Kunlun Tang Zhu Fuyuan Collection (Song Yuan Volume)

Author: Yang Youren
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: Chinese calligraphy and painting have endured natural disasters, human calamities, and political changes over the millennia, yet fewer masterpieces have survived to this day. Masterpieces from the Jin and Tang dynasties are as rare as morning stars, while those from the Song and Yuan dynasties, though more numerous, have seen many fine works scattered to foreign lands. Chinese painting reached its peak during the Song and Yuan dynasties, with a succession of renowned masters and diverse schools of art. The Kunluntang Collection of Calligraphy and Painting by Zhu Fuyuan (Song and Yuan Volume) showcases many masterpieces, such as the 12 scrolls of Birds and Insects by Li Di of the Northern Song dynasty, Zhao Ji’s Thoughtful Reverie Fan, and Cui Bai’s Proud Rooster. These works are characterized by their subdued tones, meticulous craftsmanship, and lifelike details, making them rare treasures of the world. Meanwhile, Ma Yuan of the Southern Song dynasty’s Viewing Waterfall under Pine Shadows features bold brushwork, displaying a majestic and vigorous style with a misty and ethereal landscape. Xia Gui of the Southern Song dynasty, renowned alongside Ma Yuan and known as one of the "Four Masters of the Ma Xia School," presents Floating Boat in Mountainous Landscape with aged brushwork and a forceful, ink-soaked technique. Other rare masterpieces, such as Li Di’s 12 scrolls of Birds and Insects, Xia Gui’s Floating Boat in Mountainous Landscape, and the small-cursive script Xuanji Scroll by Guandao Sheng of the Yuan dynasty, as well as early works by Zhao Ji like Thoughtful Reverie Fan and Zhao Bocheng’s A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains, have all been collected in The Kunluntang Collection of Calligraphy and Painting by Zhu Fuyuan (Song and Yuan Volume).
This collection gathers 71 works of calligraphy and painting from the Song and Yuan dynasties, including masterpieces from both periods. Among the most striking pieces is the inclusion of two rare, separated sister paintings by Cui Bai of the Northern Song dynasty: Mother Chicken Nurturing Chicks and Proud Rooster. The former features delicate lines, while the latter showcases meticulous detail. The contrast between the painter’s bold and restrained brushwork highlights Cui Bai’s ability to capture the essence of life.
For decades, the elderly Zhu Fuyuan, a Chinese overseas Chinese living in Japan, traveled extensively across Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Hong Kong and Macau regions, spending generously to collect over 500 works of calligraphy and painting from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties, and the modern era. Each piece in his collection reflects the dedication of its collector. In 2001, Zhu Fuyuan donated over 300 of his finest works to Kunshan City, establishing the Kunluntang Art Museum. Among these, the Tang dynasty’s Portrait of the Arhat from the Kali Family is one of only three in the world, with the other two located in Dunhuang and France. Experts universally recognize it as a national treasure.