chinese, late 15th–early 16th century)
dated 1505
Album of Blossoming Plum, Li Fangying  Chinese, Album of eight paintings; ink on paper, China
Li Fangying (Chinese, 1696–1754)
1742
Plum in snow, Liu Shiru  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on silk, China
Liu Shiru (Chinese, active 16th century)
The Pure Whiteness of Winter, Xu Jing  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on silk, China
Xu Jing (Chinese, active first half 15th century)
dated 1441
Bamboo, plum, and rock, Li Fangying  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Li Fangying (Chinese, 1696–1754)
dated 1743
Blossoming plum, Jin Nong  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Jin Nong (Chinese, 1687–1773)
dated 1759
Vase decorated with blossoming plum, Porcelain painted in underglaze blue and copper red, China
China
Old plum, Qi Baishi  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Qi Baishi (Chinese, 1864–1957)
20th century
Plum blossoms, Jin Nong  Chinese, Album of twelve leaves; ink on paper, China
Jin Nong (Chinese, 1687–1773)
dated 1757
Pine Longevity, Wu Hufan  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Wu Hufan (Chinese, 1894–1968)
1950
Lofty Branches Like Phoenix Wings, Zhang Daqian  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Zhang Daqian (Chinese, 1899–1983)
1960
Pine tree and rock, Tang Di  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Tang Di (Chinese, 1878–1948)
dated 1930
Flower holder in the form of pine and bamboo
, Rock crystal, China
China
18th century
Old pine, Wen Zhengming  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
Wen Zhengming (Chinese, 1470–1559)
mid-16th century
Dragon pine, Wu Boli  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Wu Boli (Chinese, active late 14th–early 15th century)
late 14th–early 15th century
Jar decorated with auspicious characters amid plants, Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
late 16th century
Jar decorated with auspicious characters amid plants, Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
The Two Purities, Wu Changshuo  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Wu Changshuo (Chinese, 1844–1927)
1922
Panel with five phoenixes in a garden, Silk tapestry (kesi), China
China
18th century
Panel with five phoenixes in a garden, Silk tapestry (kesi), China
China
18th century
Vase decorated with flowers and birds, Porcelain painted with colored enamels over transparent glaze, and colored enamels over "fire-red” glaze (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
Vase decorated with cranes amid clouds, Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
Vase decorated with flowers, Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
Vase decorated with flowers, Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
Woman’s robe decorated with cranes amid clouds, Silk embroidery on silk satin, China
China
19th century
Crane in a bamboo grove, Unidentified artist Chinese, 14th–early 15th century, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
Unidentified artist Chinese, 14th–early 15th century
14th–early 15th century
Mountain scene in the form of pine, cranes, and immortals, Jade (nephrite), China
China
18th–19th century
Portrait of husband and wife, Unidentified artist , Chinese, late 18th–early 19th century, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
Unidentified artist , Chinese, late 18th–early 19th century
late 18th–early 19th century
Woman’s robe decorated with crane medallions, Silk tapestry (kesi), China
China
19th century
Cranes, peach tree, and China rose, Shen Quan  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
After Shen Quan (Chinese, 1682–after 1762)
18th century
Crane, pine, and rock, Chen Zhaofeng  Chinese, Set of four hanging scrolls mounted on a Japanese bi-fold screen; ink and color on silk, China
Chen Zhaofeng (Chinese, active late 19th century)
late 19th century
Lotus and waterbirds, Unidentified artist , active ca. 1300, Pair of hanging scrolls; ink and color on silk, China
Unidentified artist , active ca. 1300
ca. 1300
Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, Unidentified artist Chinese, 16th century, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
Unidentified artist Chinese, 16th century
late 17th–early 18th century
Vase decorated with lotus flowers, Porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
mid-18th century
Red lotus and fish, Tang Guang  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Tang Guang (Chinese, ca. 1670–1690)
Crabapple, China rose, and Indian flycatcher, Shen Quan  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
Shen Quan (Chinese, 1682–after 1762)
1750
Vase with flowers and birds of the four seasons
, Porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen famille verte ware), China
China
early 18th century
Peahen and hibiscus, Bian Lu  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
Bian Lu (Chinese, active mid-14th century)
mid-14th century
Vase decorated with magnolia, hollyhocks, and pheasants, Porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
early 18th century
Magnolia, crabapple, and tree peony, Silk embroidery on silk gauze, China
China
late 17th–early 18th century
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Page from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Hu Zhengyan , and others Chinese, Leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
Illustrated by Hu Zhengyan (Chinese, 1584/5–1673/4) , and others
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy, Individual leaf from a printed book; ink and color on paper, China
China
first edition printed in 1633
Jar decorated with rock, peonies, and birds

, Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
mid- to late 17th century
Vase decorated with peonies and chrysanthemums

, Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
mid-17th century
Vase decorated with bird on flowering plum, Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
mid-17th century
Vase decorated with flowers, birds, and poems, Porcelain with powder blue glaze and gilding (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
dated 1709
Vase decorated with flowers and butterflies, Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue, overglaze polychrome enamels, and gilding (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
Lotuses on a summer evening, Yun Shouping  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
After Yun Shouping (Chinese, 1633–1690)
likely 18th century
Vase decorated with auspicious animals, Soft paste porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
early 18th century
Gourd-shaped vase with gourds on vines and bats, Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
early 18th century
Vase decorated with bats and peaches amid scrolling floral vines and “double happiness” character, Porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
Vase decorated with bats and peaches amid scrolling floral vines, Porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
Woman’s ceremonial robe, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on silk satin, China
China
first half 18th century
Vase decorated with floral medallions, Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels and gilding with engraved decoration (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
mid-18th century
Welcoming spring, Unidentified artist Chinese, 14th–15th century, Silk embroidery on silk gauze, China
Unidentified artist Chinese, 14th–15th century
15th century
Autumn landscape with egrets and ducks, Lü Ji  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
Lü Ji (Chinese, active late 15th century)
late 15th century
Three fish, Carnelian and white agate, China
China
18th century
Portrait of a man in court robes with fur surcoat, Unidentified artist, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Unidentified artist (Chinese, late 18th–19th century)
late 18th–early 19th century
Nine carp, Gong Gu ? Chinese, Set of four hanging scrolls, ink and color on paper, China
Gong Gu (Chinese, active 19th century) ?
