Manual of Painting, Opening Volume

Preface XII

The varieties of flora are exceedingly numerous. It is said that by releasing what were once guarded secrets original: 不傳之祕 (bù chuán zhī mì). Knowledge or techniques traditionally kept private within a family or a specific lineage of artists, now being shared with the general public for the first time.
and offering guidance to those who compose poetry or prose, this work
acts as a stepping stone Stepping stone (津逮): Literally "a ferry and a bridge." In classical Chinese, this term refers to a gateway or a methodology that allows a student to reach a profound level of understanding.. Yet, I feel a profound sense of bashfulness, for I cannot forget
my late father-in-law referring to Li Yu (1611–1680), the renowned playwright, designer, and owner of the Mustard Seed Garden estate. and the Mustard Seed Garden itself. Neither
is a subject that can be grasped by an ordinary nature. I look for evidence in
the History of West Lake by the Historiographer of Leisure; I often sigh with shame, for I fear
my own devotion is insufficient to properly transmit the legacy of West Lake. Perhaps the same
could be said of this work regarding the flora of the Embroidered Waters original: 繡水 (Xiùshuǐ). A poetic name for the Jiaxing region in Zhejiang province, famous for its scenic beauty and its community of scholars and artists. and the Mustard Seed Garden? I...