Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Poem: On Insect Paintings



A Mantis Painting I found on the Internet. Clearly this is what is referred to in the line 拒者如举臂, no?


A new poem draft, thanks to help Jonathan Chaves 1970.

...In the fourth year of Qingli (1044), Mei Yaochen has the poem "On Seeing Juning’s Insect Painting:" 观居宁画草虫

The ancients painted tigers and swans,
They never surpassed dogs and ducks.


Now I look on paintings with insects:
Form and intention are both just enough.

The Walker: how forcefully he seems to go,
The Flyer: how high he seems to follow.
He who Warns: arms seem raised,
He who Cries, seems like his belly is moving!
The Jumper, tensing his leg muscles,
The Caretaker, tending to his eyes.

Then I know the magic of the Creator,
Can’t touch the brush for agility.
In Piling there are many craftsmen of paint,
Drawing, scribbling, filling their scrolls in vain.
Master Ning is truly inspired,
All the others sit at his feet in respectful service.
His grass and roots are densely-packed with intention,
Drunken ink that gets it well.
Men of influence can’t summon him,
His honorable conduct even now stands alone.
“古人画虎鹄,尚类狗与鹜。今看画羽虫,形意两俱足。行者势若去,
飞者翻若逐。拒者如举臂,鸣者如动腹。跃者趯其股,顾者注其目。
乃知造物灵,未抵毫端速。毗陵多画工,图写空盈幅。宁公实神授,
坐使群辈服。草根有纤意,醉墨得已熟。权豪不可致,节行今仍独。”




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