Judged and Determined by Master Li Liweng

Li Liweng is the pseudonym of Li Yu (1611–1680), a celebrated Qing dynasty dramatist, architect, and publisher who oversaw the creation of the original Mustard Seed Garden manual.

The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting

original: Jieziyuan Huazhuan. This work is the most influential instructional text in the history of East Asian painting, breaking down complex techniques into reproducible steps for students.

The Little Hidden Hill Studio of the Wang Clan from Mount Qian original: Qianshan Wangshi Xiaocang Shanfang. This refers to the private studio or collection of the Wang family, who likely owned the woodblocks used for this printing. Reprinted by the One-Carriage House in the Imperial Capital original: Huangdu Yichelou fanke. The "Imperial Capital" refers to Beijing, indicating this edition was produced for the metropolitan book market.

Preface

In the summer of the Xinsi year 1701, corresponding to the publication of the Second and Third Collections of the manual, I returned south to the Great Garden. It was my intention to invite Wang Zi’an Wang Anjie (also known as Wang Gai), the primary artist and editor responsible for the manual’s technical illustrations to my humble thatched hut. I wished for us to spend our mornings and evenings together, refining the drafts for the editing and compilation of the Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting.