"A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" is one of China's top ten famous paintings. It was created by the Northern Song Dynasty artist Wang Ximeng when he was just 18 years old, taking him half a year to complete. Unlike traditional ink paintings with their black and white tones, this artwork is renowned for its use of vibrant mineral pigments, such as azurite and malachite, which create a stunning blue-green palette and vividly depict the magnificent landscape.
On September 15, 2017, the Palace Museum was bustling with people who waited in line for four to five hours just to catch a glimpse of this masterpiece by an 18-year-old prodigy.
The staff were carefully and cautiously unfolding the scroll.
Given how rare it is for this painting to be exhibited, it has only been displayed four times at the Palace Museum in a century. Missing it could mean a lifetime of regret.
Therefore, until the end of the exhibition when it was time to return the painting to storage, visitors continued to queue up until midnight...
What captivates the audience so much is "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains," and the legendary stories behind it are equally extraordinary.
The painting measures 1191.5 cm in its entirety.
In April 1113 AD, the 18-year-old artist Wang Ximeng worked day and night to complete an immensely challenging task — to present a painting to his teacher.
His teacher was Emperor Song Huizong, who valued art and culture above all else. To attract talented youth, Emperor Huizong established a court painting academy and recruited painters through artistic examinations. He personally posed questions such as "Stepping on flowers, returning with the fragrance of horse hooves" and "Deep mountains hiding ancient temples," which perplexed many.
A part of "Listening to the Qin" painting, created by Emperor Huizong, is now housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing.
At that time, the teenage Wang Ximeng also participated in the selection process but unfortunately did not succeed. Recognizing his exceptional talent, however, Emperor Huizong "made an exception" and invited him under his guidance, personally mentoring Wang Ximeng in painting.
By the age of 18, Wang Ximeng decided to dedicate a painting to his teacher, pouring his heart and soul into it for nearly half a year. Finally, he completed the masterpiece "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains."
At the painting academy studio
By the time he turned 18, Wang Ximeng resolved to present a painting to his teacher, pouring his heart and soul into it for nearly half a year. The masterpiece "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" was finally completed.
Emperor Huizong of Song was delighted, his face beaming. The painting depicted rolling mountains, vast rivers, rural villages, bustling markets, and boats leisurely sailing, with distant mountains and nearby waters meticulously rendered stroke by stroke, flawless in every detail.
The entire composition flowed cohesively, endlessly expansive. Truly embodying "a thousand miles within a foot, fascinating upon closer inspection."
As a luminary in the literary and artistic community, Emperor Huizong had seen the works of renowned masters, yet upon viewing his disciple's painting, he was deeply impressed.
Wasn't this the magnificent landscapes he had envisioned? Indeed, it epitomized the pinnacle of Chinese landscape painting.
Unfortunately, as one of China's top ten treasured ancient paintings and a masterpiece held in high esteem at the Palace Museum, "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" is rarely exhibited. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, it has only been displayed once in its entirety, in 2017.
Additionally, due to its medium of silk and use of mineral pigments, after millennia, every unfolding of the scroll risks damaging its original beauty, fragile yet magnificent.
If one is fortunate, they may see it once in a lifetime; however, for most, the chance may never come in their lifetime.
Art Meets Fashion
To make this masterpiece more accessible, SinoCultural has launched the Chinese Art Series, featuring "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" adapted onto handbags and scarves. This innovative series combines traditional aesthetics with modern fashion, allowing everyone to appreciate the beauty of this iconic artwork in their daily lives.
This addition highlights how SinoCultural is bridging traditional art with contemporary fashion, ensuring that the legacy of "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" continues to inspire and enchant people around the world.