19th century (?)
Table screen, converted to a wall panel, Ruan Yuan  Chinese, Marble mounted in wood frame, China
inscribed and signed by Ruan Yuan (Chinese, 1764–1849)
19th century
Painting table, Wood (huanghuali, Dalbergia odorifera), China
China
late 16th–early 17th century
Yokeback armchair, Wood (huanghuali, Dalbergia odorifera), China
China
17th century
Bird on a flowering branch, Zhang Chong  Chinese, Folding fan mounted as an album leaf; ink on gold paper, China
Zhang Chong (Chinese, active ca. 1570–1610)
late 16th or early 17th century
Peony, Wang Wu  Chinese, Folding fan mounted as an album leaf; ink and color on paper, China
Wang Wu (Chinese, 1632–1690)
late 17th century
Rain on Laurel Blossoms, Xu Lin  Chinese, Folding fan mounted as an album leaf; ink on gold-flecked paper, China
Xu Lin (Chinese, 1462–1548)
Carnations and amaranthus, Yun Shouping  Chinese, Folding fan mounted as an album leaf; color on paper, China
Yun Shouping (Chinese, 1633–1690)
Branch of blossoming plum, Xu Zonghao  Chinese, Fan; ink and color on paper, China
Xu Zonghao (Chinese, 1880–1957)
dated 1945
The Five Nobilities, Yu Feian  Chinese, Fan; ink and color on paper, China
Yu Feian (Chinese, 1888–1959)
mid-20th century
Hawk, pine, plum, and rock, Zhu Cheng  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Zhu Cheng (Chinese, 1826–1900)
dated 1873
Eagle on a pine tree, Qi Baishi  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Qi Baishi (Chinese, 1864–1957)
mid-20th century
Myriad Green Mountains, Wu Zuoren  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Wu Zuoren (Chinese, 1908–1997)
dated 1982
Eagle, Gao Yong  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Gao Yong (Chinese, 1850–1921)
Hawk with notes, Xie Zhiliu  Chinese, Ink on paper, China
Xie Zhiliu (Chinese, 1910–1997)
20th century
Dew-Moistened Pearls, Wu Changshuo  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Wu Changshuo (Chinese, 1844–1927)
dated 1922
Cultivating Longevity, Chen Hengke  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Chen Hengke (Chinese, 1876–1923)
likely 1923
Rock and tree, Chen Hengke  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Chen Hengke (Chinese, 1876–1923)
undated
Pine, Chen Banding  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Chen Banding (Chinese, 1876–1966)
dated 1923
Plum blossoms, Chen Banding  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Chen Banding (Chinese, 1876–1966)
1927
Shrimp, Qi Baishi  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Qi Baishi (Chinese, 1864–1957)
dated 1927
Five crabs, Qi Baishi  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Qi Baishi (Chinese, 1864–1957)
dated 1950
Flowering Calamus and Frogs, Qi Baishi  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, China
Qi Baishi (Chinese, 1864–1957)
1950
Vase decorated with katydids, Porcelain painted with colored enamels over a transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
1910s–20s
Vase decorated with katydids, Porcelain painted with colored enamels over a transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware), China
China
1910s–20s
Nandina, Qi Baishi  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Qi Baishi (Chinese, 1864–1957)
undated
Lotus, Zhang Daqian  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Zhang Daqian (Chinese, 1899–1983)
dated 1946
Lotus, Zhang Daqian  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Zhang Daqian (Chinese, 1899–1983)
dated 1965
Lotus, Zhang Daqian  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Zhang Daqian (Chinese, 1899–1983)
ca. 1980
Lotus, Shi Lu  Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China
Shi Lu (Chinese, 1919–1982)
undated