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Mount Eryou

original: "Eryou Shan." Located in Yuanling, Hunan Province, this mountain is one of China's most sacred sites for scholars. According to legend, it was here that over a thousand scrolls were hidden in a cave to escape the "Burning of Books" decreed by the First Emperor of Qin (r. 221–210 BCE). This preservation of knowledge gave rise to the idiom "The wealth of the two You" (Er You), referring to a person of immense erudition.

Landscape original: "Shanshui." Literally "mountains and water," this is the defining genre of Chinese art, representing the harmony between the celestial and terrestrial realms.
Woodblock Print original: "Kebon." This refers to an illustration or book printed using hand-carved wooden blocks, a medium that allowed for the mass distribution of sophisticated landscape art during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Map original: "Ditu." In this context, the map is a "scenic map," which prioritizes the spiritual and aesthetic character of the mountain over geometric surveying.
Landscape View original: "Jingguan." A term describing a specific, celebrated viewpoint or a vista of significant beauty.

The woodblock illustration depicts the rugged, soaring peaks of Mount Eryou. Using traditional "texture strokes" to define the rocky cliffs, the artist shows a path winding through sparse pine trees toward a prominent cavernous opening. This cave, known as the "Great Eryou Cave," is the legendary site where the scrolls were secreted away. The composition emphasizes the mountain's role as a natural fortress of culture and wisdom, standing tall amidst the surrounding wilderness.