The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting, Volume 5

Page 9

Shuming Shuming is the courtesy name of Wang Meng (1308–1385), one of the Four Masters of the Yuan Dynasty. often used Small Seal script A standardized, formal style of Chinese calligraphy originating in the Qin dynasty, characterized by its rounded, even lines. for his signatures; his painting technique also possesses the "spirit of seal script."

Mountain birds of Lanyang, imperial seals upon the brow.

The gate of Lize, where the small pavilion’s inspiration dwells.

Busy and upright at the Nuochuang Likely a local place name or a specific scenic feature described in the painting. during the morning request.

Peace in the Jinliang storehouse, prepared with eight seating mats.

The mountain ridges are solemn, like one drunken with white mist.

Having finished my viewing, I would say this is

a painting by Wang Shuming.

The Master’s Hand: Wang Meng

This page illustrates the unique "restless" energy of Wang Meng, a painter known for his incredibly dense and "hairy" textures. As the marginal note points out, his brushwork is deeply influenced by Zhuanyi (the spirit of seal script). This means that instead of using flat washes or sharp, jagged lines, the artist uses the tip of the brush to create rounded, sturdy, and interconnected strokes.

The circular composition—resembling a silk fan—is a classic format for these intimate landscape studies. The light reddish-brown tints mentioned in the metadata are typical of the "Mustard Seed Garden" pedagogical style, helping the student distinguish between the "skeletal" ink lines and the "flesh" of the landscape’s coloring.